Birth poster: what details to include and how to write them

A birth poster tells the story of a child’s arrival in just a few lines: their name, the day and time they were born, their weight and length. These details seem simple, but when ordering a personalized birth poster, many questions come up: should you include the time? How do you write the weight? Can you add the surname? And what about twins? This guide answers everything, detail by detail.

In short

• The 5 classic details: name, birth date, birth time, weight, length.
• Optional extras: middle name, place of birth, star sign, parents’ or siblings’ names, a short phrase.
• The golden rule: copy the details from a written source (birth announcement, health record, the parents’ message), never from memory.
• Special cases: one poster or two for twins, the arrival date for an adoption, real measurements for a premature baby.

The 5 classic details on a birth poster

1. The name

This is the centrepiece, written in the largest letters. It gives the poster its identity and is usually the first thing you notice in the nursery. On a baby name poster, it is generally highlighted with handwritten lettering or an elegant typeface.

2. The birth date

This is the detail the child will look at most as they grow up. Some posters even include it in a phrase, like the sleeping baby and bunny poster, which reads “Notre plus belle aventure depuis le…” (our greatest adventure since…) followed by the birth date.

3. The birth time

It is quickly forgotten, yet it is often the detail that moves people most in the years that follow. It also allows you to work out the rising sign, for those interested in astrology. If the parents don’t know it precisely, it is better to leave it out than to guess.

4. The weight

Parents know the birth weight by heart for the first few weeks… then forget it. The poster keeps it for them.

5. The length

Baby’s length at birth completes the picture. Later on, children love comparing it with their current height.

These five details appear on most of our designs, for example the teddy bear sailor poster or the candy and pink teddy bear poster, where each one comes with a small icon: calendar, clock, scale and tape measure.

Optional extras for an even more personal poster

• Middle name(s): written smaller, under the first name, to keep the design light.
• Place of birth: the town or city is usually enough. The name of the hospital is more intimate and only meaningful to the family.
• Star sign: a lovely touch, especially if the nursery has a moon and stars theme, like the baby moon poster.
• Parents’ names: “Daughter of Camille and Thomas”, for example. Grandparents giving the poster often love this idea.
• Siblings: “Jules’s little brother” highlights everyone’s place in the family.
• A short phrase: many posters already include a gentle message. Simply choose a design whose wording you like.

Our tip: beyond six or seven details, a poster becomes hard to read. Choose what really matters to the family.

How to write each detail correctly

Weight: kilograms, grams or pounds?

In France, “3.250 kg”, “3 kg 250” and “3,250 g” are all common. In the UK and US, weight is often given in pounds and ounces, such as “7 lb 3 oz”. All are correct; the key is to stay consistent across the poster and to copy the exact figures from the health record or birth announcement.

Time: “14:37” or “2:37 pm”?

The 24-hour format (“14:37”) is clean and graphic. The 12-hour format (“2:37 pm”) feels more familiar to English-speaking families. Pick one and avoid long versions such as “thirty-seven minutes past two”.

Date: numbers or words?

“12 April 2024” is more elegant and easier to read than “12/04/2024”. It also avoids confusion between the European order (day/month) and the American order (month/day).

Length: centimetres or inches

Simply write “50 cm” or “19.7 in”. There is no need to add the word “length”: the icon or layout already says it.

Names: accents, hyphens and capitals

This is the most common mistake. Check accents (Léa, Chloé, Noé), diaereses (Zoë, Anaïs), hyphens in compound names (Marie-Lou, Jean-Baptiste) and the exact spelling chosen by the parents (Matthew or Mathew?). If the name is long or compound, a design with an initial can be a lovely alternative, like the set of 3 baby fox posters with initial.

Where to find the right details without bothering the parents

If you are giving the poster, you may not have every detail to hand. A few reliable sources:

• The birth announcement sent by the parents: it almost always includes the date, time, weight and length.
• The message sent to family on the big day, often with a photo.
• A close relative (grandparent, godparent) who received the news first.

If a detail is missing, leave it out rather than guess. A poster with just the name and date is still beautiful. At Atelier Salad-Dressing Paris, a proof is sent before the final file: that is the moment to check everything, and a correction is free if needed.

Special cases

Twins: one poster or two?

Both options work. A shared poster brings the two names together with two sets of measurements: it is symbolic and works well with a design featuring two characters, like the two cuddling elephants poster. Two matching posters, one per child, give each name more space and can be separated the day each twin has their own room. Either way, include each baby’s birth time: twins often look at that detail the most.

A premature baby

A premature baby’s weight and length are smaller, but they are their real measurements, and many parents want to display them: they tell the story of how far the baby has come. Others prefer to keep only the name, date and time. It is a personal choice: if you are giving the poster, ask the parents what they would like.

An adoption

For an adopted child, the date they joined the family can replace or accompany the birth date. A phrase such as “Arrived in our hearts on…” marks that unique day. Birth weight and length are often replaced by other details: the country or city of origin, or the child’s age on arrival.

A poster given months after the birth

There is no deadline. A birth poster given for a first Christmas, a christening or a first birthday keeps exactly the same details: those of the day of birth.

Frequently asked questions

What details should go on a birth poster?

The five classic details are the name, birth date, birth time, weight and length. You can add a middle name, place of birth, star sign or the parents’ names.

Should I include the birth time?

It is not compulsory, but it often becomes the most touching detail over the years because it is quickly forgotten. If it isn’t known precisely, leave it out.

Can I put the surname on a birth poster?

Yes, but most families stick to the first name. If you plan to share a photo of the poster on social media, remember that a full name together with a birth date and town is personal data: the first name alone is safer.

How do I write baby’s weight on a poster?

“3.250 kg”, “3 kg 250”, “3,250 g” or “7 lb 3 oz” are all correct. Choose the format you like and copy the figures from the health record or birth announcement.

Can I order a birth poster before the baby is born?

Yes. You can order in advance and send the details after the birth, or give a poster with the name only at a baby shower.

What if I make a mistake in the details?

For Atelier Salad-Dressing Paris personalized posters, a proof is sent before the final file. Corrections are free: simply reply to the email with the right information.

Find the birth poster that suits you

Once you have the details, all that is left is to choose the illustration: teddy bear, bunny, forest, nautical theme, candy or a boho terracotta mood. All our personalized birth posters are sent by email within 24 hours, 7 days a week, as A4 and A3 PDF files, with a free proof before the final file.