Thursday, April 26, 2012

baby shower gift


When searching for inspiration for a baby shower gift for my sister-in-law, Robynn, I fell in love with this idea, found via Pinterest. At first I thought I would use some leftover muslin drawstring bags from another project, but, alas, they were too small. I didn't have much time to order more (and hope they'd arrive in time) so I decided to make my own. A big deal for me since my sewing machine kind of hates me.


I made 12 drawstring bags using fabric I've been hoarding.


Each bag has everything you need for a single diaper change...a diaper (size 1), a ziplock bag of wipes, a disposable changing mat (in case your diaper-changing venue is suspect), a bag for diaper disposal, and a bottle of hand sanitizer. The idea is that whenever you're running out, you can just grab a bag or two and trust that you have everything you need right there. Maybe you keep a bag stocked in the glove box, just in case. And then you restock them as you use them.


I was especially happy to find this basket (HomeGoods), since Robynn is decorating the baby's room in an owl theme. The 12 bags fit perfectly...and they look so sweet, all lined up and ready to use. 


I added a tag explaining the gift. I included information about the brand of diaper and wipes, just in case there's a problem. And I used a graphic from Pam's fabulous doodles...my favorite source when I'm making stuff like this.

101 comments:

Jane said...

So pretty - and such a wonderfully useful gift!

Heather Simpson-Bluhm said...

This is an amazing gift. I could tell some stories about not having the right stuff at hand a couple times. One time I had to borrow a diaper from a lady at a restaurant because my bag and emergency back up were empty!

GardenOfDaisies said...

Awww, This is a very sweet gift. I know it will be appreciated by the new mom. I love your fabric choices.

Brenda said...

What an adorable baby gift!

Unknown said...

I love this idea and your entire basket of bags turned out just great.

Anna K. said...

This is a great idea and your presentation is adorable! Where do you find disposable changing pads? I've never heard of them!

jessica m said...

Oh how sweet!!!

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Minnie Kitchen said...

Such sweet, cute gifts! And so thoughtful of you :)

marie said...

My daughter did this with ziploc bags for a recent Disney trip. Made bathroom breaks a breeze. Thnaks for sharing a prettier version!

mary boyer said...

I've watched my son and DIL open the diaper bag and each looking at each other like - why didn't you restock?!! I'd keep this in the car as a back-up! wonderful.

Tracey Fisher said...

This is the absolute cutest idea ever. I need someone with a baby - pronto!

make.share.give said...

These would be nice to have in the church nursery.

Stephanie said...

This is such a great idea and just the inspiration I need for the baby shower I'm going to in a few days. But, where did you get disposable changing pads?

Unknown said...

love this idea!

Rachel and Pia's Cottage said...

You are so clever Amy! What a great idea and you did a wonderful job on the bags ! :o)

Megan said...

Great gift. I think someone should market individual baby wipes - you know like hand wipes? Every mom would buy a box for sure.

@PP heather - thank you for letting me know I was not the only one. It took me 2 years to finally leave backups in the car - just in time for potty training!

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Anonymous said...

Cute!! What size is the bag?

Anonymous said...

What are the bag dimensions and where did you get disposable changing pads? Perfect gift idea for evey mom-to-be!

Anonymous said...

You can find them at toys r us or target :)

Anonymous said...

You could find them at target or babies r us

Anonymous said...

I want to make these for a baby shower next week! Can you tell me the dimensions that you used on the bags?

amy said...

I wish I could remember the exact dimensions. I think they were about 6" x 9"...hope that helps! I didn't keep any so I can't measure. Good luck!

Anonymous said...

Dollar Tree often has the disposable changing pads too

Anonymous said...

This is cute, but add the other pintest if individual use suze by cutting and melting straws for the sanitizer And instead if sewing bags use a onsie folded and tucked in on itself and it would be perfect nothing left to tote back home but a clean or dirty outfit( that could go in the ziplock for the wipeys)

Anonymous said...

This is an amazing idea! We are doing this for a friend of ours! I can't wait to see how cute it turns out!

Katie Fritzsche said...

Instead of disposabke changing pads, how about a receiving blanket? That's what I carry to change on, its lightweight, cheap, easy to wash and stores small....

Katie Fritzsche said...

Wait, melting straws sanitizer....huh???

Anonymous said...

I think what they mean by 'straws'is where you seal off (by burning, I think)one end of a plastic straw, fill it with sanitizer or lotion or whatever, and then seal the remaining open end. That way you aren't carry about the bottle, but now that you can get those tiny sized bottles, it might not be worth the effort! Hope this helps. :)

Lizzie Barbie said...

Found you via Pinterest. Great idea. I will be making some of these for my baby.

Jenni Dill said...

Love this idea for a baby shower! I think I will trade the bottle of hand sanitizer in each pack for a single-individually-wrapped sani wipe! And I have used a length of wax or parchament paper for a cheap throw-away changing pad several times when traveling (and I knew that the changing "table" I might be using would nasty enough I wouldn't want to put my nice changing pad back in my diaper bag). It works great! You could even use butcher type paper if you wanted, or a length of paper towels.
I love the above idea of using the onesie as the bag, you could just fold everything into the onesie (inside it) and use safety pins or ribbons to keep it closed and tidy looking! This would be a fun way to use hand-personalized onesies too! With Bible verses, funny baby quotes, or cute stick-figure drawings on plain onesies with fabric markers!

Anonymous said...

Use puppy training pads

Anonymous said...

As a Girl Scout leader and always looking for ways to "use resources wisely" I repurposed several receiving blankets for the bags. I was able to get 3 bags out of each receiving blanket. Instead of using ribbon I made the bag with a flap and closed it with velcro. That way if the bag needs to be washed it can be thrown in with the baby's clothes.

A Southern Homeschooling Family said...

Love the idea! I would also include a grocery bag for a more convenient disposal.

Anonymous said...

How about disposable dog bags they come in different prints and colors?

Renae said...

My sewing machine hates me too. I usually sew by hand instead. You did a great job, I love this idea. My sister-in-law is expecting I might have to try this. Thank you

Anonymous said...

Thank you! What a cute gift! I added some kisses for mom to mine. Thanks again for sharing with us.

Anonymous said...

Is there a pattern for making the bags out of receiving blankets using velcro????

joe+anna said...

Do you have the exact template you used to create these? I am so keen to make them, and other links have different sizing and different draw strings, so am wondering if you have this template? Thanks heaps for providing inspiration! :)

Kae JL said...

That is so cute! Thank you for sharing!

Sam M. | Atkinson Drive said...

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Kristin said...

I just finished making a set of these for a friend's baby shower. I'm so excited! I'm due the same week and think I'll do a much cheaper/easier ziplock version for myself. :) Like a previous commentor, I also used velcro on a flap instead of a draw string because I had velcro, but no pretty ribbon. These are such a great idea!!

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jayjolou said...

Love this idea; two coworkers are due within two weeks of each other, and while I have crocheted baby blankets for them, I want something to go with each blanket. I think I'll crochet the bags to coordinate with the blankets; I can only sew by hand--sewing machine bobbins and I don't see "eye-to-eye"--but make the bags in 100% cotton yarn.

Because I work in our hospital's ICU, I know of sources of such things as disposable changing pads; but probably most shoppers can get them in such places as Walgreens, CVS, and RiteAid pharmacies.

Anonymous said...

You can find pads for bed wetting or dog training that will work also.

Anonymous said...

They have individual wipes. Look in the travel section or the "ladies "section at Walmart or the dollar store.

Anonymous said...

Put all the items you are going yo use in a quart sized plastic zip bag. If it fits add 1 inch yo each side to the get dimension of the bag. That should give you enough tor a seam.

Anonymous said...

These little bags could go right into toliet training. When diapers are no longer needed put underpants inside along with a little pair of neutral colored shorts or pants and a fresh pair of socks. Still need hand sanitizer and a little bag to put wet undies in but would be a time saver for a quick grab and go.

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Anonymous said...

My friends are big promoters of taking disposable changing pads at Pedi visits. .. Just saying

Unknown said...

OMGosh I just saw this on Pinterest. What a wonderful idea! Thanks for sharing. I am going to two showers this summer. I didn't know they made disposable changing pads. My kids are just now at age of marriage and babies. I have been to one baby shower in the last 15 years!

Unknown said...

I absolutely love this. So cute and a perfect gift! Thank you so much sharing and for linking up to our party Show and Share this week!
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Unknown said...

how did you include the wipe? did you use a travel pack of wipes or do they have individual wipes?

Unknown said...

Hello,

It helps you give your child a real head start in life, even before he or she is born and plan for his or her future protection needs. Thanks a lot for sharing.

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Unknown said...

OMG, this is such a good idea and couldn't get it out of my mind. I had a shower this weekend, so went and bought the stuff for this and came out great! Instead of the bag, I used onesies in 2 different sizes. I didn't feel like taking my desktop off my sewing cabinet. LOL I layered things and put them inside the disposable pad, wrapped the onesie around the pile, with front facing up and tied a ribbon around to hold. Also, I used the packaged wipes for mom, and put 3 baby wipes in freezer zip lock bag. Hope she likes in. I then made some baby people and put around the basket, put in cello bag from $ store. Thanks so much for sharing. Had fun making this great gift.

Babeez World said...

Awesome baby gifts, i have never seen before. Now a days we have many choices to buy baby gift online, it creates confusion in our mind, but anyone can trust online baby store. I usually buy branded baby products for my 8 months old baby girl.

Unknown said...

Absolutely adorable! I can't wait to make this! Thanks for sharing your idea. :)

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Unknown said...

So Cute, I just went to a baby shower, wish my gift had been half this clever.

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Jackson said...

I am thinking to present Kate Spade Baby Bag as gift to my friend on baby shower party. It is a useful thing and i hope she will like it too.

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please advise how you made the bags?

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These really are some great baby shower gift ideas. They are simple enough that anyone could make them and give them as gifts. Plus, it is a great way to stay creative when gift giving. Usually I have some help when I am giving gifts away for baby showers. That way I know that they are the way that they should be.
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Ravey said...

Can anyone give me the measurements for the drawstring bag because I can't figure out how big 2make it

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This is cute, but add the other pintest if individual use suze by cutting and melting straws for the sanitizer And instead if sewing bags use a onsie folded and tucked in on itself and it would be perfect nothing left to tote back home but a clean or dirty outfit( that could go in the ziplock for the wipeys)
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Gabby KSD said...

babies are us carries the baby disposal changing pads..but..the puppy training pads are perfect and half the cost. i bout a 30 count pack at Ollies for $5.99 .baby blue...no design so you can't tell they were packaged as doggie pads.

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Unknown said...

How big were your drawstring bags? I have some left over fabric from a quilt I am making our first baby and thought these would be perfect addition! But I don't want to get into the project and not have enough fabric :)

Unknown said...

I love this idea. I will be using it on my daughter in law's baby shower. Thanks

DeeAnn said...

Great idea- I just finished making my first set and can't wait to give it to the new mom & dad.

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