Diaper Raffle

A diaper raffle is one of the smartest additions you can make to a baby shower. It is a simple prize draw with a practical twist: every guest who brings a pack of diapers gets a ticket, and one lucky ticket wins a prize. The parents-to-be go home with a stack of diapers in every size, and the guests get a bit of fun and a chance to win something for themselves. Everyone comes out ahead, which is exactly why diaper raffles have become a baby shower staple.

This page gives you everything you need to run one. You can print raffle tickets, add a matching insert to your invitations so guests know to bring a pack, print a sign for the diaper table, and then draw the winner live right here when the moment comes. Add the parent’s name and your prize, and it is all ready in a few minutes.

What is a diaper raffle?

A diaper raffle is a game played at a baby shower where guests are entered into a prize drawing in exchange for bringing diapers. You mention it on the invitation, guests bring a pack along with their gift, and each pack earns one entry. At the shower, you draw a winning name and hand over a prize. It is an easy way to stock up the nursery with the one thing new parents never have enough of, while giving guests a little extra reason to join in.

How does a diaper raffle work?

Setting one up takes almost no effort:

• Add a line to your invitations letting guests know that if they bring a pack of diapers, they will be entered to win a prize. An insert card tucked into the invitation is the classic way to do this.
• As guests arrive, have them drop their raffle ticket into a jar or basket by the diaper table. Writing their name, and optionally the diaper size they brought, on the ticket makes the draw easy and helps you see which sizes you have.
• Decide how entries work. Most hosts give one ticket per pack, so a guest who brings two packs gets two entries and two chances to win.
• When you are ready, draw a name and announce the winner. You can do this on paper from the jar, or use the winner picker on this page to make it a little more of a moment.
• Hand over the prize, and you are done.

Printable raffle tickets

The tickets here print in clean black and white, several to a page, so you can run off as many as you need for your guest list. Each one has space for a guest to write their name, and you can add an optional line for the diaper size they brought, which is genuinely useful when you want to know whether you are covered from newborn up to the larger sizes. Add the parent-to-be’s name and it appears on every ticket.

Diaper raffle wording for your invitation

The trickiest part for most hosts is knowing what to write, so here are a few lines you can use or adapt. Keep it short and clear so nobody misses it.

• Short and simple: “Bring a pack of diapers in any size and you’ll be entered to win a prize!”
• With the prize named: “Diaper raffle! For every pack of diapers you bring, you’ll earn one entry to win a gift card. Good luck!”
• A little warmer: “Help us stock the nursery! Bring a pack of diapers to the shower and you’ll be entered into our diaper raffle for a chance to win a special prize. One pack, one entry, so bring a few if you’d like more chances.”

You can pop any of these on an insert card with your invitations, and the tool here will format a matching insert with your own wording so it looks like part of the set.

A sign for the diaper table

On the day, a little sign next to the jar tells guests exactly what to do. The printable sign here reads along the lines of leaving a pack of diapers, dropping a ticket in the jar, and being entered to win, with your prize and the parent’s name included. Set it by the gift table so nobody has to ask how it works.

Diaper raffle prize ideas

The prize does not need to be expensive, it just needs to be something a guest would be pleased to win. A few ideas that always go down well:

• A gift card to somewhere popular, such as a coffee shop, Amazon or Target.
• A bottle of wine or a small bottle of champagne, for a grown-up crowd.
• A scented candle, a cozy throw blanket, or a little self-care basket.
• A box of good chocolates or a sweet treat.
• A potted plant or a bunch of flowers.
• A mug and a bag of nice coffee or tea.

If it is a co-ed shower, keep the prize something anyone would enjoy. And it is worth having a small backup prize on hand in case of a tie.

How many diapers, and do wipes count?

There is no rule, so guests can bring whatever size and quantity they like. Encouraging a range of sizes is helpful, since babies grow out of the newborn size quickly and the larger packs get used for much longer. Plenty of hosts run it as a diaper and wipe raffle, where a pack of wipes also earns an entry, which is a nice way to gather another everyday essential.

Drawing the winner

When it is time, you can draw a name straight from the jar, or use the winner picker on this page. Type in your guests, give anyone who brought extra packs more entries, and it will shuffle through the names and land on a winner, ready to announce. If you have more than one prize, you can remove the first winner and draw again for the next.

A few tips

• Mention the raffle clearly on the invitation. Guests can only take part if they know about it in advance.
• Set the tickets and a pen right by the jar so nobody has to go looking.
• Keep the prize suited to your guests, and have a small spare in case two names tie.
• Round out the afternoon with a game or two. A diaper raffle pairs perfectly with baby shower bingo and the Price Is Right baby shower game, and you will find all of my free games on the baby shower games page.

Add your details above, print your tickets, insert and sign, and your diaper raffle is ready for the shower.

Outside the US you may see this called a nappy raffle — in the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, “nappy” is simply the word for diaper, and the game works exactly the same way.

Frequently asked questions

What is a diaper raffle at a baby shower?

It is a prize drawing where guests who bring a pack of diapers are entered to win. You mention it on the invitation, guests bring diapers along with their gift, and each pack earns one entry. At the shower you draw a name and give the winner a prize, while the parents-to-be go home with a supply of diapers.

How does a diaper raffle work?

Let guests know on the invitation to bring a pack of diapers. As they arrive, they fill in a raffle ticket and drop it in a jar. Most hosts give one entry per pack, so bringing more packs means more chances to win. When you are ready, draw a name and hand over the prize.

What should I write on the invitation?

Keep it short and clear, for example: “Bring a pack of diapers in any size and you’ll be entered to win a prize!” You can also name the prize or add a warmer line inviting guests to bring a few packs for more chances. The tool here will format a matching insert card with your own wording.

What are good diaper raffle prizes?

Something simple that any guest would be happy to win, such as a gift card, a bottle of wine, a candle, a cozy throw, a box of chocolates, or a small self-care basket. Keep it suited to your crowd, and have a small backup prize in case of a tie.

How many diapers should guests bring, and do wipes count?

There is no set rule, so guests can bring any size and quantity. Encouraging a mix of sizes helps, since the larger sizes get used for far longer than newborn. Many hosts also let a pack of wipes count as an entry, running it as a diaper and wipe raffle.

Are the diaper raffle tickets free to print?

Yes. You can customize and print the tickets, the invitation insert and the table sign here for free, with no sign-up. They print in black and white so they are easy on your printer.

How do you pick the diaper raffle winner?

You can draw a name from the jar, or use the winner picker on this page. Enter your guests, give anyone who brought extra packs more entries, and it will shuffle through and land on a winner. If you have more than one prize, remove the first winner and draw again.

Is a diaper raffle the same as a nappy raffle?

Yes. “Nappy” is the word for diaper in the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, so a nappy raffle and a diaper raffle are the same game: guests bring a pack of nappies or diapers and are entered to win a prize.