How to Make a Diaper Cake

Baby showers are very fun events. I'm sure that at least one person you know is pregnant or will be in the next year. Almost everyone these days knows a mother-to-be. There are many gifts that you could buy the new mommy, but why not make her something more special. You can make her a diaper cake. You could buy one, but they are much more expensive than if you just make one yourself. With my easy to follow instructions anyone can make a diaper cake.

Depending on how large a diaper cake you are making, you will need a package or two of diapers. For a three tiered cake I used approximately 35 size three diapers. You might need a little more or a little less. You will need to make each layer as round as possible, so add according to that. You will need a piece of cardboard that will be bigger than the actual base of the cake. You will also need three packages of 2 inch or 3 inch wide ribbon that are 3 yards long each.

Also you will need a multipack of rubber bands and a single pack of small hair elastic bands that are used for small braids and such. I bought clear because they are much easier to hide. You should also have a variety of goodies to put inside the cake and ribbons. They do not all have to be hid, like many of the commercial makers of diaper cakes do. Also you may purchase some dowels that will be used to stabilize the tiers.

The first step is to make the base level. You will need to first roll up each diaper individually from the top of the folded diaper to the bottom. This will make the diaper more round. Then wrap a small hair band around the diaper to hold it into place. Continue doing this with new diapers until you have approximately 35 of them done. Start with a smaller classic brown rubber band and place however many diapers will fit in it.

When it is full and you cannot add anymore diapers, place a new looser band around it and then add enough diapers until it appears round. I used approximately 20 diapers in my base level. When the base is completed set it onto the round cardboard. I do suggest using a cake board; they are white instead of brown and make it a cleaner look. If you make your own board, wrap it with wrapping paper.

Next you will create your middle level. Do this the same way you did the base level only with fewer diapers. I used approximately 10 diapers in this level. When you are finished making that level place it on top of the base level. Make sure you center it. At this time you may want to place a cut dowel through the base and middle level. I would leave it long enough to stick up through the middle level, but short enough that it will be hid with the top level. The dowel will stabilize the cake. You can also use more than one for a sturdier cake, especially if you are traveling very far.

Finally you will put approximately 5 diapers into the top level. Make it round by adding or taking out diapers as needed. Then place it onto the top of the cake. Make sure to run the dowel or dowels through the layer. You have now completed all the levels of the cake.

Now you will need to wrap ribbon around each layer. I attached the ends of the ribbon together by gluing them with a cool temp., hot glue gun. I made sure that it was loose enough to fit in extra gifts, but tight enough to stay around the tiers and hide the rubber bands. If you look at the photos, you can see that I placed items inside the ribbon. I used socks, a lullaby CD, baby oil, bibs, and other various items. I did hide washcloths inside the top layer. After I added the initial ribbon around each layer, I also glued a bow to the center of each layer. You can do the same if you like. I personally thought it made it look more elegant. After you are satisfied, you might want to wrap the whole cake in tulle or plastic wrap. I didn't, but I was not going that far and my diaper cake was used as the centerpiece for my sister's baby shower.

The diaper cake that I made only cost me around $30. This was the first diaper cake I ever made. You can make them as big as you want or as small as you want. You can customize them to the baby shower theme. As you can see, I added a frog to the top of the cake. My sister's theme was frogs and ducks. Be creative, the mommy-to-be is sure to love it. You might also be interested in making a diaper wreath. Visit my page here for the article.