Diaper Raffle Rules: How It Works (+ Free Rules Card Printable)

Running a diaper raffle is straightforward, but having clear rules posted at your shower prevents confusion and keeps things fair. Here are the standard diaper raffle rules, common variations, and etiquette tips — plus a free printable rules card you can put on your gift table.

Standard Diaper Raffle Rules

These are the baseline rules most hosts use:

*Rule 1: Bring a pack of diapers to enter.** Any brand, any size. Guests can bring as many packs as they'd like.

*Rule 2: Each pack earns one raffle ticket.** One pack = one ticket. The more packs you bring, the better your odds of winning.

*Rule 3: All diaper sizes are welcome.** Newborn through Size 6. In fact, a mix of sizes is ideal — babies outgrow newborn diapers in weeks but use Size 3 and 4 for months. (See our [full size breakdown](/blog/how-many-diapers-does-a-baby-need) for details.)

*Rule 4: Participation is optional.** The diaper raffle is a bonus activity, not a requirement. Guests who don't bring diapers can still enjoy the shower — they just don't get raffle entries.

*Rule 5: One winner is drawn at the end of the shower.** The host draws a ticket (from a bowl for paper raffles, or with a one-tap draw for [digital raffles](/blog/how-to-host-a-digital-diaper-raffle)) and announces the winner. The winner receives the prize.

Common Rule Variations

Hosts customize these rules all the time. Here are the most popular variations:

### By diaper count instead of pack count

Instead of 1 ticket per pack, some hosts use a ratio like **1 ticket per 10 diapers**. This rewards guests who bring bigger packs (a 96-count box earns 9 tickets vs 1 ticket for a 20-count pack). This variation is the default on My Diaper Raffle — you set the diapers-per-ticket ratio when you create your raffle.

### Multiple prizes

Instead of one grand prize, some hosts offer 2–3 smaller prizes and draw multiple winners. This works well for larger showers (30+ guests) where more winners = more fun. See our prize ideas list for options at every budget.

### Wipes count too

Some hosts accept wipes alongside diapers. A pack of wipes earns the same tickets as a pack of diapers. This variation is popular because parents go through wipes nearly as fast as diapers.

### Bonus ticket for specific sizes

To avoid getting 200 packs of newborn diapers, some hosts offer a bonus ticket for bringing Size 3, 4, or 5. A small sign on the gift table — "Bring Size 3+ for a bonus entry!" — steers guests toward the sizes parents actually need.

### Everyone gets one ticket

Some hosts give every guest one "free" raffle ticket just for attending, then additional tickets for diapers. This ensures nobody feels left out, while still rewarding diaper contributions.

Diaper Raffle Etiquette

A few unwritten rules to keep things smooth:

• •Always make it optional.: The raffle is an incentive, not a mandate. Never guilt guests into participating.
• •Don't replace the gift with diapers.: Diapers are *in addition to* a shower gift, not instead of one. Don't word the invitation in a way that suggests diapers are the expected gift.
• •Announce the rules before the drawing.: Even with a sign on the table, briefly explain the rules when it's time to draw so everyone understands.
• •Keep the prize reasonable.: A $20–$40 prize motivates participation without making non-participants feel bad. A $200 prize creates pressure.
• •Thank everyone, not just the winner.: After the drawing, the host (or guest of honor) should thank all guests who brought diapers — the raffle's real purpose is stocking the parents.

How to Display the Rules at Your Shower

The best way to communicate diaper raffle rules is a small framed sign or card on the gift table. Keep it short — guests should be able to read and understand it in 10 seconds. Here's an example:

> **Diaper Raffle** > 🍼 Bring a pack of diapers — any brand, any size > 🎟️ Each pack = one raffle ticket > 🎁 One lucky winner takes home a prize! > *All sizes welcome. Participation is optional.*

You can print this on a 5×7 card, slip it into a small frame, and place it next to the diaper collection basket. For digital raffles, include your QR code on the same card so guests can scan and enter from their phone.

Paper vs Digital: Which Is Easier to Manage?

With **paper tickets**, you need someone at the door handing out tickets, a bowl to collect them, and the host manually pulls a name. It works but adds logistics.

With a **digital raffle**, guests scan a QR code, enter their info and diaper count on their phone, and the system calculates tickets automatically. The host draws a winner with one tap. No bowl, no counting, no lost tickets.

For a full comparison, see our digital vs paper diaper raffle breakdown.

Ready to set up your raffle?

Create a digital diaper raffle in under 2 minutes — $9.99, no subscription. Set your own rules (diapers-per-ticket ratio, sizes, prize info), share the QR code, and draw a winner with confetti. 🎉