Our first baby is due in February and our baby shower is in December, for which I'm ordering thank you notes. Is it good etiquette to have our baby's name personalized on the thank you note before she arrives? We are set on the name and will not change it, but I wonder if it is strange to send out personalized or monogrammed baby thank you notes prior to her birth?
Based on the feedback, I opted not to order her name on the Thank You notes. Instead, I found a great website, classiccommunication.com that offered embossed notecards. I bought 100 for $60 and had free shipping (this was much cheaper than the baby thank you cards at Tiny Prints and other websites I was considering for the personalized option). I had my hubsand's and my name embossed on a light pink card. Return address embossing was included for free, also, and the order shipped very quickly. I just received it and it looks very sophisticated! I think the cards will be multifunctional, too. Thank you all for your advice!
I don't know about etiquette, but it would feel a little weird to me. A monogram would be less obvious than a full personalization. Ultimately, you get to do what you would like...just be prepared for some backlash. There is always going to be at least one person who thinks you've done it wrong...wait until you actually HAVE the baby! Congratulations and good luck!
I'm not a big fan of this idea. I understand personalizing the shower and all but the baby isn't here yet. I would wait until after the baby arrives and personalize the announcements.
I would not do that because there is always a chance even a small chance that your baby will not turn out to be a girl. I am a midwife and I have seen it happen on several occasions.
Lisa
I think it is sounds really cute. My MIL put my unborn son's name on the shower invitations. I like it because it makes it like your unborn child is an individual and a part of the family already. So, sounds great to me:)
Personaly, I would just sign your name not babies name. Anything could happen or she could be born a boy!!! Baby is not here yet, send the thank you note from you. Or, you can sign your name and under it write and soon to be baby (name). Just my 2 cents.
I am another story where our 'ultrasound boy' turned out to be a 'reality girl.' This was 13 years ago and technology has improved a lot but stranger things have happened! If I were you, I would go ahead and order the notes personalized with baby's name and use them for the gifts that you will receive AFTER the birth (trust me, they will come, even though you've just had a shower). For the shower, use a cute thank you, perhaps personalized with your last name or your and your husband's names, but without baby's name. Call me superstitious, but I just don't think you should 'count your chickens before they're hatched'! Best wishes and congratulations!
My suggestion is that you wait until after you deliver to send personalized thank you notes. You may just want to send your thank you notes on behalf of your new family and not your baby to be. You will also send birth announcements that you can personalize with monogram, picture, footprints, etc. I delivered our first child and he was still born. I don't want to be negative, it is just something I think about when people speak of proceeding as if the baby has arrived. I wish you the best in your delivery of a healthy baby.
If you know for a fact it's a girl then I don't see a problem with it. It may seem strange to the recipients b/c they may not expect that. I think traditionally (and feel free to correct me if I'm not quite right) the name of the parents were only on the thank you's. You can also say "thank you" then sign you & your husband's name or your last name & 'baby...' whatever the name you've chosen. Hope this helps, good luck!
T.,
I have personally know of a situation where the sonogram "positively" indicated that the baby was a girl -- and to the surprise of all, when born, mom and dad became parents to a wonderfully healthy baby BOY. So, while this is no doubt rare, I know that it CAN happen. I don't know if that would have any bearing on your situation, as your chosen name might be appropriate for either gender. But it is something to factor into your decision. Either way, may God richly bless your family with this first child's healthy, joyous arrival.
Blessings,
K.
T.,
Congrats on your upcoming addition! I don't think etiquette dictates one way or the other. With our first, I did sign both of our names - we had several sonograms and there was no mistaking it was a boy!! With #2, we'll do the same. I think do whatever you are comfortable with!
Congrats again and GOOD LUCK!
not at all. people like to monogram things, this would be a big help. we got gifts after because people wanted to put our sons name on it...which we didnt decide untill we were leaving the hospital with him!!! congrats on the new baby!
Congratulations, T.! I wish you a peaceful birth.
I am a photographer and I do a lot of maternity/ newborn shoots. Often the maternity photos involve the name appearing in a few pictures and not uncommonly, the couple finds that they have a "Julie" instead of a "Junior." Sonograms are a good guess, but no guarantee of gender. So unless you are sticking with a gender-neutral name, I'd avoid using the name before you meet the little one. It's just something you might end up explaining ad nauseum later.
Congratulations, again!
Just my personal opinion...I don't think it is strange. This is your first baby and I understand that you want to make everything special and memorable. I think it is a nice and classy touch. This is your moment and I think you should do it the way you want. Enjoy this time and make it special in your own way.
I'm on the superstitious side... write the notes (on monogrammed or personalized cards like "Thanks from the Jones'" and then hold them until after the baby is born. You can even take a digital pic of the baby and print mini-sizes at Walgreens to include with the card. It's also a great way to let them know that the baby is here without making 20 million calls!
Yes, very strange.
No names on notes until after the birth.
I don't think it would be weird, but I wouldn't just because you never know, that baby could come out and surprise everyone by being a boy! Congrats on your new addition!
Just remember that the good etiquette
lies in the acknowledgement of the gift
and the wording to be thoughtful.
And probably the sooner the better.
I think, IF it is important for you to
use personalized cards, it would be
more approriate to send them soon after
the birth. I heard this once and I agree
with it: "It's never too early to
acknowledge a gift with a written response
and it is never too late."
Good wishes to you and your growing family.
We all bought boy clothes, they were sure! had even seen sonograms. It was a girl and the clothes went back. You may be planning the same name boy or girl...but...until its on the birth certificate... We though for sure our oldest would be Sarah. She was not. And we were glad we changed our mind at the hospital.
