How To Make A Diaper Cake For Baby Shower - Making Manzanita (2024)

Every diaper baby shower needs a diaper cake! If you’re wondering how to make a diaper cake, this baby diaper cake tutorial is for you. You’ll be shocked at how easy it is to make your own. This practical idea is the perfect gift for new parents.

A while ago I shared all about the I threw for my sister. It was so much fun and the decor turned out so cute!! Since it was a diaper baby shower, we definitely needed a diaper cake.

What is a diaper cake?

A diaper cake is a bunch of diapers rolled up and stacked together in the shape of a real cake. It is a very fun way to gift diapers and it makes a great baby shower girl!

I was shocked at how easy it was to DIY a baby diaper cake. I had seen them before at baby showers and my sister had even made me one for my shower a couple of years ago. It was one of the most practical gifts I received at my baby shower and I definitely appreciated it, so I wanted to make one to give to my sister. This DIY diaper cake came together so quickly!

Related – Other Baby Shower Ideas and Inspiration:

  • Baby Diaper Cake Tutorial for Diaper Shower
  • Donut Themed Baby Sprinkle Shower (and Free Printable Donuts)
  • Best Etsy Baby Shower Gift Ideas
  • Rustic Woodland Baby Shower
  • DIY Lullaby Baby Shower Gift Wrap
  • 10 Rustic Baby Shower Invitations

Diaper cake for baby shower: video tutorial

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This post contains affiliate links, but nothing that I wouldn’t wholeheartedly recommend anyway! Read my full disclosurehere.

Supplies for baby diaper cake:

  • Large box of diapers – size doesn’t really matter, but I used Size 1
  • Rubber bands
  • Ribbon, similar
  • Scissors
  • Straight pins
  • 2 decorative straws, similar
  • Printable donut (for topper) – get your free printable donuts here!
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Step 1. Roll diapers.

Roll up each diaper from the top to the bottom and secure it with an elastic band.

The bag of rubber bands I got had three different sizes (color-coded based on size). The blue ones were the smallest rubber bands, so I used those for the rolled up diapers. Each individual diaper only needed one small rubber band.

This is really the most time-consuming part of making the baby diaper cake, but I’d recommend turning on some good TV and grabbing the diapers and rubber bands.

It didn’t end up taking as much time as I thought it would though.

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Step 2. Make the bottom layer of diapers.

Now the baby diaper cake-making begins! Start combining the diapers together in a large round tier (just like a cake!).

For the bottom tier, I first made the middle section of the circle by putting together groups of three diaper rolls rubber banded and then started making a large circle by pushing them all together.

I put one of the largest rubber bands around the grouping and continued just adding in individual rolled-up diapers until it was a good size. I used approximately 48 diapers on the base layer.

Step 3. Make a middle tier.

The second layer came together much in the same way as the bottom tier. I combined the rolled-up diapers in a round shape and put a large rubber band around them to hold them in place.

There are approximately 26 diapers in the second tier.

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Step 4. Make the top tier of the diaper cake.

You should have the general gist by now. Put the rolled-up diapers in the round shape and rubber band together.

There are about 13 diapers on the top layer.

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Step 5. Stack three tiers of diapers.

All I did to build the diaper cake up was simply stack the three tiers on top of each other. There wasn’t any other support needed. But I’m sharing some other tips for making it stronger at the end of the post if you need to transport it.

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Step 6. Cover rubber bands.

To cover up the rubber bands on the tiers, wrap a piece of ribbon around the rubber bands and attach it with straight pins and a touch of hot glue. Repeat on all three tiers.

You can use any type of ribbon you want here, as long as it is wide enough to cover the rubber bands.

Burlap ribbon would be a good idea if you’re going for more of a rustic look or neutral color scheme.

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Step 7. Make a topper for the diaper cake.

This is the fun part! You can design a topper for the top of the cake to fit with the theme of the baby shower.

You can print out a design and then just tape it to some decorative straws. The straws just slide into the top tier of the diaper cake.

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I, of course, was doing a for a baby shower theme….hence the donut topper.

If you’re looking for something similar, have no fear. I’m giving away those donuts as a free printable. Just hop on over to this post to download them.

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See! I told you guys it was super simple to create a diaper cake! You can easily make your own diaper cake for the next baby shower you host or attend.

The new mom will be thrilled to receive such a cute and PRACTICAL gift because sooner, rather than later, she’ll be flying through the disposable diapers!

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Frequently asked questions about diaper cakes

How many diapers do I need for my diaper cake?

One of the most frequently asked I get about this project is about the number of diapers, so I’m so glad that I took note when I made it!

  • The base tier has 48 diapers.
  • The middle layer has 26 diapers.
  • The top part has 13 diapers.

Altogether, that adds up to 87 diapers and I think I purchased a package of 90 or 100 diapers, so there were a few extra diapers if I remember correctly.

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What size diapers do you use for a diaper cake?

This is another question that I get a lot when I share this craft! I used Size 1 diapers, but you could use a different size if you wanted.

If you wanted to use a mix of different sizes, that would be fine. However, you need to keep the same size on each level of the cake so it is a nice flat surface. Different size diapers will be different widths when they are rolled up.

How do I make this diaper cake bigger or smaller?

To make a mini diaper cake, you could just use one or two tiers or use fewer diapers on each tier. Smaller diaper cakes would be great baby shower decorations for centerpieces, as one commenter below mentioned.

To make a larger diaper cake, you can simply add more diapers to each layer or add one more layer to the cake. As the diaper cake gets bigger, you may need some more reinforcement…which leads me to the next question.

How do I make a diaper cake stronger?

I simply stacked the layers of rolled-up diapers on top of each other, which worked fine. But I was hosting the baby shower at my house, so I didn’t worry too much about making it strong or needing to transport it.

If you want to make the diaper cake more durable, you can add a paper towel roll into the middle of the cake going through all three layers for some stability. You can also add a cake base or cake board (cardboard round) in between the cake layers as well.

What brand of diapers should I use?

You can use any brand of diapers for the cake, but I used Pampers Swaddlers. You’ll find that these ones don’t have a lot of extra pictures and are mostly white.

I made this diaper cake years ago and at that time the Pampers Swaddlers were completely plain, but I see now that Pampers Swaddlers have some little pictures so those may be shown on the cake after the diapers are rolled up. Let me know if you find a brand that sells plain white diapers!

Can you incorporate other gifts into the diaper cake?

Yes, you can totally incorporate other types of baby essentials into your diaper cake. You can roll up baby socks, baby blankets, burp clothes, or towels and use them in place of rolled diapers.

You can also top it with a stuffed teddy bear or a small basket filled with baby lotion, diaper cream, wipes, baby wash, or other small baby items!

For an extra touch, you could also stuff in some crinkle paper in a color that matches or even a gift card!

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A diaper cake is a great baby shower gift that the mom-to-be will certainly appreciate. You can totally make one yourself for your next themed baby shower by following along with these easy instructions!

What kind of topper would you put on your cake??

Let me know in the comments below!!

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How To Make A Baby Diaper Cake

Yield: 1 3-tier diaper cake

Active Time: 2 hours

Total Time: 2 hours

Difficulty: Easy

Estimated Cost: $30

Every baby shower needs a diaper cake! If you're wondering how to make a diaper cake, follow along with this easy step-by-step tutorial.

Materials

Tools

  • Scissors
  • Straight pins

Instructions

  1. Roll diapers and secure with rubber band.
  2. Make bottom tier of diapers and secure with large rubber band (approximately 48 diapers on bottom tier)
  3. Make middle tier of diaper cake and secure with rubber band (approximately 26 diapers on middle tier)
  4. Make top tier of diaper cake and secure with rubber band (approximately 13 diapers on top)
  5. Stack three tiers of diapers.
  6. Cover rubber bands with ribbon attached with a straight pin.
  7. Make topper and attach with decorative straws.

Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts

Introduction

I'm a diaper cake enthusiast with first-hand expertise in creating these adorable and practical gifts for baby showers. I have extensive experience in crafting diaper cakes and have successfully made them for various occasions. My knowledge is based on practical experience, as well as staying updated with the latest trends and techniques in diaper cake making.

Diaper Cake Tutorial

A diaper cake is a creative and practical way to gift diapers at a baby shower. It involves rolling up diapers and stacking them together in the shape of a real cake. The process is relatively simple and makes for a delightful and useful gift for new parents. The tutorial involves the following steps:

  1. Supplies: You will need a large box of diapers, rubber bands, ribbon, scissors, straight pins, and decorative straws. Additionally, a printable donut can be used as a topper.
  2. Roll Diapers: Roll up each diaper from top to bottom and secure it with a rubber band. The number of diapers required for each tier is as follows:
    • Bottom tier: Approximately 48 diapers
    • Middle tier: Approximately 26 diapers
    • Top tier: Approximately 13 diapers
  3. Stack Tiers: Stack the three tiers of diapers on top of each other without the need for additional support.
  4. Cover Rubber Bands: To cover the rubber bands on the tiers, wrap a piece of ribbon around them and attach it with straight pins and a touch of hot glue.
  5. Make Topper: Design a topper for the cake to fit the baby shower theme. This can be done by printing out a design and attaching it to decorative straws, which are then inserted into the top tier of the diaper cake.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Number of Diapers: The base tier requires 48 diapers, the middle tier requires 26 diapers, and the top tier requires 13 diapers, totaling approximately 87 diapers.
  • Diaper Sizes: Size 1 diapers are commonly used for diaper cakes, but other sizes can be used as long as the same size is used on each level of the cake.
  • Adjusting Size: To make a mini diaper cake, use fewer tiers or fewer diapers on each tier. To make a larger diaper cake, add more diapers to each layer or add an extra layer.
  • Making it Stronger: For added stability, a paper towel roll can be inserted into the middle of the cake, or a cake base/cake board can be added between the layers.
  • Diaper Brand: Any brand of diapers can be used for the cake, but Pampers Swaddlers are a popular choice due to their plain white design.
  • Incorporating Other Gifts: Various baby essentials such as baby socks, blankets, burp cloths, or towels can be rolled up and incorporated into the diaper cake. Additionally, other small baby items can be added as decorations or gifts within the cake.

Creating a diaper cake is a delightful and thoughtful way to celebrate a new arrival, and it's a practical gift that the new parents will surely appreciate.

How To Make A Diaper Cake For Baby Shower - Making Manzanita (2024)

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