Whom to Thank

• All gifts should be acknowledged with a note regardless of whether you opened the gifts in the presence of the giver or at a later time. A guest who does not receive a thank you note for a baby shower gift opened in their presence may feel slighted as shower gifts traditionally receive handwritten thank you notes. You do not need to send a thank-you note to someone who only attended the shower or gave a card. However, you should follow up with either a telephone call to offer your thanks or you should thank the person next time you see them. If you feel compelled, you can send a note. Additionally, send notes to the person or persons who hosted the shower, thanking them for their hospitality.
  
  

What to Write

• Be specific and avoid generic statements like "thank you for your thoughtful gift." Instead, name the gift and give reasons why the gift is appreciated. If baby has not yet arrived or hasn't been able to use the gift yet, explain how you look forward to baby using the gift. For example: "The pink dress is just adorable. I can't wait until Sarah is old enough to wear the dress to church. I'm sure she'll be a hit with all the baby boys in nursery school!" If baby has already arrived, describe how he uses the gift. For example: "Thank you for the blue baby blanket. Sam loves how soft it is. He can't take a nap without it!" Make sure to mention all of the gifts received, not just the big items.
  
  

When to Send

• Baby shower thank-you notes should be sent out as soon as possible. Consider breaking the task into two parts. Address the envelopes before the shower or the day before you write out the notes to make the task seem less daunting. Sometimes shower hosts will offer to address the envelopes for you, but you should not ask them to do this. Emily Post suggests sending the notes out before the baby is born. If this is not possible, Post says they should be sent within two months of baby's arrival. However, Post also notes that this timeline is only a suggestion. There is no hard rule for baby shower thank-you notes as each situation will be different.