A letter to the baby you haven't met yet
Written by hand · Sealed with wax · Sent as one link
Most expecting parents feel two things at once: a quiet joy and a list of worries they don't say out loud. A good letter to your baby doesn't pick one. It says where you are right now, what the days of waiting look like, and what you hope for, in words your child can read years from now and recognize as you.
Free · No sign-up needed · Sent as a link
Ways to begin
“You're about the size of a lemon this week, and I've already read three books about you, mostly because I'm nervous and it gives me something to do.”
“I don't know yet what your face looks like, but I know the sound of your heartbeat, and I played the recording for your grandmother last Sunday.”
“Right now it's a rainy Tuesday, your dad is assembling a crib with the instructions upside down, and I wanted to write down this exact moment for you.”
What to write
1. Write down the small, ordinary details of the waiting: the first kick, the food you can't stop eating, the name arguments. Your child will treasure these more than big declarations.
2. Be honest about the nerves. One true line such as 'I'm scared I'll get things wrong, and I'm going to try anyway' will mean more to a grown child than a perfect, polished promise.
3. Avoid listing demands about who they should become. Say what you hope for them in plain terms, then add one thing you promise to do as their parent.
Frequently asked questions
Q. How do I write to a baby who isn't born yet without it feeling strange?
Write to them as if they were sitting across the table. Say where you are, what you've been doing while you wait, and one hope and one worry. Short and honest is better than long and formal. You can always add a second letter after the birth.
Q. Can I set the letter to open years from now, like on their birthday?
You can set the opening date anywhere from tomorrow to a year away. For a day further off than that, seal the letter, save the link somewhere you'll find it, and send it when the day comes. You can add a password too if you like.