A baby shower is such a joyous time for a mother-to-be. After you’ve opened your piles of gifts, it is natural that you will want to thank everyone individually. But what should you write in a baby shower thank you card?
It’s always best to personalize a baby shower thank you card as much as possible.
You want the receiver to know how much you appreciated what they gave you. It can get tedious writing card after card without them sounding the same, so it’s always a good idea to add a personal touch to each note.
How to Write a Baby Shower Thank You Card
Thank the Guest for Coming to the Baby Shower
Whether your baby shower was in person or virtual, you should start by thanking them for coming to your shower. It seems simple enough; however, it’s always nice to thank someone for taking time out of their schedule to attend your baby shower.
To make it even more personal, include how much you enjoyed a particular conversation you had with them. If you hadn’t seen the person in a while, mention how nice it was to play catch up. If the receiver has a child of their own, perhaps mention how you two should schedule a play date once your baby arrives.
Finally, when you are wrapping up your thank you card, mention again how great it was to see them and how you appreciated them showering you with love. If the guest came from out of town, mention how much it means to you that they made the trip for your baby shower.
Talk About the Gift They Gave You
Don’t just say, “thank you for the gift.” It’s both impersonal and makes it seem like you don’t actually remember what they gave you. If it was an outfit, tell them how much you can’t wait to see your little one wearing it. In addition, mention how you’ll send them a photo the first time your baby wears it.
I, personally, had favorites on my baby registry. There were some items I was very excited to receive. So much so that I told my guests that in their thank you card. Gush about how much you love the item and can’t wait to use it. People want to know how much you love what they gave you.
Finally, if you were given a gift card or money, tell them what you plan on using it for. For example: “Thank you very much for the generous gift. I have been eyeing this fabulous baby carrier and can’t wait to use the gift card you gave me for it.” I always felt funny saying, “thank you for the money,” and instead would say, “thank you for the generous gift.”
Whether you are happy with the gift you received or not, make sure you express your gratitude. Sometimes people don’t always buy off your registry, so you might have to smile and pretend how much you love the gift.
RELATED: What Not to Put on Your Registry
Include a Photo in Your Card
While this may not pertain to every gift you receive, including a photo is a wonderful way to personalize your thank you card. Perhaps your baby came early, or someone gave you something for the nursery, snap a photo and send it their way.
If your baby has already arrived, you likely won’t want to make the drive to pick up photos. Thankfully, there are tons of online options you can do from the comfort of your couch. I really like this option for those relatives or friends who won’t get a chance to see the baby right away.
Include a Signature Based on Your Relationship
You’ve written your thank you card, but now what? You should consider the best ways to sign your note. It’s important to think about your relationship with the gift giver. There are several common ways to sign a note. If you are writing to a family member or close friend, signing ‘Love, ‘ is an appropriate signature.
However, what if it’s a co-worker or another acquaintance? You likely don’t want to write, ‘Sincerely,‘ as it seems a bit stiff, so what else can you sign off with? Here are some lovely ways to sign a thank you card:
- Kind Regards
- Thank You Again
- Regards
- Best
Finally, if you are stumped on how to sign the card, write your name. The receiver will not think twice about it.
What About Those Who Couldn’t Come or Didn’t Bring Gifts?
In addition, don’t forget about those who couldn’t make the baby shower but who still sent gifts. Include how you missed seeing them but look forward to setting up something in the future so they can meet the new baby.
Finally, if a guest came to the shower but didn’t bring a gift, you should still send them a thank you card. You never know what a person’s financial situation is, and they may not be in the position to give a gift.
You can thank them for coming to the shower and how much you enjoyed catching up. While they didn’t bring a gift, a person’s time is more valuable.
Tips for Getting Thank You Cards Done on Time
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help
Sometimes the amount of thank you cards you have to write can be a bit overwhelming. Of course, this means you have been showered with gifts, but you are also getting ready to welcome a new baby, and time isn’t always on your side. Don’t be afraid to ask your partner, your mom, or even a friend to help you write the notes.
If you are hoping to get the thank you cards out promptly but feel like the list is never-ending, enlisting a little help will take away some of the stress from you. You can dictate what you’d like the notes to say, so you can still feel like you are personalizing each thank you card.
Finally, do a quick read-through of each note someone else writes for you. This is to be sure everything lines up correctly for the gift giver. You want to make sure they are thanked for the correct gift.
Set a Goal For Yourself
Instead of sitting there with a stack of thank you notes to write each day, pick a number of cards you’ll complete at one time. I know my handwriting gets a bit messy after a while, so I always said I would write 10 notes in one sitting. Then I’d put them awhile until later in the day, or even wait until tomorrow.
In addition, never sit down to write the notes if you have somewhere to be. You aren’t going to want to rush the writing of your thank you notes, so make sure to pick a time of day where you know you won’t have any interruptions.
Finally, most people will understand if the thank you card doesn’t come right away. While you should always try to get them out on time, you are also prepping for your baby’s arrival.
Order Your Thank You Notes Before The Shower
To make sure you are ready to start writing thank you notes, make a point to have them ready before the shower. This also allows you to have stationery that matches the baby shower invites your hostess sent out. It’s not easy to be prepared for parenthood, but this is one thing you can prepare for. It will help you to be ready to start writing once the shower is over.
In addition, if you know the guest list, there is no reason why you can’t start addressing the cards. While you don’t want to assume everyone will bring a gift, you should still be thanking each person for coming to the shower, so they will still get a thank you card.
I’m very much a planner, so having everything laid out ahead of time eases some of the stress that comes along with writing the thank you cards after the shower.
Finally, if you don’t have a planner to keep track of everything, consider investing in a great one. Most planners have extra pages to write down the notes you have sent out and still need to send.
Our Best Advice: Keep it Short and Sweet
Don’t feel like you have to write a short story in the thank you card. If you have a stack of thank you cards to write, you will feel less and less motivated towards the end. Remember, most people aren’t going to see the other thank you cards you have written, so there’s no reason why you can’t have some repeat verbiage.
While you don’t want to make it too short, there is no reason why it should be more than a few sentences long.
So, what to write in a baby shower thank you card? Here’s a perfect example:
“Thank you so much for coming to my baby shower.
It was so great seeing you after all these years! I’m in love with the sweet baby outfits you gifted to me. The elephant pajamas are too cute! I will be sure to send you photos after the baby is born.
Thank you again!”
Finally, the more you personalize it, the more the person receiving the note will appreciate it. You can always tell when someone truly appreciates your generosity through their writing.
FAQs on Baby Shower Thank You Cards
When should you send out baby shower thank you cards?
I always took pride in sending thank you cards out fairly quickly. This, of course, was before I had three kids and the time to get them out ASAP. In addition, as more time passes by, you are less likely to get the notes out.
At the very least, make sure to get them out before your baby arrives unless your little one decides to make an early appearance. You are not going to have time for them when you have a newborn. I can almost guarantee it. Aim for getting the thank you cards out within 2-3 weeks of your baby shower.
Finally, if your baby does decide to show their face early, most guests will understand if their thank you note is a bit delayed. You can always send them a quick photo of the baby via text or email while you are working on writing your notes.
Can I send a virtual baby shower thank you card?
If your baby shower ended up being virtual, you might wonder if you can send your thank you cards the same way. While there are plenty of sites where you can do this, it’s always a nice gesture to send out handwritten notes.
On the other hand, sending out a virtual baby shower thank you card is an ideal option if your baby decides to come early and you don’t have the time to sit down and handwrite each card. You can always send out additional notes at a later time with a photo of your little one.
Who should sign the baby shower thank you card?
While the mom-to-be usually writes the thank you card, it is a nice gesture to have the dad-to-be add their signature at the end. This also allows the gift giver to know both parents appreciate the gift they have received.
You and your partner are about to go through an amazing experience, welcoming home a new baby. It is nice to have both of you as part of the thank you card writing process.
Enjoy this time together before your little one arrives. In fact, you may want to consider going on a babymoon before your little one arrives.
Do I write individual thank you notes for a group gift?
It’s not uncommon for a few people to go in on one gift for the mom-to-be, especially for bigger ticket items. Regardless of it being a single item, each person should receive their own thank you card. To personalize each note, mention how much you enjoyed a specific conversation you had at the baby shower.
Final Thoughts
It is such a special feeling to be showered with gifts for your little one on the way. While you may ask yourself, “what to write in a baby shower thank you card?” you should express your gratitude to the gift giver and let them know how much you appreciate their generosity.
Pick up some nice stationery and write down how you truly feel about the person and the gift. A little thank you note goes a long way to show your appreciation.
