Throwing a diaper shower can be a fun and exciting experience for any mom-to-be. You can make it as simple or as elaborate as you like. It totally depends on your preference, budget, and guest list.
In this article, we'll share everything you need to know about a diaper shower, including what it is and how you can make it super fun. We'll also share some of our favorite diaper shower ideas and offer tips for planning a successful diaper baby shower.
What Is a Diaper Shower?
Let's start with some basics. What exactly is a diaper shower? A diaper shower, also known as a diaper baby shower or baby sprinkle, is a great and fun alternative to the traditional baby shower. It's a party that's thrown to celebrate the mom-to-be having her second, third, or fourth baby.
As the name suggests, the focus of the shower is on gifting the mom-to-be with much-needed diapers, because she already has all the other baby supplies from her first or second babies. The guests bring a pack of diapers or diaper-related items (e.g., wipes, rash creams, etc.) as their gifts. The mum-to-be's family or friends generally plan the party.
Diaper Shower and Cloth Diapers
Before we dive into the planning and diaper shower ideas, let's talk about an eco-friendly option for those diapers: cloth diapers.
It's no secret that disposable diapers are more convenient and easier to use—but did you know that disposable diapers are one of the leading causes of landfills?
The United States estimates that 28 billion disposable diapers are used annually. These end up in landfills, where they account for 3.5 million tons of trash. What's more, it takes 500 years for these diapers to decompose in landfills!
Cloth diapers, on the other hand, can be reused, and are a more sustainable and eco-friendly option. Not only that, but they're often gentler on a baby's skin, and actually save money in the long run. Best of all, cloth diapers come in an array of adorable designs that make them a wonderful gift item for expecting parents.
Cloth diapering isn’t something you have to jump into with both feet, either—hybrid diapering lets you split your time between cloth and disposables. Even if cloth diapers are just your backup plan, you’re reducing your carbon footprint with every reuse.
Steps in Planning a Diaper Shower
The secret to hosting a successful diaper baby shower is planning. Here are some steps you can take to ensure that the celebrations go off without a hitch:
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Choose a date and time that works for the expectant parents and their guests. Consider the parents' work schedules and any other events they may have planned.
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Next, work with the parents-to-be to create a guest list. Make sure to invite close family members and friends.
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Now, think about the venue. You can host the diaper shower at a variety of venues; for instance, someone's home, a local park, a restaurant, or a church. Remember to consider the number of guests, the weather, and mum-to-be's preferences when choosing a venue.
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Next, choose a theme for the shower that reflects the personality and interests of the mom-to-be. A theme can make a diaper shower more fun and cohesive. For example, if the mom-to-be is a fan of Disney, then the party could be princess-themed. If the expecting parents are environmentally conscious, then a green-themed shower could be a great option.
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A party is not a party without good food! Remember to consider the mum-to-be's dietary preferences and any food allergies other guests might have when planning the menu. Some fun diaper shower menu ideas include baby-themed cupcakes or diaper-shaped sandwiches.
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Lastly, create invitations—you can send out traditional card invitations or opt for an evite to save on paper waste. You can also go for DIY invitations!
Remember to consider the style and preferences of the mom-to-be throughout the planning process. She’s the star of the show! Thus, it's important to make sure she feels comfortable and celebrated.
Our Favorite Diaper Shower Ideas
Now that you've planned the basics of your diaper shower, it's time to get creative and think of fun ways to make your diaper shower fun and memorable. Here are some creative diaper shower ideas for games, activities, and decorations:
Diaper Cake or Throne
These are one of the easiest ideas to put together, and they’re super cute to make. These are also fun and practical decorations that can be made using cloth diapers, baby toys, and other baby items. The diaper cake and/or throne can be displayed as a centerpiece, and then gifted to the expecting parents after the shower.
The diaper throne is especially super cute for the expecting mother!
You can use newborn cloth diapers and wrap them around the cake or throne. For the decoration of both, you can use cloth wipes or cute printed cloth diapers.
Pass the Diaper
This one is also pretty simple, but it can be very funny if you have a group of friends who like to joke around with each other.
Just pass around a big box of diapers and have each guest guess what's inside. The box could have some baby toys, pacifiers, baby clothes, cloth diaper rash cream, reusable wipes, or other diaper-related items. If they guess correctly (which we doubt they would), they get to keep it!
You can leave some funny prizes in there, too, if you want to spice the game up even more—for instance, some chocolates, soft toys, or maybe some cookies. The possibilities are endless!
DIY Diaper Decorating
For crafty moms-to-be who love DIY projects, here's an activity that's sure to be a hit at your diaper baby shower! Set up a craft station where guests can decorate cloth diapers with fabric markers or iron-on decals.
Give everyone at your party some plain or solid-colored cloth diapers and let them decorate them. You can even have people sign them if they're willing! This could also make for some adorable décor at your diaper shower; or the finished cloth diapers can be gifted to the expecting parents as a personalized and memorable gift for the baby.
Diaper Changing Relay Race
If you're looking for something more energetic and fun, how about a diaper-changing relay race? This is an easy way to get everyone involved in the celebration!
This relay race will have everyone laughing as they try not to let their baby get too messy. Set up stations around the room, with each station having a changing pad, wipes, and cloth diapers. Have one person from each team at each station. When the whistle blows, teams race to change their baby's diaper, and when they’re done, it goes to the next person on their team. The team that changes the most diapers in the given time wins!
Give-a-Benefit Cloth Diaper Challenge
This is a fun and engaging activity that is also educational. Buy some prefold diapers before the event, then divide the guests into teams and give each team a diaper.
Now, give each team ten to fifteen minutes to brainstorm creative ways to use cloth diapers beyond just changing a baby's diaper. The moms can choose their favorite ideas from each presentation, and the team whose idea was declared the best by the mom-to-be will receive a prize. For example, the winner could get a gift card to a restaurant or spa!
This game encourages guests to think beyond just changing a baby's diaper, and promotes the idea of using cloth diapers in creative and beneficial ways.
The Bottom Line for Diaper Shower Ideas
Now that you have the tips and ideas rundown for your future "diaper shower," it's time to put them into action. And by using cloth diapers in your plans, you can make the diaper shower eco-friendly and sustainable. So why not give them a try? Your guests (and the planet) will thank you!
Let us know if you come up with any other creative and fun diaper shower ideas. We would love to share those ideas with our cloth diaper community!
