Hey there, mama to be! Are you ready to take your baby shower games to the next level? Well, get ready for some diaper-filled fun with the one and only Diaper Raffle! Now, you might be scratching your head, wondering, “What on earth is a diaper raffle, and how can I throw one at my baby shower?” Don’t worry, I’ve got your back!
In this blog post, we’re going to dive into the world of diaper raffles, and I’ll show you how to host the most epic diaper party your friends and family have ever seen. Get ready to laugh, have a blast, and score enough diapers to rival a diaper factory. Let’s get this party started, shall we?
What is a Diaper Raffle?
A diaper raffle is a great option for a baby shower activity. A diaper raffle works by asking guests to bring a pack or box of diapers to the baby shower. In return, your guests are entered into a raffle draw for a prize (or prizes). This is a great activity for a baby shower to help the new parents stock up on diapers for their new little one!
This could also function as the entire theme for the baby shower (or sprinkle for a second child) if the parents would prefer diapers and wipes over traditional gifts! Just include on your invitation that diapers are requested instead of traditional gifts and you are all set.
Why Have a Diaper Raffle?
1. Save Money
It is a well known fact that babies are expensive, and a big chunk of that money is spent on diapering the child. In fact, it is estimated that disposable diapers can cost as much as $800-$1000 in just baby’s first year according to the National Diaper Bank Network. That is a lot of money! If even half of the guests at the baby shower brought a small pack of diapers for the new parents that can significantly reduce their financial burden for the first several months, or maybe even longer.
Don’t believe me? Because of my diaper raffle and some very generous family members I did not buy a single diaper for my child until he was about 8 months old. I promise you it can make a huge difference!
2. Try Out Different Brands
If you are hosting a diaper raffle for first-time parents, they probably don’t know what brand of diaper they prefer. Guests participating in a diaper raffle will likely purchase smaller packs of a variety of different brands of diapers. This gives the parents the opportunity to try out different brands and see how their baby’s skin reacts to each type before purchasing more on their own.
If this is not the parent’s first child, they may already have a preference or have negative experience with brands. In that case, it is appropriate to include their preferences on baby shower invitations but be careful how you word it.
3. Alternative to a Baby Registry or for Second Time Parents
For parents who prefer to purchase all their baby’s needed items or already have everything from previous children, a diaper raffle is a great option! You’ll want to write something on the baby shower invite explaining this preference. It should be cute, but also clear to avoid confusion from guests. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- “We’re hosting a diaper raffle; instead of gifts or cards, bring a pack of diapers for a chance to win”
- “We have just one request, we hope isn’t too hard. Please bring a pack of diapers instead of a gift or card.”
- “To help mom and dad get ahead, in lieu of a gift bring diapers instead. If you do, we’ll enter your name to win a prize in the diaper raffle game.”
4. A Unique Idea for a Baby Shower
There are so many different ways you can plan and host a baby shower with endless options for activities. A diaper raffle is a great option for both an open house and activity-based baby shower to help break up the time. While the idea is definitely becoming more popular, it is still new and a fun surprise to guests. Plus who doesn’t love to win a prize?
How to Host a Diaper Raffle
Include Diaper Raffle Instructions on Invitations
In order for your guest to participate in this a diaper raffle activity, you’ll need to notify them ahead of time. Make sure to include information about the diaper raffle inside your invitations when you send them out. Here are some cute ideas for wording on your invites:
- “Bring some diapers of any size for a chance to win a prize!”
- “Diapers get used up in a flash, so let’s help mom and dad build up a stash. Bring diapers of any size to be entered in our raffle to win a prize.”
- “We’re having a diaper raffle. Do you want to play? Just bring a pack of diapers for the special day!”
- “Babies need changing around the clock, so bring a pack of diapers to help with their stock!”
You can also include their raffle ticket inside of the invitation to bring to the shower. Have extras available the day of for guests who forget or misplace their ticket.
Choose a Raffle Prize
Now that your raffle is in the works, you’ll need to choose a prize for your guests to win! How many prizes are needed for the diaper raffle depends on how many guests you are inviting (and how many you think will participate). For a smaller baby shower, you can have just one prize, but for a larger gathering consider having a few smaller prizes as well as a grand prize.
Here are some ideas for your diaper raffle prizes:
- local gift certificate
- movie tickets
- spa day gift basket (lotions, candle, chocolate, etc.)
- flower arrangement
- homemade treats
- Amazon gift card
- Picnic basket
- Beach tote (add towel and some fun items for a day in the sun)
- Gift basket matching the theme of the baby shower
Your prize or prizes do not have to be extravagant or expensive. Planning a baby shower on a budget is very important! But be sure to make it a good gesture of thank you to those who brought diapers to help the mother-to-be. I think a good guideline would be to keep your prize about the cost of a package of diapers to make it appealing to your guests and worth their while. But that choice is ultimately up to you!
Supplies Needed for the Diaper Raffle
Once the invitations are sent out and prizes selected, now it’s time to get everything ready for the big day! To set up your diaper raffle at the baby shower you will need a few basic supplies:
- A table for the diapers and diaper raffle prizes
- Diaper raffle tickets and pens to write guests’ names on the tickets
- Decorations to match the theme, including a diaper raffle sign
- A bowl or box to put raffle tickets in
- You prize of choice
Set up your diaper raffle station however you’d like, just make sure it is near the entrance of the party. That way guests aren’t carrying their diapers far and it keeps everything in one location. If you get several packs of diapers, you can store them underneath the table as well to ensure there is plenty of space.
Have Extra Diaper Raffle Tickets Available at the Shower
Even if you sent diaper raffle tickets out with your invitations, chances are some guests lost their copy or forgot to bring them. Make sure to have plenty of extra tickets as well as pens so guests won’t miss their chance to be entered into the raffle!
Announce the Winner
Finally, you get to announce the winner (or winners)! This can be done at any point in time during your baby shower that you find appropriate.
At my shower we used this as a game to kick off a few other activities that my hosts had planned, which worked out great! You could also plan if to for the end of the shower as a grand finale and transition into thanking your guests for coming.
To choose the winner, simply mix up the tickets in a
bowl and have the new mama choose the winning ticket. The name on the ticket is
the winner of the prize. It really is that simple!
Diaper Raffle FAQs
Can a diaper raffle include wipes too?
Yes of course! This is your baby shower and diaper raffle so you can run it however you please! If you prefer to include wipes in your raffle as well then just make that clear to your guests. Wipes and diapers go hand in hand so definitely be sure to include them in the diaper raffle if you’d like! Same as with diapers, be sure to include any preferences of brand on your baby shower invitations.
What if the parents have a brand preference?
Don’t let this stop you from hosting a diaper raffle! Just simply include the brand or brands you prefer in your instructions on the invitation. Just like the idea behind a baby registry, your guests will be appreciative that you told them what you will use for your baby rather than bringing an unnecessary gift.
You can also exchange the diapers you receive for the brands
you prefer at the store. I know that Target and Walmart will let you exchange
diapers for store credit if the diapers were purchased at their store. Just simply
open the app for each store and scan the barcode. If it pulls up the diapers,
then they were purchased at that store! Both will ask you to provide a photo ID
and have a limit for how much you can return each year so make sure to read the
policies before attempting this exchange. After my son got a rash from a few
brands of diapers, I was able to exchange several unopened packages from my
diaper raffle so easily!
Can a diaper raffle be held at a gender reveal party?
Absolutely! A diaper raffle is a great activity for a party, such as a gender reveal, where loved ones are gathered to celebrate the arrival of a new baby! It does not have to be reserved for just a baby shower. It is also a great option for co-ed style gathering to honor upcoming parents-to-be.
Where do I get the tickets for my diaper raffle?
When planning my own baby shower, I found some cute diaper raffle tickets on Etsy for a great price! There are so many cute designs to choose from that I’m sure you’ll find the perfect ones to match your baby shower theme. Just send them to your local print shop and you are good to go. There are also pre-made ones on Amazon or you can make your own design using Canva.
Final Thoughts - Diaper Raffle Baby Shower Activity
A diaper raffle game is a simple and fun activity to play with your baby shower guests and help the new parents-to-be stock up on much needed baby supplies. Mixed in with other great baby shower games, a diaper raffle can be an exciting addition to your baby shower!
