# Is this greeting card appropriate? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 3, 2004, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-greeting-card-appropriate/277954 "2004-12-03T20:46:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Heart\_On\_My\_Sleeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/77aa72/32.png) [@Heart\_On\_My\_Sleeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heart_On_My_Sleeve)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-greeting-card-appropriate/277954/1 "2004-12-03T20:46:45Z")
Okay, I’ve done this a couple of times. Whenever someone has a baby, I take a blank card that I have (nice card) that is neutral. I print on the inside: Baby’s Name Wednesday, 01 December 2004 5:25 pm. 6 lbs. 7 oz. 19 inches Congratulations on the new addition to your family! All centered. Then sign the card. My husband says “It looks like something _we_ should send out when _we_ have a baby, not what we should give someone having a baby.” I think it’s a nice customized momento. Your opinion? ---
**Author:** ![Greenback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/2bfe46/32.png) [@Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greenback)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-greeting-card-appropriate/277954/2 "2004-12-03T20:57:34Z")
I’m with **Mr.HOMS**. As a new parent, I would be a little confused as to why you were sending me info on my kid. I was there. I know the details. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-greeting-card-appropriate/277954/3 "2004-12-03T21:07:04Z")
It does seem more like a baby announcement they would send out. However, I know that people sometimes do calligraphy or embroidered items featuring the baby info so it’s not a crazy idea 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-greeting-card-appropriate/277954/4 "2004-12-03T21:20:47Z")
On a quilt for the baby, yes. On a card congratulating the parents, I’m of Mr. Sleeve’s opinion. ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-greeting-card-appropriate/277954/5 "2004-12-03T23:05:28Z")
I agree with your husband. It’s a little odd and would make me wonder for a sec why you are telling me my own baby’s information, which I must have given you or you wouldn’t have it. I’d think it was a little strange. JMO. ---
**Author:** ![Profane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47774/32.png) [@Profane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Profane)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-greeting-card-appropriate/277954/6 "2004-12-03T23:20:15Z")
I’m with everyone else. I wouldn’t be offended, I would think it’s a bit odd. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-greeting-card-appropriate/277954/7 "2004-12-03T23:26:32Z")
I agree. Would seem kind of creepy. Unless you added something quirky. ---
**Author:** ![Heart\_On\_My\_Sleeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/77aa72/32.png) [@Heart\_On\_My\_Sleeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heart_On_My_Sleeve)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-greeting-card-appropriate/277954/8 "2004-12-03T23:41:04Z")
“Creepy?” Wow. I was just trying to do something a little unique. It’s not like it takes any more effort than going to the store and buying a card specifically for that. Given that appears to be the majority opinion, I guess I’ll just switch back to doing what everybody else does. I certainly don’t want to creep anyone out. ---
**Author:** ![Heart\_On\_My\_Sleeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/77aa72/32.png) [@Heart\_On\_My\_Sleeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heart_On_My_Sleeve)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2004, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-greeting-card-appropriate/277954/9 "2004-12-03T23:43:49Z")
Also, it didn’t occur to me at all that someone would think I was trying to inform them of their baby’s birth info 😕 Like I said, it would be more to record the date…you know, like how some people put the year on birthday cards? I’m not trying to convince anyone. I just feel…like an idiot, I guess. I’ve only done it for 2 people so far, though. ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2004, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-greeting-card-appropriate/277954/10 "2004-12-04T04:32:28Z")
I don’t think it’s creepy, but it is strange. Parents send out that info in birth announcements. Unless your card is a hand-painted work of art that they can frame, they really don’t need you to remind them of the vital statistics. Getting the stats engraved on a gift would be appropriate (not to plug my own company) but just to write it in a card is…strange. Your husband is a wise man. ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2004, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-greeting-card-appropriate/277954/11 "2004-12-04T05:40:36Z")
Personally, I wouldn’t consider it creepy. I think if I got that from you I’d understand that you were just trying to commemorate the date by putting that info on there. It’s the thought that counts anyway. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Heart\_On\_My\_Sleeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/77aa72/32.png) [@Heart\_On\_My\_Sleeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heart_On_My_Sleeve)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2004, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-greeting-card-appropriate/277954/12 "2004-12-04T11:40:26Z")
Sorry I didn’t make it clear–I don’t “write” it. I print it with my color laser in a nice font and color. It prints with a raised texture. Regardless…I’m staying away from it. Thanks for your honesty, folks. ---
**Author:** ![Sat\_on\_Cookie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/71c47a/32.png) [@Sat\_on\_Cookie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sat_on_Cookie)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2004, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-greeting-card-appropriate/277954/13 "2004-12-04T12:52:04Z")
> [@kittenblue](#): > > Unless your card is a hand-painted work of art that they can frame, they really don’t need you to remind them of the vital statistics. Getting the stats engraved on a gift would be appropriate (not to plug my own company) but just to write it in a card is…strange. Your husband is a wise man. I agree.\* \*I feel bad about agreeing because your heart seems to be in the right place, but I do, in fact, agree. ---
**Author:** ![Zulema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/db5fbb/32.png) [@Zulema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zulema)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2004, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-greeting-card-appropriate/277954/14 "2004-12-04T16:54:35Z")
Maybe you could use the same idea to make a border for a photo that fits into a frame, you could send that to them and it would be more personal and original than a card. I would suggest a fairly cheap plain frame and some nice paper from an art store. Maybe someone you know has one of those circle or oval cutters they use for scrapbooking. You can use that to cut the photo area out. ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2004, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-greeting-card-appropriate/277954/15 "2004-12-04T19:05:22Z")
I don’t think it’s creepy at all. After all, it’s just a card. When you have a baby you’re usually too busy to worry about the minutia of the cards you’re sent. I wouldn’t be put off by that at all. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2004, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-greeting-card-appropriate/277954/16 "2004-12-05T17:18:14Z")
> [@Heart On My Sleeve](#): > > Sorry I didn’t make it clear–I don’t “write” it. I print it with my color laser in a nice font and color. It prints with a raised texture. Regardless…I’m staying away from it. Thanks for your honesty, folks. I was at least going to give you points for hand-writing it on a blank card, rather than just signing Ye Olde Generic Hallmark Card. But with this post you lost me completely. Writing a personal congratulatory note by hand would be quite lovely. A computer printout of data? Not so much. ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2004, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-greeting-card-appropriate/277954/17 "2004-12-06T15:00:01Z")
> [@](#): > > Also, it didn’t occur to me at all that someone would think I was trying to inform them of their baby’s birth info Like I said, it would be more to record the date…you know, like how some people put the year on birthday cards? I’m not trying to convince anyone. I just feel…like an idiot, I guess. I’ve only done it for 2 people so far, though. Yes, some people put the year on birthday cards - _the year the card was sent_ - not the year the person was born. Not “Happy Birthday: December 14, 1960.” I think the printing by printer is even stranger than writing it. Now it really looks like an announcement card that would be sent by the parents. Hey, if it makes you happy to do the cards the way you’ve been doing them, then continue to do so. But you did ask for people’s opinions on your method.