About Diaper Cakes

Popular baby shower gifts, diaper cakes are new, clean diapers configured to look like a tiered cake. Designs vary from simple to complex castle diaper cakes. Usually the "cakes" are decorated with other baby gifts such as booties, stuffed animals and rolled washcloths. The diaper cake functions as a decoration at the baby shower, but the individual diapers can be used for the baby once it arrives. Disposable or cloth diapers can be used.

Function

Diaper cakes evolved as a way to dress up a boring baby shower gift. Diapers are a necessary and costly part of caring for a baby. Instead of bringing a wrapped bag of new diapers, guests can create their own diaper cake or buy a pre-made "cake" as a gift. During the baby shower, the diaper cake can be used as a centerpiece or decoration. Often, multiple diaper cakes are used to match the shower theme.

Features

Average three-tiered diaper cakes use approximately 50 diapers. Disposable diapers may be easier to use since they stand better than cloth diapers. Each diaper is rolled from the fold outwards and tied with ribbon. The top tier usually has a baby bottle or other baby item in the middle surrounded by rolled diapers. The entire cake tier is then tied with ribbon to keep it together. The middle and bottom tiers are made entirely of rolled diapers and tied with ribbon. The middle tier should have approximately 15 diapers, and the largest tier on the bottom will have approximately 27 diapers. The tiers are stacked with the largest on the bottom and the smallest on top. Diaper cakes are decorated depending on the baby shower theme, but usually have other baby items on each tier.

Time Frame

Diaper cakes make fabulous centerpieces because they do not wilt as flowers do and can be made in advance of the shower. Everything on the diaper cake can be used for the baby so they are functional as well as beautiful. How long it takes to make a diaper cake depends on the cake design. Elaborate designs such as diaper castles may be best purchased since the time an amateur would spend outweighs the cost of the purchase.

Significance

Diaper cakes tell the mother-to-be that love and thought went into the planning of the baby shower. Diaper cakes are a gift, not merely a decoration, and very practical choices for a shower on a budget. For the first-time mother, diaper cakes are a sly and good humored reminder of the world the mother-to-be will soon be inhabiting.

Potential

Diaper cakes can take on any theme. They are good for baby showers as well as meet-the-baby parties. The basic design on a diaper cake can be used for other occasions. Instead of diapers, towels can be used to make a wedding shower cake.

Resources

• Diaper Cakes and Castles