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Diaper cakes are one of the hottest trends in baby shower gifts today! They are a useful and fun gift all wrapped up into one and can be customized and decorated in any theme you choose! Giving diapers is always appreciated by new parents as they often spend close to $1000 in diapers for the baby's first year! So saving the expecting parents

What is a diaper cake?

A diaper cake is a collection of diapers rolled up and arranged in tiers resembling a traditional cake. The finished cakes can also be decorated with baby care items such as bibs, pacifiers or any other item you choose.

No need to be a Do-It-Yourself Diva for this one. Diaper cakes are easy and fun to make!

6 Easy Steps to Diaper Cake

Step 1 – Here’s what you will need:

Large cake plate, 60 diapers (newborn size), 1 inch ribbon, ¼ inch ribbon, 50 small rubber bands, 6 large rubber bands, an 8 oz and a 4 oz baby bottle, baby and decorative items (silk flowers, plastic booties, etc.). Tip: Use ribbon that matches the baby shower theme!

Step 2 – The Ground Floor – Tier One

For this step you will need about 35 diapers. Place the 8 oz. bottle in the center of a large cake plate. Roll 17 of the diapers into a cylinder shape and make sure they are rolled tightly. Place a rubber band around each diaper roll to hold it in place. Assemble 5-7 diapers side-to-side around the bottle and place a large rubber band around the ring of diapers to keep them secure. Continue to add a second ring around the first with the remaining rolled diapers and secure them with another rubber band.

Roll up 18-20 more diapers but instead of securing them with a small rubber band, tie a piece of the ¼ inch
ribbon around each one. This ring will be visible by everyone so it needs to be pretty! Assemble these

diapers around the second ring to form the third ring and secure this larger ring in place with a large rubber
band. Tie the 1 inch ribbon around the ring to cover the rubber band.

Step 3 – Keep Stacking - Tier Two

Repeat Step 1 to form the second tier, but only form two rings instead of three. Make sure the outer second ring diapers are each tied with a ¼ inch ribbon. Also tie the 1 inch ribbon around the entire second tier, similar to the first.

Step 4 – You Are Almost Done! Tier Three Time

This tier can be assembled separately. Roll 5-6 diapers with ¼ inch ribbon and assemble them in a ring around the 4 oz. bottle. Secure this entire ring to the bottle with a rubber band and a 1 inch piece of ribbon. Place this tier on top of the second tier to form the three-tier cake.

Step 5 – Time for the fun part!

Add stuffed animals or other baby items such as rattles, receiving blankets and pacifiers all around the cake. You can tuck them into the rubber bands or in between the diapers.

Step 6 – Be prepared for ooohs and ahhhs!

The gift recipient will adore your creation and so will the other guests!

Top 10 Toys for Newborn Boys

Most babies in their first months are hardly able to play with toys because their hands are so tiny. They have trouble grasping even the smallest baby toys. Newborn boy toys often come in different shades of blue, from baby blue to navy, or bolder colors like red, green or brown. Most baby boys love toys that they can look at and have fun with.

Here are some Great Gift Ideas that a baby boy would love!

Soft Books. Babies may not know how to read, but what makes this a great gift is that it's a perfect gift for a baby and mother to enjoy as she reads it to him.

Music Box. All babies find music to be entertaining and soothing. This gift will help babies to relax and hit the snooze button in no time.

Mobile. Imagine him lying in his crib, enjoying the colors and patterns that are coming from the mobile hanging above his crib.

Explore & Learning Toys. Great gift ideas to help the baby learn new colors and shapes. Mostly, round and square shapes.

Plush Toys. Newborn babies love to touch and feel the softness of a plush toy. They are very good gift ideas that help infants fall to sleep fast and feel secure when mom and dad are enjoying some R & R.

Mirror-like Toys. Infants get a kick out of seeing their reflection. Whether it's just amusing for them or they think that it’s another baby looking right at them, remember babies are fascinated with every little thing.

Handmade Baby Gifts. There’s nothing like a gift that has been made with tender love and care.

Play mats. This is a great gift for infants that love to crawl a lot on the floor. Play mats can be placed on the floor like a rug and allow children to play and explore.

Colorful Teething Toys. During teething, babies can be fussy, so why not soothe their worries away with a bright toy that they can drool all over? Teething rings work best.

Push and Pull Toys. Baby boys love making messes and playing with toys that roll. Trucks and cars or toddler bikes they can ride make for hours of content play time.

Top 10 Toys for Newborn Girls

Baby girl toys usually come in pastel colors, like different shades of pink, purple and yellow. Cuddly and colorful stuffed animals are favorites of newborns.

If you're looking to get a toy for the newborn baby in your life, check out these must-have gift ideas:

Baby Bouncer. A wonderful gift for more than one reason! Babies love the up and down motion so much that it seems to keep them happy for hours on end. It also serves as a trusted option for mom and dad when looking for a few minutes' rest from the constant craze of being a parent.

Mobile. Because of their bright colors and music, these are great gifts to help babies fall asleep fast, and to help parents catch some zzz's.

Baby Dolls. One of the best gifts you can ever give a newborn is a baby doll. They are cuddly, plush and comforting.

Interactive Toys. Music, learning and fun rolled all into one! What more could a baby girl ask for? These baby toys are great gift ideas for both Christmas and birthdays. There are so many toys to choose from that often offer educational development such as understanding shapes and sizes.

Tub toys. Rubber duckies, plastic boats and squirt toys make great gifts for newborns. Give the gift of bath time.

Baby Swings. The very swaying movement of a swing can relax and calm any infant. The best gift for both mom and newborn.

Baby Books. Although the little Einstein isn't reading yet, giving baby books as a gift is great for mom and baby.

Stuffed Animals. The first months of a baby’s life are very fragile, so toys should always be soft and plush. Stuffed animals are great gifts to put in gift baskets for all occasions celebrating the little one.

Sensory Toys. These are toys that make noise and move easily with just one touch. Babies love the sound of squeaks and tweets.

Baby showers can be hectic at times, but the greatest gift of having a baby shower is to celebrate with close friends and family. Overall, a baby shower is to show appreciation for the soon to be parents and their baby. But no matter what, it is a very special occasion where loved ones get together and buy gifts to help the family get ready for parenthood.

So, next time you’re invited to a baby shower, be sure to check out our list of top ten gifts that will most likely be on every woman's shower registry:

Baby Crib. When the baby first arrives home from the hospital, they’ll need a nice, comfortable place to sleep.

Bedding. After putting together the baby’s crib, moms would love to decorate with pastel sheets covered with bunny rabbits and other cute animals. Plus, this makes great gifts for all occasions.

Baby Carrier. Babies just love the feeling of being snuggled up against their parents. It’s the warmth that keeps babies calm and relaxed. This gift is also good for parents, because they are still able to do errands at the same time.

Baby Monitor. This is a great gift for nervous first time parents, that aren’t use to waking up all hours of the night. The baby monitor is essential to comfort parent’s worries as they sleep in another room.

Baby Bouncer. Imagine your newborn so happy, and joyful, while they bounce around in your very own living room. Baby bouncers make great gifts because parents have time to relax as their infant has endless fun.

Bath Kit. For a gift that is fun and essential, pick up a tub and a set of bath towels.

First Aid Kit. Safety always comes first, so what better gift to buy a newborn baby than one that is as practical as a first aid kit.

Baby Books. A gift sure to win over any mother’s heart would be a collection of books. Reading books help babies bond with their parents.

Bath Clothing. Babies tend to grow fast, so most clothes become too small. It’s a good idea to always by infant clothes in bigger sizes so that the baby can have a chance to grow into them.

High Chair. During mealtime, most kids love sitting at the table with the whole family.

gift guides

Gifts for the Big Brother or Sister

The birth of a newborn can often be hard on an older sibling, especially if they are not used to sharing the spotlight. With all the attention going to the new baby, make the transition easier for all of your children and remind them that they are still special by giving them a gift.

Here are some great gift ideas that are just great for older sisters and brothers:

Keepsake Gifts. Gifts such as picture frames, jewelry, or a jewelry box are gifts that an older sibling can cherish and always look back at knowing this little token is just for them. To make these gifts even more special, get them engraved with their name. Let it be a constant reminder that they don't have to share this one!

Upgraded Clothes and room décor. Now that they have hit the big time, make them feel special by enjoying perks in a bigger bedroom. Make this a fun time by upgrading bedsheets or accessories to remind them that being an older sibling has it perks.

Gift Baskets. There are a lot of great items that you can find to make a gift basket to say welcome to being a big sister or brother. A baseball tee that says #1 Big Brother gives them a sense of pride and gets them excited for the newest arrival. Also, fill the basket with their favorite snacks and a picture frame where they can place a photo of themselves and their little baby bro or sis.

No matter what gifts you decide to get your children, make sure you let them know how special their role in the family will be. And if that doesn't work, hint that extended TV time and a later curfew are just around the corner.

gift etiquette

Baby Shower Gifting Etiquette

Attending a shower? The latest addition to the family will need clothes, toys and accessories in short order. The perfect excuse for a party! Traditionally, with the arrival of a newborn, a baby shower is thrown, the phrase stemming from the belief that the child in question will be showered with presents. At one time, a shower was given only for a first-born child, and both men and women attended...nowadays it tends to be more female-oriented. The original intent was for women to share wisdom and lessons on the art of becoming a mother. It is not uncommon for a new parent to have multiple showers, such as one with friends and another with co-workers. Here are a few unique gift-giving suggestions and etiquette tips to bear in mind:

Just check the registry.
A gift registry takes all the guesswork out of giving, and provides handy guidelines to those attending. Standard menu items include cribs, strollers, layettes (any combination of onesies, undershirts, swaddling/receiving blankets, cloth diapers, booties, beanies, or wash cloths/bath towels), and age-appropriate toys. If you're unable to make the event, a shipping address for purchases is usually listed. Particularly in today's economy, shower-throwers should be budget-sensitive and register with 2-3 specialty shops or department stores that offer a range of merchandise as well as prices.

Make it personal.
The baby's gender obviously helps determine color schemes when it comes to apparel...yes, it's still pink for girls, blue for boys, although white works for both. Picture frames add elegance to any family photos. Monograms never fall out of fashion...sterling silver drinking cups, spoons and rattles engraved with the child's initials are keepsakes that last through generations. Infant girls are sometimes gifted with scalable jewelry...an add-a-pearl necklace or charm bracelet that grows with the child into early adulthood. And lucky are those who receive treasures hand-made from a friend or relative, such as a crocheted bedspread...truly a labor of love.

Money matters.
Raising children is not an inexpensive endeavor. A check or cash in a lovely gift card is always a welcomed gesture; setting up and contributing to a college savings account, even more so.

The big reveal.
It's absolutely expected and acceptable for a mom or dad to open presents in front of guests. Adhering to the registry precludes any huge surprises. However, this custom isn't always followed; the guest of honor may wish to unwrap gifts after the affair.

Sign in.
Look for a guest book to record email and social media addresses, so that photos and video may be shared. The host may set up a Facebook, Flickr or Tumblr page, for all to enjoy.

Follow the above guidelines (in addition to your heart and good judgement), and your expression of generosity will surely be remembered with appreciation.