What Should I Pack in my Hospital Bag?

If you are planning to have your baby at the hospital, you are probably already thinking about what you should pack in your hospital bag. Here are my top items I’ll have with for baby #2.

Check with your hospital first.

Before you start filling your hospital bag with shampoo and lotion, give your hospital a call. They might provide some or many of the items that most “what to pack” lists will tell you to bring.

I was blown away by the amount of goodies and supplies our hospital provided for us. Here I had packed enough for a weekend camping excursion when I could have gotten away with a few pairs of sweats. Check out this loot!

Shampoo, conditioner, lotion, lip balm, toothbrush, stashed in an extremely handy tote to bring all our goodies home. Plus a cooler for milk and that big gal on the right.

Oh yes. My trucker mug. The first few months after having a baby can be hazy, but I’m pretty sure when my husband suggested I get rid of this mug for a more attractive alternative I told him he could “pry it from my cold dead fingers”. I did eventually ditch it, but not until our daughter was around five months. That little smarty pants watched me drink from it all the time and would try to suck from the straw. I wanted her to learn that we drink from glasses so I finally made the switch.

What I’ll pack in my hospital bag.

Having been around the block with the hospital baby-having process, my hospital bag is going to look MUCH different the next time around. Here’s what I plan to pack:

• Hair ties- Baby having is a hot business. The last thing you want is hair in your face. A nice braid is helpful too.
• 2 Pairs of comfy pants – Bring your comfiest and cutest lounge pants. We had a fair amount of company visit us in the hospital. After having a baby your level of caring what people think goes out the window, for me it was still nice to look a little put together for the in-laws.
• 2 comfortable shirts to nurse in – A cozy flannel or soft nursing top to match with your lounge pants.
• 2 Nursing Bras/Tanks – You could probably get by with one, but I found it was so nice to change into fresh clothes each day.
• 1 Pairs of night clothes you can nurse in – You’ll feel fresher and more comfortable being able to put on different clothes to sleep in than what you wore to bed. Make sure it is something you are comfortable nursing in.
• Slippers, comfy socks, or slip-on shoes– I’m not big fan of those grippy hospital socks.
• Deodorant- Even if the hospital has toiletries for you they won’t have this.
• 2 pillows- Hospital pillows are crap. Those things are made to be sanitized easily and that slippery material slides right out of the pillow cases when you are trying to get comfortable to sleep.
• Blanket – Hospital blankets are often those knit jobbers that may look nice strewn artfully over the back of a couch, but they do next to nothing for comfort or warmth.
• 1 Pair of Underwear- Odds are good you aren’t going to be using these but in case you graduate from the big ol’ after birth undies you’ll have your own to put on.
• Glasses/Contacts/Solution- This is a must have for my fellow near and far sighted friends.
• Onesie and jammies for baby – Organic and the softer the better.
• Blanket for baby – To tuck around him/her on the drive home.
• Car Seat- Technically this doesn’t go in the hospital bag but you want to remember it anyway. Put it in your car a few weeks before your due date so you don’t even have to think about it.
• Phone, ipad/tablet & chargers – So you can keep in touch with everyone.

What does my partner need in their hospital bag?

I asked my husband on this one and here are his suggestions:

• Headphones
• Phone & charger
• Comfortable pillow and blanket from home
• Toiletries (tooth brush, tooth paste, etc.)
• Water bottle
• Change of comfy clothes.

Does baby need a hospital bag?

I’d say no. The hospital will provide you with diapers and wipes for your little bundle. Aside from that you will want an outfit or two and a snuggly blanket. Those few items can easily tuck in mom’s bag.

You got this mama!

In the book “Handmade Mama”, she opens a chapter by saying “You are the perfect mama for this baby”. I’ve read countless parenting/childbirth books and of all the things I’ve read, that sentence has been the most comforting and encouraging. You are the perfect mom for this baby. Don’t stress too much about your hospital bag. You’ll be there to snuggle, feed, and comfort your baby. That is all you really need. If you do forget something in your hospital bag, you can send your partner out to get it or you’ll be able to make due for a few days.

Printable Hospital Bag Checklist

I’m all about lists and organization. Here is a printable checklist that I’ll be using for baby number two!

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Check back soon for links to my favorite items on this list.