Hospital Bag: What to Pack?

Time in. Goal setting. Pre–packing. Packing. Overpacking. Repacking. Packing. Underpacking. Break. Packing again. Repacking. And... the cycle continues until making you feel like a bundle of nerves. It seems like there are 100+ Things to Pack in Your Hospital Bag. And it’s not as easy as it sounds — to pack your hospital bag. 

Let’s have a closer look at Hospital Bag: What to Pack? It’s time to unpack your hospital bag & repack it in a way it works for you. 

When Should You Pack Your Hospital Bag? 

It is best if you pack your hospital bag when you are around 32–36 weeks pregnant. If you have a high–risk pregnancy or have a history of preterm labor, you may pack your hospital bag even earlier in your third trimester — reaching week 28.

The optimal time for packing a hospital bag is one month before your due date. Having 30 extra days for packing means that you have more time to think about all items you need & gather them all. 

Thing no.1 to Do Before Starting Packing Your Bag. 

Before you start packing your bag, check out what the hospital or birthing center should provide. Get in touch with a receptionist or come there & ask what essentials they have & what essentials you may need. 

Surely, each facility is different & the necessities they provide are different too. And even if they have a large variety of essentials for your & your baby staying, — you may want to have some necessities & extras that will make you feel at home. 

Explore all Necessities Your Hospital Provides for Newborns.

Preemie, newborn, or size 1 diapers, water wipes, flannel swaddle blankets, warm blankets, burp cloths, baby wash for newborns, travel size baby lotion, muslin washcloths, newborn beanies, hospital–branded newborn onesies, scratch mittens, socks & booties, medication, and formula & bottles. Some hospitals also provide pacifiers on demand. 

Ask Them What They Provide for New Moms.

Standard pillows and blankets, large cups for water and ice, basic toiletries — a bar of soap, mini shampoo, toothbrush/toothpaste, towels, hospital gown(s), socks, hospital slippers, postpartum leggings for new moms, mesh postpartum underwear, medicated cooling pads & postpartum/maternity pads, pain relief medication, peri bottles, meals, breastfeeding consultations & support, lanolin nipple cream, breast pump (if needed) & nursing pads. While staying at the hospital they’ll give you some necessities for the new moms. Just find out what they provide, what they don’t provide & is there anything you should take to the hospital.

Are There Any New Mom & Newborn Freebies? 

Some hospitals provide awesome postpartum care freebies for new moms & newborns. So, don’t be shy when asking about it. Yeah, each hospital is different, but some of them will give your Newbie some freebies like a cute newborn baby hat, little onesie & tiny booties. Plus, most hospitals will give you postpartum leggings for new moms, mesh postpartum underwear, maternity pads & some postpartum care freebies to take home. 

Thing no.2 to Do Before Starting Packing Your Bag. 

Prepare the List of Necessities You’ll Get at the Hospital & Add Things You’ll Need to Take from Home.

Create the list of things you’ll have at the hospital & make some notes on what you would like to have while staying there. Think about all necessities, essentials & extras that will make you feel at home.

It’s Okay to Think About This Puzzle Longer Than Usual. 

It’s okay if you need some ‘Me’–Time for prepping your hospital bag checklist. And it’s okay if you want to make some quick notes in the New Planner in knitted pastel cashmere cover & add them to your iPhone planner. Take some time to think about this puzzle. 

Prepping a Draft Checklist.

Add all items you need to your checklist. Don’t follow a logical order, just add them all. Sooner you’ll tune up your list & cross or delete things you don’t need. 

Tap, Type, Swipe. Add, Rotate or Delete.

After completing your list, split all things you added into 2 categories: what you need & what you don’t. ‘What you need’ list will cover the items you have & need to buy. ‘What you don’t need’ list will include what you’ll need later & what you won’t need at all.

Make Your Prepping — Flow.

Start working on what you need list. Google, book, preorder & buy essentials for your hospital stay. Schedule the delivery days for the items you ordered online not to forget to pick them up. 

Plan Your Shopping.

From the constant shopping to the constant Newborn–Is–Coming–Soon prepping, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and even a little bit exhausted. That is why you need to plan your shopping. It’ll help you manage your ‘To–Buy’ List without facing burnout.

Thing no.3: Prepacking. For Packing. 

Invest in 3+ Luggage Organizers (8–9 Sets Packing Cubes for Travel) before packing your hospital bag. The Luggage Organizers usually have 3 single travel cubes for clothes, 1 cube for underwear, 1 shoe bag for shoes, 1 drawstring bag for laundry, 1 makeup bag for cosmetics & toiletries, and 1 small bag for accessories & are made with wearable waterproof fabric. Carry on the smart cubes to turn an overstuffed suitcase into a neatly organized space.

Prepack everything you want to take to the hospital & try to fill space in our suitcase. If you can easily close your suitcase — Congrats! You did it. But if closing your suitcase is a serious thing or after prepacking you have 2 middle–sized suitcases instead of 1, you’ll need repacking.  

And one thing. Prepack & pack one extra suitcase for staying at the hospital longer than you thought. It would be easier to ask your loved one or your friend to take it from your home & deliver it to the hospital. 

50 Things to Pack in Mom Hospital Bag

Hospital Paperwork

• ID & Driver’s License 
• Copy of Pre–Registration Papers 
• Insurance Card
• Maternity Notes & Birth Plan 
• Notebook/Planner & 2x Pens
• Wallet, Cash, Coins & Credit Card 

Mom Clothing Packing Cube

• 3x Loungewear Outfits/Loose Comfy Outfits
• 2x Loose Pants/Leggings or Compression Tights/Leggings
• 2x Loose Night Gowns/Pj’s & 1x Sleep Mask 
• 1x Cardigan
• 1x Mommy & Me Outfit (for an announcement)
• 1x Going Home Outfit 
• 4x Comfy Socks
• 1x Laundry Bag

Mom Bra & Underwear Bag 

• 6x Loose Black Undies
• 3x Maternity Bras/Stretching Nursing Tops

Mom Shoe Bag

• 1x Slippers/Booties
• 1x Flip–Flops (for taking a shower)

Mom Toiletry Bag

Tips on packing: choose travel–size toiletries & mini beauty products for your hospital stay. It will be easier to find all essentials in one space & mini versions are lighter to carry.

• 1x Shampoo (60ml) & 1x Hair Conditioner (60ml)
• 1x Hair–Repairing Oil (15ml) & Hairspray (50ml)
• 1x Toothpaste (50 ml) & 1x Toothbrush 
• 2x Bars of Soap (100g/each) & 2x Silicone Soap Dishes
• 1x Scented Body Wash (100 ml)
• 1x Deodorant
• 1x Hair Dryer (most hospitals provide hair dryer but this should be checked)

Mom Beauty Skin Cleansers & Skincare Essentials Zipped Bag

• 1x Cleansing Foam/Milk/Cream (50 ml)
• 1x Micellar Lotion (50 ml)
• 1x Skin Resurfacing Peel (30 ml)
• 1x Face Oil/Cream (15 ml)

Mom Makeup Zipped Bag

• 1x Makeup Primer (15 ml) & 1x Foundation (15 ml) 
• 1x Eyeshadow Primer & 1x Concealer (15 ml)
• 1x Powder (8,5g) & 1x Highlighter (8,5g)
• 1x Makeup Brush & 1x Makeup Beauty Blender 
• 1x Mascara & 1x Eyeliner & 1x Eyeshadow
• 1x Brow Framer Natural Volume Gel 
• 1x The Eyebrow Pencil Densifying & Shaping
• 1x Lip Balm & 1x Lipstick/Liquid Lipstick
• 1x Fragrance (5 ml)

Mom Electronics Zipped Cube

• Phone/iPhone/iPad/Tablet & Super Long Charger(s) so you can use it plugged in from the bed)
• Headphones/AirPods/AirPods Max

Mom Health Zipped Bag 

• Copy of medical history of allergies to medication or chemicals
• Medication List & Prescribed Medication & Prenatal Vitamins
• Glasses/Contacts & Solution

Mom Birth Packing Cube

• Birth Plan Copy & Birth Preference List 
• Stretchy Bra & Loose Birthing Gown & 2x Hair Ties 
• Bathers (if water birth is planned)
• Water Bottle
• Lollies & Snacks 
• Playlist & Headphones 

Mom Nursing Packing Cube

• Notes from breastfeeding class 
• 1x Breast Pump (most hospitals provide new moms with Breast Pump. Call your hospital to check it.)
• 1x C–Shaped Nursing Pillow & 2x Protective Pillow Liners
• 1x Nipple Balm/Cream & 10x Nursing Pads

*For Baby

Going Home Essentials

• Car Seat Installed
• Baby Lounger (Portable & Adjustable Newborn Baby Bed)

20 Things to Pack in Newbie Hospital Bag

Baby Clothing Packing Cube

• 2x Newborn Hats
• 4x Newborn Onesies (velvet — for fall/winter & early spring. Cotton — for spring & summer)
• 1x Knitted Cardigan/Sweater 
• 1x Newborn Beanie (for fall/winter & early spring)
• 1x Baby Coverall (for fall/winter & early spring)
• 2x pairs of Scratch Mittens
• 1x Going Home Outfit
• 1x Laundry Bag

Baby Underwear Bag 

• 4x Newborn Undies

Baby Shoe Bag

• 2x Booties
• 2x Socks

Baby Essentials Packing Cube

• 2x Baby Bottles
• 2x Pacifiers
• 10x Newborn Nappies: Preemie & Newborn & Size 1 
• 1x pack Water Wipes
• 2x Burp Cloths 
• 2x Swaddle Blankets/Swaddle Set
• 2x Warm Blankets 
• Some baby care items you love
• 2x Muslin Washcloths Natural Purified Cotton

25 Things to Pack in Dad Hospital Bag

Hospital Paperwork

• ID & Driver’s License 
• Copy of Pre–Registration Papers 
• Insurance Card
• Notebook/Planner & 2x Pens
• Wallet, Cash, Coins & Credit Card 

Dad Clothing Packing Cube

• 2x Loungewear Sets
• 2x T–shirts & 2x Extra Shirts
• 2x Jumpers
• 1x Sleeping Clothes
• 1x Laundry Bag

Dad Underwear Bag 

• 4x Underwear Sets
• 4x Socks

Dad Shoe Bag

• 1x Flip–Flops (for taking a shower)
• 1x Comfortable Shoes

Dad Toiletry Bag

• 1x Shampoo (60ml) & 1x Hair Conditioner (60ml)
• 1x Toothpaste (50 ml) & 1x Toothbrush 
• 2x Bars of Soap (100g/each) & 2x Silicone Soap Dishes
• Cleansing Essentials Set (travel size)
• 2x Razors
• 1x Deodorant

Dad Electronics Zipped Cube

• Phone/iPhone/iPad/Tablet & Super Long Charger(s) so you can use it plugged in from the bed)
• Headphones/AirPods/AirPods Max

Dad Health Zipped Bag 

• Copy of medical history of allergies to medication or chemicals
• Medication List & Prescribed Medication & Vitamins
• Glasses/Contacts & Solution

Extras & Comforts 

• 2x Coffee Cups
• Pillow(s) & Blanket(s)
• Music Playlist & Speaker
• Healthy Snacks & Lollies
• Power Bank(s)
• Digital Camera, Charger & SD card
• 1x Extra Bag (for packing ‘needs washing’ clothing)

What if staying at the hospital would be longer than planned? 

Prepack one more hospital bag for staying longer than expected. Use the Packing Cubes Sets for clothing, undies, shoes & other essentials you may need for 4–7 days & pack them all in one suitcase. This suitcase will be at home, ready to be taken & delivered any moment you need.  

Some Tips on Packing a Hospital Bag

Tip 1: Print the list of essentials you are going to take to the hospital. It’ll be easier to pack your bag your hospital bag & pack it back home.

Tip 2: Make an extra copy of your Birth Plan & all essential notes you have. And note done all emergency contacts in your Notebook/Planner so that you can contact your loved ones & friends even if something has happened to your phone. 

Tip 3: Add to your Birth Plan #1 all essential notes, so that they may be seamlessly transformed in Birth Plan #2. Or draft Birth Plan #2 from scratch to a final version. 

Tip 4: Pre–plan your list of people you want to contact after the baby is here (you can do this in the notes section on your phone or make some notes in your notebook). 

Tip 6: Before you think of what to pack, you should know one thing: the hospitals suggest not packing expensive items, like wedding rings and other jewelry, laptops, and loads of cash. Avoid bringing anything that you’d miss if you accidentally lost it. 

Tip 7: Invest in 3+ Luggage Organizers (8–9 Sets Packing Cubes for Travel) before packing your hospital bag. Carry on the smart cubes to turn an overstuffed suitcase into a neatly organized space.

Tip 8: Use zip–lock packing cubes & bags to group clothing (for the hospital stay, for labor, after labor, for baby, for nursing, for father–to–be, for an announcement, for going home, etc.). This will make things easier to find in your bag.

Tip 9: Try not to overpack your hospital bag. And prep one extra suite for longer staying at the hospital ready to be picked up & delivered any time. 

Tip 10: Don’t worry if you have forgotten anything — send your loved one or a friend to get it for you.