Baby Hospital Bag Checklist-Hospital Bag Essentials
Congratulations on your newest family member to be! These 9 months are so precious and will go by quicker than you expect so don’t wait till last minute to pack your baby hospital bag. Cherish these 9 months because your whole world is about to change (for the better!)!
Getting things done ahead of time will eliminate so much stress which is important for you and your baby’s health. Packing the hospital bag is one thing that you do not want to put off, so start getting together a baby hospital bag checklist.
Start packing your hospital bag around 35 to 37 weeks, I wouldn’t wait until 38 weeks. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 10.23% (383,061 babies) of the 3.75 million babies born in the United States in 2019 came preterm (before 37 weeks). 27.31% were born in weeks 37 to 38; 57.02% were born in weeks 39 to 40 (full-term); 6 percent in week 41; and less than 1 percent at 42 weeks or beyond.
For more information from the CDC click here. Period of gestation table is on page 8. This is the most up-to-date information available from the CDC.
Continue on for hospital bag ideas or click the buttons below to skip ahead to other baby hospital bag checklist items.
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Hospital Bags:
DALIX 21″ Blank Sports Duffle Bag
DALIX 21″ Blank Sports Duffle Bag is perfect to use for your hospital bag and it is something you will be able to use for many occasions. High ratings and a reasonable price, also available in 12 colors. 1 Large Main Compartment for you and your partner/spouse’s clothes, entertainment, and snacks. 1 zippered front pocket for keys, phone chargers, important documents and more.
2 Side pockets (2-inch depth) with zipper closures that are perfect to keep toiletries, baby items, and some of your after-birth needs. 2 Side flap pockets for easy grabbing of snacks and water bottles.
Size is 21” length x 10” x 10” height, with padded shoulder strap.
Not enough room for what you want to bring? Include this hanging travel toiletry bag to add more room!
Available in 16 colors/styles, water-resistant, multiple storage compartments, and able to hang from a towel rack, coat hook or whatever is available.
Take this toiletry bag and clip it to the duffle bag above for easy transportation and less worry about forgetting it.
Remember your going to want to keep it light and easy to transport. Not enough of room for your needs? You can also include a diaper bag and keep all the babies needs in there plus your postpartum needs, that way the other bag can be for you and your spouse/partner. Want to bring your own pillows or towels, strap them to the outside of the bag to reduce clutter.
I could list many more hospital bag options but you get the point. Now on to Mom’s Hospital Bag Checklist.
Mom’s Hospital Bag Checklist
Must-Haves:
- Birth plan, driver’s license, and insurance card
- A soft comfy robe/delivery gown. Check this one out. Better than a hospital gown and the doctor can still check you easily.
- Toiletries:
- Hairbrush, shampoo or dry shampoo, toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant, lip balm (you will want this), hair ties, face wipes, contacts or glasses if you wear them. **I would buy all new items (second set) so you can keep it in your bag. That way when you go into labor you aren’t trying to remember these items.**
- Clothing:
- For Nursing:
- Nursing bra or nursing tank. Click here for nursing bra options, click here for nursing tank options, click here for a short sleeve nursing shirt, click here for a long sleeve nursing shirt, click here for a lightweight nursing hoodie, or click here for a thicker nursing hoodie option.
- Loose comfy pants/shorts or pajama pants. Click here to see a comfy pants option, click here to see a comfy shorts option, or click here for some comfy pajama pants. **Remember to order a larger size, your stomach won’t go back to normal size right away.
- Slipper socks with grippers. These are required by the hospital so you don’t fall. The hospital will have some but buying your own will be more comfortable and personal. Click here to see some options.
- Compression socks. You may not need these at the hospital but you will want them at home after birth. You will be sitting a lot feeding your baby and these will help your legs. Click here to see some options.
- Slip on shoes (might have swollen feet after birth). Click here for a sandal options, click here for a crocks options, or click here for a winter clog options.
- For Nursing:
- Drinks: Reusable water bottle. Click here.
- Extra-long charging cord for your phone. Click here for iPhone, or click here for Android. Click here for a charging block or you might like this one instead.
- Breast pump and pumping bra. (only if you are wanting to introduce a bottle right away. Otherwise pumping can wait until you get home). Click here for a pumping bra.
- Compression belt. (This item is only if you know you are going to be having a C-section. Click here for a compression belt.
- Any daily prescription medication.
Might want to have but don’t need:
- Portable Bluetooth speaker. Click here.
- Adult diapers. Click here to read 10 Postpartum Recovery Must-Haves for some options.
- Nipple Cream. Click here.
- Dermoplast Pain Relieving Spray. (The hospital will most likely have this same item but you may want to bring it just in case. You will definitely want extras waiting at home). Click here.
- Portable Diffuser. Click here.
- Portable Fan. Click here or you may like this one.
- Pillow (Hospital does have and you can request as many as you want but some moms prefer having their personal pillow from home, just remember that birth is messy).
- Towels (hospital towels are small and very uncomfortable which is not pleasant when you get your first shower after birth).
- Comfy face mask incase hospital requires you to wear it when others are in the room (COVID-19). Click here.
- Breast Pads. Click here for a disposable option and click here for a washable option.
- Mommy and Me Sets. Click here to see an option or you may like this one.
- Breastfeeding Pillow. Click here to see the Boppy Pillow, click here to see the My Best Friend Pillow, or click here to see the Infantino Pillow.
- Camera if you want something other than your phone.
Baby Hospital Bag Checklist:
Must-Haves:
- Pediatricians contact information
- Going home outfit (don’t worry about bringing a lot of clothes for your baby. The first few days they will most likely be in a diaper and blanket. This makes skin-to-skin time more convenient which is very important.)
- Bottles (if you are doing formula or if you want to introduce a bottle right away).
- Formula. (If you choose not to breastfeed or you already know you are not able to produce milk)
- Pacifier (only if you want to introduce one).
- **You don’t need diapers or wipes unless you are strictly wanting cloth diapers or a certain brand. Most hospitals will have the brand Pampers, but you can call ahead and ask if you are concerned. **
Might want to have but don’t need:
- Matching outfit. Click here to see an option or you may like this one.
- Cute swaddle for babies first photo. Click here for a Girl option. Click here for a Boy option. Wanting a Unisex option, click here. Also, check out these boy/unisex options or you may like this one.
- Sign for first baby photo. Click here for “I’m here Hello world” or click here for “Hello Baby”. Also check out this Felt Letter Board.
- Special monogrammed blanket. Click here for a girl and boy option. Click here for a girl option and click here for a boy option.
**Double or triple items depending on if your having twins, triplets or more.**
Car Ride Home:
Must-haves:
Car seat:
- Graco SnugRide 35 Lite LX Infant Car Seat, Studio. Affordable and lightweight. Mom’s listed this as one of there favorites for newborns because if your baby falls asleep you don’t have to wake them up to go into the store. You can just grab the car seat and go. Also makes trips more quick and more convenient.
- Graco Car Seat and Stroller Combo. All the benefits from the car seat above but when you take the car seat out of your vehicle you can click it right into a stroller. No need to take your baby out of the car seat to put them in a separate stroller. Perfect for grocery shopping, family outings, and making quick trips in and out of stores! Also includes another stroller attachment for when they get older. #1 recommend!
- Looking for a car seat that stays in the vehicle. Check out this Graco SlimFit 3 in 1 Car Seat.
Donut Pillow:
Trust me, you will want this for the car ride home. Leave it in you vehicle around 35 to 37 weeks so you don’t forget it. You want to enjoy looking at your beautiful on the way home, not cringing in pain every time the vehicle goes over a bump. Check this one out!
Reusable Water bottle:
Click here to see a reusable water bottle option.
Baby mirror:
This is a nice feature for the driver of the vehicle, it gives peace of mind and always allows you to keep an eye on your baby. Check this one out, it is crash-tested, certified, shatter-proof safety surface.
Spouse/Partner Hospital Bag Checklist:
Must-Haves:
- Tums (This one may surprise you but so many moms recommend it for their spouses/partners that I ended up packing one in my hospital bag and my husband actually asked me if I packed any on the second day in the hospital).
- Hairbrush, shampoo, toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant, contacts or glasses if they wear them. **I would buy all new items (second set) so you can keep it in your bag. That way when you go into labor you aren’t trying to remember these items.**
- Some type of entertainment: Magazine, Book, Tablet, headphones. (Download some movies or games ahead of time)
- A lot of snacks: Think of these categories; protein, sweet, salty, healthy, gum! Protein: trail mix, granola bars, beef jerky. Sweet: M&Ms, skittles, hard candy. Salty: Crackers, Chex-mix, beef jerky, sunflower seeds. Healthy: Dried Fruit, trail mix, sunflower/pumpkin seeds. **Don’t go overboard on the snacks, just pick some favorites that travel well and won’t melt if you leave your hospital bag in the vehicle.**
- Reusable water bottle. Click here to see an option.
- Clothes: 2 short sleeve shirts, 1 pants, 1 basketball shorts, sweatpants or pajama pants, 4 pairs of socks, 4 underwear, 1 sweatshirt
- Any daily prescription medication
- Small amount of cash. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many hospitals are not allowing anyone to leave the hospital once they arrive until it is time to go home with the baby. Some hospitals/insurance will cover meals for your spouse/partner but in case they don’t, you will want cash to pay for meals if need be.
Might want but not a necessity:
- Pillow. Hospitals will have but some enjoyed having their own. Remember pillows are bulky and take up room.
- Light blanket. Hospitals will have blankets available but they are not very comfortable, may want to bring one if your spouse/partner wants one.
- If your partner/spouse smokes or chews tobacco you may want to pack nicotine patches or gum. Tobacco products are not allowed on hospital grounds and some hospitals are not allowing anyone to leave the hospital due to the COVID-19 pandemic. You do not want your spouse/partner grumpy from nicotine withdrawal while you are in labor.
Items Provided by hospital:
Below is a list of items that Hospitals/Birth Centers may provide. You can always call ahead to check to see what your local hospital offers.
For mom:
- Hospital gowns
- Grip socks
- Birthing ball
- Large water cup
- Basic toiletries-soap, shampoo, toothbrush/toothpaste
- Thick sanitary pads
- Peri bottle
- Dermoplast Pain Relieving Spray
- Basic pillow and blankets
For Baby:
- Diapers: preemie, newborn, and size 1 (usually pampers)
- Basic wipes
- Swaddle blankets
- Hat
- Shampoo/body soap for babies first bath
- Some may have formula in case your milk doesn’t come in
- Vitamin D drops (important for breastfed babies) Hospitals do provide and many insurances cover, but if you want a more natural Vitamin D drop then click here. My daughter took this a lot better, and it doesn’t include any artificial colors or flavors that the generic hospital one has in it.
Final Tips:
Bring your hospital bag wherever you go around 37-38 weeks or leave it in the vehicle you will be taking. Last thing you need is going into labor 2 hours away from home and not getting your bag in time.
Leave wedding rings or any expensive jewelry at home, you can’t wear it during birth anyways and keeping track of it is the last thing on your mind. Also, avoid bringing anything expensive or that you would miss if it was accidentally lost.
This is a fun time, please do not stress and get overwhelmed! Just remember that your birth may not go according to your birth plan or how you thought it would go, in fact it rarely does. Don’t let that freak you out though! When the time comes, all that matters is that you and your baby are healthy and happy!
I hope this article on baby hospital bag checklist helped you pack your hospital bag and I’m excited for all you moms out there that are about to meet your beautiful baby!
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