Personalised baby gift: the baby scan or first photo engraved on slate

Baby gifts are often clothes the baby will only wear for three weeks. An engraved slate stays on the nursery wall or on the chest of drawers long after. We engrave them to order in our workshop in Talais, in the Médoc.

The baby scan, the image that comes out best

It often surprises people: a baby scan is one of the best images to engrave. It is already black and white, with a dark background and a light silhouette, exactly what slate engraving does well. Our round demonstration slate carries a baby scan with a little heart and “12 weeks” written underneath.

To use it, there are two options: the digital file, if the clinic sent it to you, or a photo of the paper print. In that case, lay it flat near a window, without flash, and photograph it straight on to avoid reflections on the glossy paper.

To announce a pregnancy

An engraved baby scan also makes a lovely announcement. Given to the grandparents-to-be with “See you in September” underneath, it breaks the news in its own way, and they keep it afterwards. Just remember that the slate takes a few days to arrive: 48 to 72 hours of engraving, then 3 to 5 working days for delivery, or free collection from the workshop in Talais.

The baby’s first photo

For a photo of a newborn, light matters more than anything. Maternity ward photos taken in the evening, under yellow lighting, often give a grey, dull engraving. A daytime photo, near a window, with the baby’s face filling a good part of the picture, comes out much better. Close-ups of tiny hands and feet work very well too.

We explain how to choose in engraving a photo on slate, which photo to choose.

What to write

The name, in large letters. It is what people read first, and it is what makes the slate unique. Then, as you like:

• the date of birth on its own;
• the date, time, weight and length, like a birth announcement, on one or two smaller lines;
• “Welcome Léo”, for a gift from family or friends.

In advanced mode, on the personalisation page, you will find motifs designed for this: footprints, baby, moon, star, cloud, rainbow, balloon. A baby slate can also do without a photo: the name, the date and a motif already make a beautiful object.

A precaution for the nursery

The slate is delivered with a support to stand it upright. In a child’s room, put it out of reach, on a shelf or a tall chest of drawers: it is stone, and it is not made to be handled by a baby. Its paint is not designed for contact with food or mouths either.

Price and ordering

The slate costs €49.90, engraving and support included, as a 28 cm round or a 30 × 30 cm square. For a gift sent straight to the new parents, tick “It’s a gift” at checkout: the parcel goes to them with no invoice inside, and your note on a card.

To get started, head to the shop: the 28 cm round slate, which suits a baby scan very well, or the 30 × 30 cm square slate. And for a first Mother’s Day, we also have ideas in personalised Mother’s Day gift.

Frequently asked questions

Does a baby scan look good on slate?

Very good. The image is already black and white and very contrasted, which makes it one of the images that engrave best. Photograph it lying flat, near a window, without flash, or use the file sent by the clinic if you have it.

What information should go on a baby slate?

The name, in large letters, and the date of birth are often enough. You can add the time, weight and length on one or two smaller lines, as long as the name stays easy to read.

How long does it take to receive a baby slate?

The slate is engraved within 48 to 72 hours, then delivered in 3 to 5 working days. So you can order it after the birth, once the name and date are known.