Thank you note 101

From baby shower presents to congratulatory flower arrangements, you have quite a bit to be thankful (and to write thank-you notes) for! We’re here to help you turn your note-writing skills from rusty and reluctant to expert and earnest.

New babies often elicit kind gestures from friends, family and co-workers, whether in the form of a be-ribboned teddy bear, a home-cooked meal during your first days home from the hospital or a free night of babysitting while you and hubby enjoy a much-deserved date night. Whatever the form, these generosities serve to celebrate your new baby and allow you to feel supported and loved as you transition into a new phase of your life. And anyone who makes you feel that way deserves to be thanked.

While they may seem old-fashioned, handwritten thank-you notes are the most gracious and appropriate means of thanking someone for a gift. Sure, an email or phone call is quicker and easier, but a thank-you note expresses an extra special sentiment of your sincere gratitude—and it doesn’t take that much longer to write!

If writing thank-you notes is not your forte, use these fool-proof steps to write a note that will impress even your persnickety Aunt Thelma:

Always greet the person you are thanking.

To begin the first paragraph, thank the person for their gift or gesture.

Add one or two descriptive sentences about how the gift or gesture will play or has played a role in your life.

In a new paragraph, mention to the person how much you enjoyed seeing him or her or how you look forward to seeing them again soon.

In a final paragraph, thank the person one last time.

Close with warm wishes.

Sign your name and/or your baby’s. 

[tip:] For a sweet and creative touch, try writing a thank-you note from the perspective of your little one. For example, “Dear Grandma, thank you for coming to play with me last week while Mommy and Daddy went on a date. My mommy was right, I am so lucky to have such a fun and nice grandmother…”