How to Make a Diaper Cake

Guide Note You can make your own unique, memorable baby gift by following the instructions in How to Make a Diaper Cake.

Table of Contents

Diaper Cake Tips

For ideas and visual aids, visit Mahalo's How to Make a Diaper Cake Videos page.
Look at various styles of diaper cakes before you choose your design.
Taping diapers together can damage them.
Place heavier gift items on lower tiers.
Check the stability of the rows and tiers on your cake before you move it.
Transport your completed diaper cake in a sturdy box, if possible.

Introduction

Diaper Cakes make wonderful shower gifts for new moms and dads. They can be constructed from either disposable or cloth diapers.¹ Personalize and customize the diaper cake by adding ribbons, special toys or useful items for baby and mom.

Like real cakes, diaper cakes can be simple, one layer affairs or elaborate, multi-tiered creations.² Adding tiers to your diaper cake will increase its appeal and its weight. Plan the diaper cake before you begin creating it in order to avoid winding up with a creation that is impossible to support and transport easily.

Select Shape. You can make a square or round diaper cake.
1. Round cakes will need a center support to hold the diapers together.
2. Square cakes can be made with or without supports.
Choose Wrapping Method. Diaper cakes can be made with folded diapers, rolled diapers or diapers that have been unfolded and flattened.¹
1. The fastest method is to use folded diapers straight out of the box.¹
2. Rolled diapers create a larger cake with the same number of diapers, but require additional time.³
3. Flattened diapers take the most time and require more diapers, but produce a smoother, more cake-like end result.
Choose Diapers. Select the size and type of diaper that you'll use, based on wrapping method.
1. Avoid using newborn sizes.⁴ Most babies will need the next two sizes soon after delivery.
2. Expect to use 50-100 of size 3 (16 lbs+) disposable diapers for any diaper cake.⁴
3. Remember that cloth diapers don't have as much bulk as disposables.⁵

Picking a theme will make it easier to shop for your supplies.⁴ Decide in advance if the cake is unisex, boy or girl-oriented or designed to match the new baby's nursery or a favorite children's character. Most supplies can be picked up in craft stores or well-stocked drugstores and mass merchandisers, like dollar stores.

Diapers. Choose plain white or decorated diapers that match your theme.
Wide ribbons (1-2 inches) to secure rows and to make large bows.
Narrow (1/4-1/2 inch) grosgrain or curling ribbons for decoration and attaching items to cake.
Scotch tape and clear packing tape.
Rubber bands to secure rolled diapers.
A wooden dowel, cardboard paper towel tube or baby bottle (depending on your design) to serve as a core for the cake.
A decorative plastic, metal or heavy cardboard tray to serve as a base.
Decorations including small baby items such as pacifiers, bath toys, teething rings, rattles, socks, mittens, booties, bibs, travel size lotions, wipes and so on.
Netting or cellophane wrap (optional). This will add a decorative, protective layer during transport and storage.

Each layer of the cake is secured to the core. Build the bottom layer and check for stability before going on to the next layer. Tweak your design, if necessary, before putting on the next tier.

Attach the core to the base with clear packing tape.
Decorate the base by covering it with plastic wrap or netting, if desired. Secure covering to underside of base with packing tape.
Roll all the diapers into cylinders and fasten each with one rubber band. If you are using folded diapers, skip this step.⁴
Stack diapers evenly around the core to form one row.³ Fasten this row with a narrow ribbon. Continue making rows of rolled diapers (and fastening them) until your first cake layer is the circumference that you have selected. Wrap the finished layer (tier) tightly with wide ribbon.
Start making the second layer (tier) by stacking diapers around the core to form a new row. Make this layer one less row than the foundation row. Secure finished tier with wide ribbon.
Continue adding layers (tiers) in this fashion, until you have 2-4 tiers, securing each row with narrow ribbon and securing each tier with wide ribbon.
For added stability, insert short narrow dowels (or unsharpened pencils) into each finished tier to connect it to the next lower tier.⁶
Wrap each tier with a receiving blanket or bunting, for a smooth cake-like appearance, if desired.²

Allow your creativity can go into high gear during this step. Decorate the cake with your selected baby items. You can even add a topper, if desired, to make your cake special.

Wrap additional ribbons around each layer to hold gifts, toys and bows.
In order to preserve the structural integrity of the cake, do not use the ribbons that you secured the diaper stack with for attaching items.
Add a cake topper, if desired. Use a stuffed toy, make towels animals or simply add a fabulous bow with streamers.
Use plastic wrap or colored netting to provide a protective covering for your diaper cake until it's time to make your presentation.⁷

Your hand-crafted diaper cake is a practical, one-of-kind gift that will be appreciated by any new parent.