Baby Jesus Toilet Paper Roll Craft for Kids
This Baby Jesus toilet paper roll craft turns a cardboard tube, yarn, cotton, and a craft stick into a small manger scene. This inexpensive Nativity activity works for Sunday school, preschool, homeschool, children’s church, or a family Christmas project.
Children can help wrap the base, prepare the soft bedding, and make the Jesus figure while learning why Christians celebrate His birth at Christmas.
Baby Jesus Toilet Paper Roll Craft
This project uses a cardboard toilet paper roll to form a small manger. Brown fiber covers the cardboard, cotton becomes the bedding, and a shortened wooden piece becomes Baby Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes.
The finished project is small enough to display on a shelf, add to a child’s collection, or take home after a Sunday school lesson. It also gives children opportunities to practice:
- Wrapping and gluing
- Fine motor coordination
- Following instructions in order
- Creative expression
- Listening and retelling
- Connecting a Bible story to a hands-on activity
Explore more faith-centered projects in our collection of Nativity crafts for kids and the complete Christmas crafts and printables hub.
Baby Jesus Toilet Paper Roll Craft Supplies
- One empty cardboard toilet paper roll
- Brown yarn
- Cotton balls
- One wooden craft stick
- Washable marker
- Glue stick or washable glue
- Scissors
- Pencil and ruler, optional
Adults should cut the cardboard tube and wooden section before the activity, especially when working with preschoolers. Cutting wood may require sturdy scissors or another adult-only tool.
How to Make a Baby Jesus Toilet Paper Roll Project
Step 1: Prepare the Cardboard Manger
Flatten the cardboard tube slightly and have an adult cut it lengthwise from one opening to the other. This separates the roll into two curved half-tubes.
Cut each section to the size you need. Use one curved section as the main trough. You can trim a second section and attach it beneath or along the sides to help it hold its shape.
Test everything before attaching it. The curved opening should face upward so it can hold the cotton bedding and figure.
Step 2: Put the Base Together
Join the curved cardboard sections to form a shallow trough. Keep them pressed together briefly so the adhesive can begin to set.
If the sections slide apart, use clothespins or small binder clips to hold them temporarily. Remove the clips after everything dries.
Step 3: Wrap the Base With Yarn
Secure one end of the brown strand to the outside of the cardboard. Wind it around the base, keeping the rows close together.
Keep wrapping until very little cardboard remains visible. Trim off the extra strand, then secure the end with adhesive. A slightly uneven finish is perfectly fine. Uneven wrapping gives it a rustic texture.
Step 4: Add the Bedding
Pull apart one or two cotton balls to create a thin, fluffy layer. Place the cotton inside the trough.
Use a small dot of adhesive if you want the bedding to remain in place. Leave enough room for the small figure to rest comfortably inside.
Step 5: Make the Jesus Figure
Have an adult shorten the wooden section so it fits inside the trough. Use a washable marker to draw two eyes and a small smile near the rounded top.
Attach soft fiber below the face and wrap it around the remaining wood to represent swaddling clothes. Secure the end with another small dot of adhesive.
You can use white, cream, light blue, or another soft color for the swaddling cloth.
Step 6: Complete the Scene
Place the finished Jesus figure on the cotton bedding. Add a small dot of adhesive beneath it when you want the figure to remain attached, or leave it loose so children can remove and replace it while retelling the Christmas story.
Allow everything to dry before displaying or handling the project.
Teaching the Christmas Story With This Project
As children work, explain that Mary gave birth to Jesus in Bethlehem. According to Luke 2:7, she wrapped Him in cloths and laid Him in a manger because they had no guest room.
The cardboard trough helps children understand that a manger was a feeding place for animals, not a traditional crib. The wrapping around the wooden figure represents the cloth used to swaddle Jesus.
Keep the discussion simple for younger children. You might ask:
- Who was born in Bethlehem?
- What did Mary place Jesus in after He was born?
- What does Christmas celebrate for Christians?
- What are some ways we can be loving and kind to other people?
Older children can read Luke 2:1-20 and retell the events in their own words. Pair the lesson with these free Nativity coloring pages or the Christmas pop-up card.
Baby Jesus Project for Preschoolers
Preschoolers can complete most of this project after an adult prepares the cardboard and wooden materials.
- Cut and assemble the base before the lesson.
- Pre-cut manageable lengths of fiber.
- Add double-sided tape to the cardboard to help the wrapping stay in place.
- Draw the face for children who need assistance.
- Use larger cotton sections that are easy to grasp.
- Offer adhesive sticks to reduce dripping and mess.
- Complete the project in two short sessions if attention spans are limited.
Toddlers can place cotton in a prepared base or help choose the color, but they require close supervision. Do not use loose fibers, cotton, or small materials without an adult.
Sunday School and Classroom Tips
Prepare one sample before teaching so children can see how the curved cardboard forms a manger. For a large group, place pre-cut materials in individual bags or trays.
Create stations for:
- Wrapping the cardboard
- Adding cotton bedding
- Drawing and wrapping the figure
- Reading or discussing the Bible lesson
Write each child’s name beneath the project before beginning. Keep extra supplies ready for mistakes or missing materials.
For a longer faith-based unit, combine this project with the moving paper plate craft, toilet paper roll project, or printable 3D scene.
Ways to Personalize the Manger Craft
- Add a paper star above the scene.
- Add raffia, straw, or shredded yellow paper over the cotton to resemble hay.
- Place the project on a cardboard base and draw a stable around it.
- Add the child’s name and year to the bottom.
- Attach a ribbon loop to a lightweight version for a Christmas ornament or handmade gift.
- Use felt strips instead of fiber for the swaddling clothes.
- Add Mary, Joseph, shepherds, or animals to create a larger scene.
Keep added decorations lightweight so the cardboard does not collapse or tip.
How to Turn It Into a Christmas Manger Diorama
Place the finished project inside a small shoebox or shallow cardboard box. Cover the bottom with brown paper, shredded paper, or raffia. Add a dark blue paper sky, a large star, and simple figures made from wood or cardboard tubes.
Children can draw Bethlehem in the background or add labels identifying Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the wise men. This expanded idea works well for older elementary students or as a collaborative classroom display.
For another ready-to-build scene, use the diorama craft or scene printable template.
Safety Tips
- Have an adult cut the cardboard tube and wooden materials.
- Use non-toxic, child-safe adhesive and markers.
- Supervise children while they work with scissors.
- Keep loose fibers and small decorations away from babies and toddlers.
- Do not use splintered wood.
- Wash hands after crafting and keep materials away from food.
- Treat the finished project as a decoration, not a toy for unsupervised young children.
Common Problems
The wrapping slides off the base: Add small dots of adhesive or strips of double-sided tape as you wrap.
The cardboard will not hold its shape: Reinforce it with a second curved section or let the adhesive dry while clips hold everything together.
Baby Jesus is too large: Shorten the wood further or use a mini version.
The cotton falls out: Stretch a small amount into a thin layer and secure it with one dot of adhesive.
The project tips over: Flatten the bottom slightly or attach it to a small cardboard base.
More Nativity Crafts for Kids
- Candy Nativity Craft
- Angel Paper Plate Craft
- Angel Toilet Paper Roll Craft
- Nativity Matching Puzzle Game
- Advent Scripture Countdown Calendar
- Free Advent Scripture Cards
This simple-to-make Christian project turns everyday supplies into a sweet reminder of Jesus’ birth. Use it during a Bible lesson, make it at home as a keepsake, or add it to a larger scene for display throughout December.
Take a picture to share with family, or save your finished creation to Pinterest or Instagram so others can enjoy the idea and joy behind these Bible crafts.
How do you make a Baby Jesus craft?
Form a small manger from a cardboard toilet paper roll, wrap it with brown material, and add cotton bedding. Draw a face on a shortened wooden section, wrap it to represent swaddling clothes, and place it inside.
How do you make a manger for kids?
An adult can cut a cardboard tube lengthwise to form a curved trough. Reinforce the sections, cover the outside with brown material, and place cotton or shredded paper inside as bedding.
What age is this craft for?
The activity works well for preschool and elementary-age children. Adults should prepare the cut cardboard and wooden materials for younger children. Toddlers can help with only the simplest steps under close supervision.
Can I make this without a toilet paper roll?
Absolutely. You can use a paper towel tube, folded cardstock, a small section of corrugated cardboard, or a clean paper cup cut into a curved shape.
What can I use instead of yarn?
Try raffia, felt strips, ribbon, brown paper, fabric scraps, or washable paint. Choose lightweight materials that attach securely.
Is there a printable template?
This project does not require a printable. If you prefer a print-and-cut option, use the 3D scene or scene project. You can also look for a short video tutorial on YouTube if your child learns best by watching each step.
Baby Jesus Toilet Paper Roll Craft
Use a cardboard tube, yarn, cotton, and a craft stick to make a small Baby Jesus in the manger scene.
Materials
- One cardboard toilet paper roll
- Brown yarn
- Cotton balls
- One wooden craft stick
- Washable marker
- Glue stick or washable craft glue
Tools
- Scissors
- Pencil and ruler, optional
Instructions
- Have an adult cut the cardboard tube lengthwise into two curved half-tubes.
- Trim the pieces to the desired manger length.
- Glue the curved cardboard pieces into a small trough with the opening facing upward.
- Secure one end of the brown yarn to the outside of the manger.
- Wrap the yarn around the cardboard until it is mostly covered, then glue the loose end.
- Pull apart one or two cotton balls and place the soft layer inside the manger.
- Have an adult shorten the craft stick so it fits inside the trough.
- Draw a simple face near the rounded end of the stick.
- Wrap yarn around the lower part of the stick to create swaddling clothes.
- Place Baby Jesus on the cotton bedding and allow the glue to dry.
Notes
- Adults should cut the cardboard tube and craft stick.
- Use double-sided tape if the yarn slides while children wrap it.
- Substitute felt, ribbon, raffia, or fabric strips for yarn.
- Leave the Baby Jesus figure loose for story retelling or glue it in place for display.
- Attach the manger to a cardboard base if it tips over.
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