How to Write (and Actually Send) Baby Shower Thank You Notes

After the baby shower fun is over, there’s one last to-do before nesting mode: thank you cards. It's always a nice gesture to send a thank-you card whenever you receive a gift, but it's especially important after baby showers and weddings. While saying thank you in person or over the phone is still a fine way to express your gratitude, a thank-you note can be a thoughtful touch.  If the thought of adding one more thing to your to-do list before baby arrives feels daunting—you're not alone. The good news is, writing thank you cards doesn’t have to be complicated, and the timeline is flexible, so you've got some wiggle room to get it done) 

Here are our best tips for keeping the task simple, thoughtful and organized.

When to Send Thank You Cards

The general rule of thumb is to send your thank you cards within two weeks of your baby shower (whether it’s in person or virtual). Two weeks is the ideal time frame because all of the gifts and the people who gave them will still be fresh in your mind, and you’ll be more likely to get them sent out before your baby arrives and your hands are full.  If two weeks come and go, don’t stress. Send your notes when you can, or thank people with a quick text or email if cards feel like too much right now.

Tips for Writing Thank You Cards

Whether you’re opening gifts in front of shower guests or saving them for later, a few things can help you stay organized and make the process easier.

• Designate a note-taker to keep track of who is gifting what as you open gifts. If your helper misses one, you can also check the gift tracker on your Babylist registry for a list of what was purchased and by whom. This is also helpful for keeping track of gifts you receive that you didn’t register for (since they obviously won’t be in your gift tracker).

• Consider making the thank you card task a group project, especially if you received a ton of gifts. 

• If you used the group gift feature on your registry, send thank-you cards to each person who contributed to the gift.

What to Say in Your Thank You Cards

The main goal of thank-you cards is to express gratitude for your guests and their gifts, whether they attended in person or sent a gift in their absence. The messages don't need to be elaborate; the most important thing is sincerity. Just keep in mind that unlike writing the shower invitations, each thank you card should be personalized.

Here are some ideas to help you get started:

• Thank your guests for coming to your baby shower.

• Write a personal note about how you appreciate their support in this phase of life, or that you can’t wait for them to meet the baby.

• Mention something about what they gifted and how you’re looking forward to using it.

Nailing the perfect message, especially when you’re customizing each one, can feel like a tall order. You can use AI tools, like ChatGPT, to help you craft the perfect note. Here’s a simple prompt to get you started:

• Start with Can you help me write a baby shower gift thank you note?

• Provide the gift giver’s name.

• Give the name of the gift (doesn’t have to be the exact retail name, to make it more casual).

• Add a few lines about what you appreciate about the gift, how you’ll use it or something more generic that can pair with any item.

From there, you can tailor the length, tone and vibe of the note.

Where to Buy Thank You Cards

There are a few different places to get thank you cards, but our top tip is to order them with your baby shower invitations. Websites like Minted and Etsy usually offer thank you cards in the same design suite as your shower invitations. If you’re not worried about them matching, you can also find cute thank you note sets at places like Target or Paper Source (and they’re typically more affordable this way).

And what if you used digital invitations for your baby shower? Digital cards are also a great option and a bit easier than stamping and mailing out physical cards. You’ll need your gift-givers’ email addresses or phone numbers to send digital thank you cards, so keep that in mind.

Ready to say thanks? Browse our favorite paper and digital thank-you cards.

Physical Thank You Cards

Digital Thank You Cards