How to make a pram nappy cake
Step-by-step instructions: how to make a pram nappy cake
A pram nappy cake is not just a cute way to welcome a newborn into the world but also a practical and creative gift. New parents always need nappies plus you can customise the cake with some additional, useful gifts.
When making this DIY nappy cake, it is best to ask a friend to help, as an extra pair of hands makes it easier to hold and assemble the nappy cake. In addition, it’s much more fun to design and make this cute newborn gift with a friend. However, with a little patience, you can craft this DIY nappy cake on your own too.
Materials you will need to make a pram nappy cake:
66 nappies, preferably size 3
1 baby bodysuit or blanket
A handkerchief or cuddly toy
Rubber band, pins, and tape
Approx. 2 meters of coloured ribbons
Cardboard or a cardboard box
Wrapping paper
Time required: approx. 30 minutes
Difficulty: easy
Costs: 25 - 30 €
The estimated costs of about 25 - 35€ are just a guideline for the construction and decoration and do not include additional gifts. The cost will vary depending on what gifts you buy. If you use slightly bigger nappies, the new parents won’t have to take the nappy cake apart immediately as the baby will grow into the size. Size 3 nappies are best, but if you choose larger or smaller nappies, you will need to adjust the number of nappies when making the nappy cake.
You can design your pram nappy cake to suit your taste and add almost any little baby gifts you like. Here are some ideas:
A wooden teething ring
A dummy
A personalised dummy chain
Baby care products
Pram nappy cake: step-by-step instructions with pictures
Step 1: how to make the body of the pram nappy cake
The basic shape of the pram nappy cake is made up of 2 rectangles. To make these, simply stack nappies on top of each other. For the bed of the pram, stack 30 nappies on top of each other and secure them with a rubber band. As the bed will be covered by a bodysuit or baby blanket, it doesn't matter what colours or patterns the nappies have. If a rubber band is not enough to secure it, you can tie it up with a ribbon to keep it in place.
The headpiece of the DIY nappy cake is built in a similar way. Use 28 nappies, so that the head is in proportion to the bed. Secure these with a rubber band or ribbon as before. The wide area of the pram will be visible when it is finished so you shouldonly use nappies that are plain or with simple patterns. Many nappy packs include two different patterns. If this is the case, make sure to use nappies with a large pattern in the base and white nappies in this section.
These two packs of nappies form the base of your pram, which now needs to be decorated and assembled.
Step 2: how to make the wheels of the pram nappy cake
The wheels are easy and quick to make. Just roll 2 nappies together and attach the roll with a small rubber band. You can hide the rubber band with wide ribbons. It is best to cut them to the right length and pin the ends to avoid wrinkles in the ribbon.
Place a stuffed animal in the pram nappy cake. You can clamp it between the two parts of the pram nappy cake, making it look as if the soft toy is lying in the pram.
Step 3: pin the bodysuit to the bed of your nappy cake
Cover the bed of the pram with a bodysuit. Place it flat on the surface and fold over any overhanging fabric. You can fasten it in place with pins. The arms and legs of the baby bodysuit can also be folded over to the back of the nappy pack and pinned there. Use pins with plastic heads as they cannot disappear into the fabric. This makes it safe and easy for the parents to remove.
A small bodysuit won’t completely cover the bed area of the pram. Thus, opt for a larger size when shopping for baby bodysuits. In addition, if you choose a larger size, parents won’t have to disassemble the nappy cake so soon. Bodysuits in size 74 and larger, cover size 3 nappies well. Note the season too: calculate what time of year the bodysuit will fit the baby.
The following size chart will help you choose the right bodysuit size:
Clothing size | 50 | 56 | 62 | 68 | 74 | 80 | 86 | 92 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Age in month | 0 - 1 | 0 - 1 | 2 - 3 | 3 - 6 | 6 - 9 | 9 - 12 | 12 - 18 | 18 - 24 |
Step 4: assembly
Now you will need to put all 6 parts together to make the final nappy cake. First, place the bed with the pinned bodysuit on the table facing up. Then place the headpiece behind it. Place a cute handkerchief with a cuddly toy between the two sections, so that only the head and the arms stick out when the pram is finished.
Now fold a 65 x 65 cm white molton cloth nappy and tie it around the pram. To do this, lay the cloth nappy on the table and fold it into a triangle. Now, place the tip of the triangle on the long edge and fold it again. This will create a neat, wide band. If you prefer, you can use a baby blanket or a baby towel instead.
Place the folded molton cloth around the bed so that the nappies are completely covered and tie a knot behind the headpiece. An extra set of hands to hold it in place is very useful at this point. If you don't have any helpers at hand, you can tie a wide band around the bed area and the headpiece before you put the molton cloth over it. If the cloth sticks out in places, you can fix it with white pins. Put a wooden ring at the front between the cloth and the nappy pack. This will be the handle of the pram.
Fold a second molton cloth in the same way and place it around the top of the pram. This needs to be tightly pinned to the bottom of the pram.
Now the two main components of your pram nappy cake should be securely in place.
You can use a wooden teething ring on the front of the pram. Not only will the pram have a practical handle, but the parents will have a handy gift for their baby when it starts teething.
Step 5: decorate your pram nappy cake
Tie wide fabric ribbons around the parts of the pram to decorate them and add some extra stability. You could also attach a dummy to the ribbon.
To be able to pick the pram nappy cake up, you need a stable base. Cut out a large, thick cardboard rectangle and cover it in wrapping paper. Attach the wheels to the cardboard and the body of the pram to the wheels using pins.
As an alternative to cardboard, you can mount it on a decorative gift box. This will give you some extra space to store some more baby gifts.
Pram nappy cake for both boys and girls
A pram nappy cake is a cute gift for newborn boys and girls. The basic design stays the same but with some changes to the decoration, you can create a fantastic girls’ or boys’ pram nappy cake.
Changing the bodysuit on the bed will make a big difference to how the pram looks. For the girl’s pram add a pink bodysuit with a subtle pattern. Alternatively, a bodysuit with a large print would look great. If you don't want to use a bodysuit, you can use a baby blanket instead.
You can replace white molton cloths with pink cloths for the girls' pram. The stuffed animal can also be pink. We have a wide selection of baby clothes for girls that you can find online and in our outlets.
Add some lush pink ribbons as a final touch. Make sure not to use too many different shades of pink in your nappy pram. White or light grey are great colours for adding subtle accents and looking neat.
If you are making a pram nappy cake for a boy, you can use blue molton cloths to tie the bed area to the headpiece of the pram. You can put a grey or blue bear or cuddle cloth in the pram. Instead of a stuffed animal, you can simply add a blue dummy.
A cute dummy chain with the baby’s name on it will turn your pram nappy cake into a personalised gift for new parents. You can find blue bodysuits with patterns, cute boys’ baby blankets, baby clothes and accessories for baby boys in our shops.
If you are looking for more DIY baby gift inspiration, you will find detailed instructions for making baby gifts for girls and baby gifts for boys in our articles. You can find an overview of all crafting instructions here.
Conclusion: a DIY pram nappy cake is a creative and practical newborn gift
A DIY nappy cake is the ideal newborn gift. It is not only creative but also a practical gift for new parents. Made with size 3 nappies and cute baby accessories such as a wooden teething ring, baby bodysuits or a dummy chain, the nappy cake is both pretty and useful. Our unique design lets you customise the nappy cake for boys or girls, and you can give the nappy cake your personal touch. Whether with colourful ribbons or carefully selected baby gifts, a pram nappy cake is guaranteed to be an unforgettable gift that will put a smile on the parents’ faces.
