What's a diaper cake you ask? Well, although the history of the diaper cake is unclear, diaper cakes have been around for a very long time. Women have been adorning their expectant loved-ones with these crafty little creations -- originally made from cloth diapers and including such items as diaper pins and glass baby bottles for generations. In recent years, diaper cakes have gained in popularity and the surge in interest and demand has been attributed to several television shows (such as "Sex in the City") and celebrity Baby Showers that have featured them as the perfect gift for the mom-to-be. The innovative design and astounding creativity that has immerged in this craft trade has also helped to launch their popularity.
How is a Diaper Cake Constructed?
Diaper cakes typically start with a base of... well, diapers of course.
The diapers are structured in the form of a cake and the cake typically includes several other baby items that are incorporated into the cake's design as additional gifts for the mom-to-be. The cake is then decorated with ribbon or other novelties. Often, multiple tiers are created to resemble a wedding cake, although single tier cakes are also available and can provide you with a lower-budget option.The diapers can be individually rolled to form the cake or can be used in their present, folded form and then simply "fanned" into a circle shape. Rolled Diaper cakes give a more elaborate and "finished" look but can be more expensive because the building of the cake requires more work and because each diaper needs to be individually secured with a rubber band, ribbon or tie, adding to the cost of materials. Whichever type of design you choose to purchase or build for yourself, make sure that there are lots of baby items incorporated. If you're purchasing from a vendor, make sure you see a diaper cake ingredient list
for the cake that you choose. Some items that are typically included are bottles, clothes, bibs, pacifiers, baby powder, baby lotion, baby shampoo, baby wipes, you get the idea. The more that you can include in the cake without ruining the design by creating a cluttered or "hodge-podge" look, the better!
Not just for Baby Showers
Diaper cakes are now popular for many occasions outside of the traditional Baby Shower use. In my Diaper Cake business, I sell many of my cakes as corporate gifts for expectant moms at the office, as gifts for the hospital (a much more useful and lasting alternative to sending flowers), for Christenings, for Baby's Homecoming, even as a first year birthday gift (using a larger size diaper and toddler gift items of course).
Taunia Lin Kipp is the Founder of Don't Eat the Cake! Diaper Bakery & Inedible Treats located in Saratoga Springs, NY and serving the US and Canada. Her company's unique diaper and towel cake designs are chocked-full of useful, every day items and continue to gain in popularity as the ideal gift for any special occasion.
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