Baby Announcements

As you rest in the bed with your new baby in your arms and flick through the photo selection for the birth announcement, yet another visitor comes to the door. All you want in some quiet time alone with your new family to enjoy the magic of the day’s events and people just keep on knocking at the door.

It’s important for the new mother to know that every one should respect her wishes regarding visiting and length of visits. After announcing the birth give everyone your room number and ask them to call ahead before coming to visit. You have every right to ask people to wait a few days to visit or ask them to wait until you get home to make an appearance.

Guests should keep visits to less than thirty minutes and shorter if there’s a line or crowd of visitors. Don’t let any one family member or friend monopolize your time. If you can manage to see a group for 15 minutes and then clear everyone out the quicker the visiting will go. Set up a signal beforehand with your husband so when you give the nod he can make your excuses.

Most people want to check on the mother’s welfare, hold the new baby, give a gift and get a photo taken during their visit. Make this go more smoothly by instructing your husband to take the photos as soon as the guest holds the baby for the first time. Have plenty of memory cards and batteries ready to go and have the husband be a bit bossy and pushy (politely so) to keep the guest line moving.

If you can remember, including a print of those photos with your birth announcements. This will make your friends and family very happy. And don’t forget, you dictate the rules of visiting regarding your new child. Be sure you get plenty of alone time to cherish your new little wonder.

Filed under: birth announcements, new parent life on April 26th, 2010