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Nappy cake: step-by-step instructions

How to make a nappy cake for boys and girls: instructions and ideas

Probably the most popular baby gift is a homemade nappy cake. This nappy cake is not only cute, but it is also useful. In addition to lots of nappies, the cake can be decorated with all kinds of useful baby gifts.

Nappy cake instructions

To make a multi-tiered nappy cake, all you need is time, love, and good instructions. The most important thing is good preparation. Think about the colours of your DIY nappy cake and the materials you need. The following list will help you.

Material to make a nappy cake:

  • 70 size 3 nappies

  • A large

    sheet of cardboard

  • A cake plate (as a base)

  • A pretty bottle (e.g. a juice bottle or body lotion for the new mum)

  • Scissors and pins

  • 70x rubber bands (3 cm)

  • 8x large rubber bands (approx. 8 cm)

  • Coloured ribbons and bows

  • Wrapping paper in matching colours

  • Small baby gifts

Time required: 60 minutes

Difficulty: easy

Cost: 45-60 €

It's up to you which items you decorate the nappy cake with. In addition to practical baby accessories, you can add some gifts for the new parents. For example, nursing tea or body lotion would be a lovely gift for first time parents. Depending on the size and height of your nappy cake, you can adjust the number of nappies and the materials accordingly.

How do you make a nappy cake: step-by-step instructions

Before you start making your own nappy cake, it's a good idea to lay out all the materials on a table to make sure you have everything you need.

Step 1: how to make the base of the nappy cake

To make sure your homemade nappy cake is stable and easy to transport, you need to make a solid base. Take the large piece of cardboard and cut it into a round shape. We recommend about 35 centimetres in diameter. Wrap the cardboard in wrapping paper to make it look pretty. Alternatively, you can use a cake plate or a tray as a base. This adds a bonus gift to the present too.

Step 2: how to roll the nappies for the nappy cake

Once you have made a pretty base, it’s time to start rolling all the nappies. Start by rolling up the nappies so that the printed side is on the inside and all the nappies look white. Secure each roll with a small rubber band so that they don't come undone. Alternatively, you can put little baby socks over the nappies.

Step 3: how to stack the nappies for the nappy cake

Now it's time to stack the nappies. Start with the bottom tier by placing a bottle in the middle of your cake base. The bottle stabilises the nappies as you stack them. Instead of a juice bottle, you can add a tub of body lotion as a gift for the new mum. Next, put a large rubber band around the bottle and start putting a row of nappies between the bottle and the rubber band. The first row of nappies should surround the bottle.

Now put the second row of nappies around the first row using another rubber band, followed by a third row to complete the first tier. For an extra little surprise, you can hide small baby gifts such as baby powder or care wipes in the gaps.

The second and third tiers are made in the same way as the first, but with fewer nappies.

For a three-tier nappy cake, you need:

  • 42 nappies for the bottom tier

  • 22 nappies for the middle tier

  • 6 nappies for the top tier

Tip

Baby socks fit perfectly over a single rolled up diaper. Add several socks throughout the cake to add a lovely sprinkle of colours.

Step 4: decorate your nappy cake with ribbons and small gifts

Once all the nappies have been arranged, it's time to decorate the cake. First, take a wide ribbon and cut it to the right length. Then place a ribbon around each tier so that the elastic bands are hidden. You can either pin the ribbons or tie them in a pretty bow. The homemade nappy cake looks particularly pleasing if you put two colour-coordinated ribbons on top of each other rather than just one. Make sure that the ribbon at the back is wider than the one in front. Now you can decorate the nappy cake with some small gifts.

You can use small stuffed animals or a baby bottle as a topper for your nappy cake. If you want to personalise your nappy cake, you can write the baby's name on some little flags and make your own cake topper using some string and paper straws.

Customise your nappy cake for boys and girls

Depending on whether the newborn is a boy or a girl, you can adapt the colour scheme. The basic instructions to make the nappy cake stay the same, all you have to do is choose different decorations, ribbons, and baby accessories. If the baby's gender is unknown, you can use neutral colours. Green or yellow tones work particularly well.

A nappy cake for girls in soft pink tones

Your girls’ nappy cake will look really cute in soft pink tones. Feel free to be creative when decorating the nappy cake. Pink socks over some of the nappies, a little teething ring attached to the side of the cake, and little pink shoes as a nappy cake topper are just some of the many great ideas you can use.

For an extra surprise, you can hide small baby gifts in the gaps between the nappies. These could be baby bodysuits in neutral colours or pink bibs, for example. When choosing the ribbons, make sure that the shades of pink do not clash. You can add some grey ribbons to enhance the pink ones and give a more balanced feel.

You can find lots of girls’ baby products in our online shop or in one of our stores.

Tip

The nappy cake can be changed into a castle nappy cake in just a few easy steps. Just add some nappy towers on the cake and you have a great castle for the little princess.

A nappy cake for boys in pastel blue tones

If you know that the new baby is a boy, you can decorate your nappy cake with shades of pastel blue. Use both plain ribbons and bows and ones with subtle patterns in light blue. Dark blue ribbons can also be used to create some contrast. This will make the nappy cake look a little more playful.

With this version of the DIY nappy cake, you can cover individual nappies with little blue socks. Spotted socks will look especially cute. Neutral coloured bodysuits and bibs or molton cloths can be hidden inside the nappy cake. Care products in small blue bottles, a matching dummy, and a dummy chain in matching shades of blue along with a small stuffed animal will top off the decorations. Last but not least, a nappy cake topper will add the final touch. Either personalised flags showing the baby’s name or a cute little baby bottle would be perfect for this.

You can find all the boys’ baby items to decorate your nappy cake in our online shop or one of our stores.

You can find even more inspiration for gifts for newborns in our other step-by-step tutorials. How about an owl nappy cake or a motorcycle nappy cake, for example? If you're looking for a last-minute baby gift, take a closer look at our baby bodysuit bouquet craft tutorial.

Conclusion: a nappy cake is a pretty and useful newborn gift

A nappy cake is a creative and original newborn gift and a heartfelt highlight on any baby shower gift table. With our step-by-step instructions, you can easily make a three-tier nappy cake yourself and decorate it with ribbons and small gifts. By changing the colour scheme of the nappy cake and accessories, you can adapt the design for both boys and girls, making it a versatile gift. Let your creativity run wild when making this gorgeous gift. It not only looks great but is useful too. The new parents will be delighted by this unique and practical gift.

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