“Welcome to the world, little one. From small beginnings come great things.”
A baby is a blessing for the parents. The moment your baby is delivered is one of the most magical moments for you.
The excitement of a baby’s birth for parents is sometimes so high that they overlook the most important task at hand: packing a hospital bag. And the last thing mothers want is to be unprepared when labor begins.
That’s why having a well-packed hospital bag is essential. It doesn’t matter if you are a new mom or already have two kids; packing your hospital bag should be a top priority for you, as leaving things for the last minute will stress you out and cause unwanted hindrances during labor.
To make things easier, we’ve created the ultimate hospital bag checklist for your convenience. It will make your labor experience smoother if you are prepared for what is to come and welcome your baby in a stress-free environment.
The Right Time to Start Packing
The mothers who have already given birth know when to start packing for their newest baby-to-come. But the new mothers with their first babies must be wondering when to start packing hospital bags to avoid the last-minute inconveniences.
It’s usually advised by professionals that your maternity hospital bag should be packed before the 36th week of your pregnancy. This early packing is preferred because babies can be unpredictable sometimes.
A pro tip for you is to keep the hospital bag near the door to tackle any surprises by just grabbing it and heading to the hospital.
Hospital Bag Checklist for Mom and Baby
This guide is divided into three parts to make it easy for you to decide what to pack in your hospital bag:
- Mum's Hospital Bag Essentials
- Baby Hospital Bag Items for Delivery
- Essentials for The Support Person
1. Mum’s Hospital Bag Essentials
Before anything else, the mothers need to pack the right essentials for themselves. You need to be well-prepared to welcome your newborn. Your comfort and hygiene should come first when delivering the baby.
This checklist focuses on what essential items the mothers should add to their hospital bag for delivery and post-delivery days.
Necessities For Labor
- Hospital Paperwork: You should have your ID and the other important hospital paperwork that is required for the delivery process. These should be kept in the pocket of the bag, which is easily accessible.
- A Comfy Robe: Keep a comfortable robe for yourself. You can pace around in it during early labor or after the delivery in your hospital ward.
- Socks: Hospitals have that chilly environment, and being pregnant can add to that chill. Pack some socks that have grips to keep your feet warm and avoid any slipping accidents.
- Slippers: Get some slippers or flip-flops for footwear. They are comfortable and easy to wear.
- Hair Ties: These will keep your hair from falling into your face during contractions.
- Lip Balm: Your lips can quickly dry up during labor, plus hospitals are usually dry too. Chuck in a lip balm to keep your lips from chapping.
- Phone and Charger: Don’t forget your phone to contact family. Keep a long cable for charging, just in case the socket is far from your hospital bed.
- Water Bottle or Tumbler: A water bottle is important to stay hydrated during this time. Your support person can keep refilling it from the nearest dispensary.
Essentials for Post-Delivery Comfort
1. Nursing Bra: These are necessary for you to feed the baby and for your comfort.
2. Maternity Underwear: Most of the hospitals do provide these for heavy bleeding and comfort. But bring your own, as you might feel more comfortable in those.
3. Pads: Get some heavy-duty pads for yourself. Try browsing some good pad brands to avoid rashes and infections. The hospital provides some, but an extra can help.
4. Toiletries: Here’s a list of what toiletries to bring for your stay:
- Toothbrush & toothpaste
- Face wash
- Dry shampoo
- Deodorant
- Moisturizer
- Hairbrush
- Minimal makeup (to conceal the exhaustion)
- A Comfortable Outfit: Bring an outfit that is suitable to wear home after getting discharged. The outfit should be comfortable and lightweight.
Some Optional Comfort Items
- Calming Oils: Some people feel calmed using their favorite calming oils. If you are one of those people, then it would be helpful to add this item to your bag.
- Headphones or Portable Speakers: Calming music helps with stress and exhaustion. You can bring headphones or Bluetooth speakers for your comfort.
- Pillow: You might not be comfortable with hospital pillows as they as mostly thin and flat. If you want to feel at home, bring your pillow with you.
2. Baby Hospital Bag Items for Delivery
Your baby will have their first moments in the hospital. You should have all the essentials packed to make those moments comfortable for your baby. This section has a list of all the important items to be carried with you for your baby’s arrival.
Baby Clothing
- Romper or Onesies: These are the best newborn clothing options for your baby in the hospital bed. Pack some adorable newborn onesies to welcome your baby in style.
- Sleepers: Pack some sleepers for the baby girl and for baby boy to sleep in at night. Diaper changing is easier in this clothing.
- Socks: Babies feel colder than you do in the hospital. Pack socks and mittens to keep your child warm and protected.
- Swaddle Blankets: These are provided by the hospital, but bringing your own would be better.
- An Adorable Outfit: Pick something cutesy for your baby to wear when going home. The outfit should be highly appropriate for the weather.
- Hats: Newborns catch cold quickly through their heads, so bring hats to keep them protected.
- A Car Seat: It is essential for the ride back home for your baby.
Essentials for Baby Care
- Diapers and Wipes: Keep an extra amount of these with you.
- Baby Lotion: It helps prevent rashes or irritation caused by the environment.
- Burp Cloths: Pack some burp cloths for cleaning purposes when your baby feeds.
Baby Feeding Essentials
- Nursing Pillow: This will help you with breastfeeding the baby by providing extra comfort.
- Formula: If you plan to feed formula to your baby, get some packed into your bag.
3. Essentials for The Support Person
If someone is accompanying you to the hospital, your partner or someone from the family, ask them to pack a bag for their stay too. Here is a list of essential items they should carry with them for the hospital stay.
Clothing & Toiletries
- Change of Clothes: The helping partner should pack at least 2-3 changes of clothes for the stay, considering the usual stay at the hospital would be of 2-3 days.
- Comfortable Shoes: Comfort comes before anything when you are staying at the hospital. The partner should be wearing slippers or flip-flops.
- Toiletries: Remind your partner to pack the necessary toiletry items.
Snacks & Entertainment
- Snacks: The hospital food tastes bland, so bring your favorite light snacks with you to munch on.
- Novels or Magazines: If your partner during delivery is fond of either of these, they should bring some along to pass the time.
- Laptop: There may be a case where your partner needs to work, along with being helpful. If that’s the case, then they should bring their laptops along.
Must-Have Items
- Charger: The helpers should bring their own charger.
- List of Contacts: This will help the partner to make calls to your relatives for the birth announcement.
- Cash: You obviously would keep some, but it doesn’t hurt to remind you.
Items to Avoid While Packing
As much as some items are essential to be added to the hospital bag, some things should be avoided, too. Some of these avoidable items are:
- Valuable Items: There is no need to bring any jewelry to the hospital. The cash that you bring should be enough for your stay.
- Too Much Clothing: Don’t overpack, as you’ll likely be discharged within 24 to 48 hours after a normal delivery.
- Sharp Objects: Avoid anything that might be harmful to you or the baby, such as tweezers, cutters, or any other sharp objects.
Tips for an Organized Hospital Bag
- Separate items in your bag by using packing cubes. This will help in easy access to the essentials.
- Keep labels on everything so that your partner can easily dig into and fetch things you require.
- Have a big bag, which has some space available for the gifts or goodies that you might receive from the guests who come to visit, and sometimes the hospitals give out goodies for the baby, too.
Final Thoughts
Packing the maternity hospital bag can be an exciting task for pregnant mothers, as they are so close to meeting their baby. But with the help of this hospital bag checklist, things might be easier for you.
Wishing you a safe delivery and a happy birthday to your newborn.
FAQs
1. When should I pack my hospital bag?
It's best to have your hospital bag ready by the 35th week of pregnancy. This will ensure your preparedness in case your baby arrives earlier than expected.
2. Do I need to bring diapers and wipes?
Most hospitals provide them, but bringing a small pack is not a bad idea. Plus, you can get these from a brand of your choosing.
3. What should I wear during labor?
It would be suitable if you wear a loose, comfy gown. It will provide you with comfort and freedom of movement.
4. How many nursing bras should I pack?
Two nursing bras would be enough for your hospital stay. Pack more if you think you will have a C-section.
5. Can I bring my pillow and blanket?
Yes absolutely. It can make you more comfortable during your stay, and it will feel like home.
