How to Make the Most of a Diaper Shower

The point of creating a baby registry is simple: to get the essentials you need (while providing a creative outlet for all the very excited friends and relatives who want to buy you stuff). While strollers, high chairs and car seats often rank high on the list of registry must-haves, there are actually only a few things you really need in those first few days of parenting. At the top of that list? Diapers.

There are plenty of reasons to consider a diaper-centric baby shower:

• This isn’t your first rodeo (aka baby), and you’ve already got all the big-ticket items you need.
• You’re trying to keep your gear to a minimum while still giving your loved ones an opportunity to bring gifts. (You can say “no gifts” all you want, but folks will always find a way.)
• You have a big community and want to make sure you have enough options on your registry (and there are only so many baby outfits you like!).

But mostly—you’re just going to need them. Newborn babies go through an average of six to nine diaper changes a day, making diapers one of the bigger expenses of new parenthood. Whether you’re hosting a shower or looking to pass tips along to the person throwing yours, we’ve partnered with the Huggies brand to share some of our best tips for getting the most out of a diaper shower.

Figure Out How Many

First, it’s helpful to figure out just how many diapers you want to register for. One box? Two? Ten? Giving your guests a concrete request makes it easier for them to figure out your needs and prevents you from getting five boxes of newborn diapers when you really only need one or two. Our diaper calculator can help you get a sense of how many diapers you should ask for (considering important factors like storage space) and in what sizes.

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Then, figure out what kind of diapers you want. Newborn skin can be sensitive, so registering for a hypoallergenic plant-based* diaper like Huggies Special Delivery can reduce your chances of getting a box of diapers that doesn’t agree with your baby’s butt. And of course, don’t forget wipes too!

Make It Fun for Them

While your registry might be about the things you need, gift-gifting is really about the giver. Practical gifts like diapers aren’t always the most fun to bestow on an expecting family. But you can make the exchange more entertaining by turning it into a game, like one of these:

Host a Diaper Raffle: Encourage your guests to bring diapers to your shower by hosting a raffle. On your invites, let guests know that for every pack of diapers they bring, they’ll be entered into a drawing to win a prize (look on Etsy for ready-made printable designs for tickets and shower signage). The reward can be anything from practical prizes like gift cards to silly things like raffling off all your “baby-unfriendly” household possessions.

Get Creative: It’s amazing how many everyday objects you can make out of diapers. If your guests are DIY mavens, invite them to share their skills through diaper decor. Host a competition for the most clever ideas—whether it be next-level diaper cakes, diaper bouquets or something we haven’t even thought of yet. They can either bring their creation to the party or you can host a Nailed-It style craft-off as part of the event. Just make sure to stick with temporary adornments that can easily be removed and avoid anything that could render your diapers unusable—like glue.

Make It Fun For You

Diaper Up Your Decor: There’s no rule that says you have to make your shower diaper-themed just because you’re asking for diapers. If you have your heart set on a donut-themed sprinkle party, by all means, enjoy your chocolate glaze and let your gifts fade into the background.

But if you’re hard up for inspiration, lean into the theme. Incorporate a diaper garland somewhere, create an over-the-top diaper cake or come up with a clever way to display the diapers you’ve received (like this adorable diaper truck). Search for baby shower kits on Etsy or look through party printable sites like this one and you’ll find a bevy of themed shower decor options that you can print at home.

Pro tip: Huggies Special Delivery diapers have extra-cute patterns on them, like cacti, succulents and storks. The plant-patterns would go especially well with a botanical bash and the storks would be adorable with a cloud-themed shower.

Savor the Sentiments: There’s nothing like a registry gift that gives you warm fuzzy feelings when you use it. One of our favorite diaper-based shower activities involves laying out a table of diapers and providing a handful of colorful non-smudge markers, then asking guests to write messages on the diapers for parents to savor during midnight changes. Words of encouragement and advice are always a hit.

Don’t Overthink It

There are plenty of ways to make your diaper shower fun and engaging—both for you and your guests. But don’t overthink it. The most important thing is to clearly communicate to the host and your guests that your main objective is to get diapers. Make that known on your invitation and on your registry. And then let them do their thing. How you spice it up beyond that is up to you and the party host.

For more on how to register for diapers, check out our diaper diaper calculator and head to our Huggies giveaway page to enter for a chance to win free Huggies Special Delivery diapers for an entire year.

*20%+ by weight

This article is sponsored by the Huggies brand. Babylist’s free site, apps and emails are made possible by our sponsors. We limit our sponsored content to relevant partners that offer products and services we believe in and use ourselves.