How to Make a Diaper Cake for a Baby Shower or Nesting Party

We love the new trend of nesting parties that help parents-to-be prep in practical ways for a new baby — and a diaper cake is the perfect way to blend cute and creative nesting party decor with a truly useful gift that any new mom or dad will appreciate. Diaper cakes range from simple tiers of disposable diapers wrapped in ribbons to totally decked-out cakes decorated with toys and other useful baby items, but don’t be intimidated if you’re not the crafty type: learning how to make a diaper cake is easier than you might imagine — especially if you’re keeping it low-key.

To that end: Few things are as mission-critical as diapers, and as any experienced parent knows, babies go through a lot of them (like, a lot a lot of them), so remember that the whole point of a diaper cake is that it will get dismantled and used! 

With that in mind, here’s the step-by-step guide you need to make a diaper cake that is guaranteed to be appreciated.

How to Make a Diaper Cake

You can make a diaper cake of any size. These directions are for a three-tier diaper cake using about 70 disposable diapers.

What you’ll need:

• 60-70 disposable diapers
• Rubber bands
• Round cardboard, pizza pan, or plastic tray
• Wooden dowels
• Bottles, toys, and other baby items
• Ribbons and bows
• Cellophane or netting, if desired

Directions:

1. Roll each diaper and secure it with a rubber band.
2. Create the top (smallest) layer of the cake by standing a baby bottle (or a rolled baby towel, small baby doll, or other gift) upright with a large rubber band around it. Place eight rolled diapers around it, inside the rubber band.
3. Repeat the process to create the middle layer, this time adding 16 diapers around the item.
4. Make another layer exactly like the middle layer, then add an additional 20-30 more diapers around it. This will be the large, bottom layer of your diaper cake.
5. Use a circular piece of cardboard, a pizza pan, or plastic tray as the base of the cake. Place the bottom layer onto the base.
6. Insert two wooden dowels between (not through) the diapers. Carefully stack the middle and top layers onto the cake, threading through the dowels.
7. Add ribbon around each layer to hide the rubber bands. Place a stuffed animal, small toy, or other useful baby item on top as a cake topper.
8. Wrap the entire cake in cellophane or netting, if you like, and secure it with a ribbon or bow.

While any mom or dad will appreciate the gift of diapers, the fun with diaper cakes comes in the extras. So consider giving your diaper cake a theme — anything from animals to Bluey — and have fun with decorations. You can hide different items in the center of the cake layers, from baby bottles to washcloths to baby lotion. You can also decorate the outside of the cake and the top with rattles, stuffed animals, pacifiers, and just about anything else that baby needs. Just remember that creating a useful gift is the whole point!

Pin It!