I found packing my hospital bag as a first-time mom a confusing and time-consuming process. I originally packed my hospital bag 8 weeks out – like recommended – to only pack and repack about 6 more times!!
The reason I found packing a hospital bag terribly confusing because I did not understand WHY to pack certain things. I read tons (probably too many) different posts on what to pack – and they were all relatively the same lists – but I really did not understand why I was packing those things.
I took a few too many of certain things, and not enough of others.
As soon as I got home from the hospital, I wrote down what I put in my hospital, if I used it or not, why I packed it and what I used it for. Because I found this particular aspect of getting ready for birth unnecessarily challenging, I wanted to remember it easily for next time.
What it comes down to is that there are 3 bags you need to pack:
1. A bag with clothes for you
2. A bag with clothes for the baby
3. A bag that holds everything else – toiletries, snacks, diaper essentials
Keep reading to hear what you should pack in your hospital bags and why, based off of first-hand experience.
At the end, I’ve recapped everything in a simple, printable checklist to keep track of all of your packing needs.
This list is the perfect packing lists for a 2-3 day hospital stay.
What to Pack in Your Hospital Bag for YOU:
1. The actual hospital bag
Let’s start at the very beginning – the actual bag! Or bags…
This is what I recommend taking when it comes to bags:
- A small, carry-on size wheelie suitcase. Fill one side with your clothes. Fill the other side with baby clothes.
- A medium-size duffel bag with all the essentials: diapers, toiletries, postpartum care essentials, snacks. Put all these items in separate, clear ziploc bags so you can see which is in each one easily.
WHY?
When I packed my hospital bags, I felt like I had a lot of stuff. I was questioning why I was not taking one medium sized suitcase. Once I got the hospital, I was glad I did not do that. Now – every hospital and hospital set up will be different. You may have a private room or more space, but the reason why I recommend taking smaller bags rather than one big bag is because of the size of the rooms.
The rooms – especially in the postpartum ward- are not very big!! I would not have been able to open my one suitcase and find what I needed. With my 2 bags and 3 designated packing sections, I was able to find everything really easily when I needed to.
2. Clothes for Labour & Delivery
This one seemed to confuse me as well. When I asked what to bring, the answer was always “whatever you feel comfortable in” – but that just wasn’t descriptive enough for my liking.
Essentially, you can wear whatever you want for both, but my recommendations are:
- For labour, a comfortable pair of PJs. Depending on season, this could be a nightgown & robe, long sleeve PJs, short sleeve PJs, sweatpants, T-shirt or the hospital gown.
- For delivery, just go with the hospital gown. Don’t plan anything fancy for this. They exist for a reason!
- A pair or two of socks. However, it is quite common to be provided compression socks to wear during labour & delivery and the following 24 hours after.
3. Clothes for Post-Delivery
Based on how long you are in the hospital, the number of items you pack for this section may differ – but just slightly. I was in 7 days, so needed to have a few items washed and brought back to me. The average stay for a first time mom is 2 days.
This is what I recommend packing in your hospital bag for after you have delivered for a 2-3 day stay:
- 2 maternity bras for after birth. If you will be breastfeeding, you want to make it as easy as possible for yourself and your new baby. And you may experience leaking once your milk comes in, so it is handy to have extras with you.
- 2 pairs of loose, maternity joggers. You will be healing from birth and will want some forgiving, comfortable pants to move around in.
- 2 pairs of PJs. More on this just below!
- 1 zip-up hoodie. From my experience, the temperature in the hospital changed pretty dramatically from day to night. Having a comfortable, zip-up hoodie was perfect.
- 2 loose tank tops or T-shirts. These came in handy for walking around the ward when I wanted a lighter-weight, loose option.
- 4 pairs of socks. Depending on your length of stay, you will want some fresh socks as you will be getting in and out of bed quite frequently and walking on the ground.
- 4 – 6 pairs of undies. I would recommend bringing some comfortable, full bottom undies in a dark colour, as well as picking up a pack of disposable undies. This is one item worth overpacking.
- Glider Sandals. I wore these every time I stepped off my bed. They were super easy to slip on and walk around in.
4. PJs!
These were an absolute essential!!
I purchased a pair of black floral, short sleeve, button-down PJs specifically for the hospital. I had heard that it can get really warm in there, so I wanted a short sleeve option with buttons for making breastfeeding easily accessible.
I also wanted a nice looking, fresh pair PJs to feel good in after delivery. This made a huge difference!!
I packed a warmer long sleeve button down PJ set that was perfect for night to keep me warm.
4. Toiletries
In my personal opinion, less is more. So I really tried to pack only the essentials here.
I packed all my toiletries in a large, clear ziploc bag. This is what I took and used:
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Facewash
- Face moisturizer
- Unscented face & body wipes
- Deodorant
- Unscented body wash
- A few makeup essentials: tinted moisturizer, blush and my eyelash curler. Because I was there for 7 days, putting a little flicker of makeup on day 3 made me feel wonderful.
- Hairbrush
- Dry shampoo
- Hair ties (5 is plenty – I brought like 94 thinking… well, not sure what I was thinking)
- Lip Balm (bring multiple!)
- Nipple Cream
Optional toiletries to bring
- Shampoo & Conditioner.
- Blow Dryer. I did not bring this, but if you have a private room and are staying for multiple days, this may make you feel more human. I would classify this as a nice to have, absolutely not a need to have. It takes up space and I really don’t think you’re that worried about your hair with a new baby.
5. Face Cloth
Giving labour is like a mini (okay, BIG) workout. You are working hard and getting sweaty.
I had a cold face cloth for my face and neck and it made a huge difference during the process.
Bring at least 2.
6. Postpartum Care Essentials
I read lots about the recovery phase and what you may need to support the process. There were things I purchased that I really didn’t need and other things that were absolute essentials.
I purchased and packed: maternity pads, incontinence pants, Tucks wipes & Earth Mama spray thinking these were necessities from what I had read.
The only thing I used from this list were maternity pads. The hospital supplied some as well but I did not know that beforehand. They had said they did not supply anything for pre or post-care.
How many to bring depends on your length of stay, but I would recommend bringing at least 20 if you are unsure whether the hospital provides them or not.
I did not use the incontinence pants, Tucks wipes or Earth Mama spray. These were all an unnecessary purchase for me. I did not use them when I got home either.
TIP: make sure the pads you are using are cotton-based. A lot of what is on the market are synthetic based and when trying to heal you want the most breathable option there is.
7. Eye Mask (for sleep)
They turn those lights on early and keep them on all day…
Sleep when the baby sleeps…
8. Pillow & Blanket
These were two items I could not have been bothered carrying to and from the hospital when I was first getting all my stuff together. However, I am very glad I got over that and brought a pillow and blanket with me.
The bedding provided at hospitals is exactly what you think it is… pretty brutal. The pillow is thin and the sheets are very light. And most of the time – the hospital does not have extra pillows or thicker blankets.
I brought my own pillow with a pillowcase (colour didn’t matter, it did not get dirty) and a blanket to keep me warm and am very glad I did.
9. Charger, Headphones & Entertainment
You will most definitely be using your phone while in hospital – whether it is while you wait and watch some Netflix or for when the baby arrives to take endless photos and do FaceTime introductions.
Either way – don’t forget your charger! I would recommend bringing a longer charging cable as the plugs are not always close to your bed.
Bring headphones as well. These are helpful if you are in a space with others and need to keep voices low.
10. Your Birth Plan & Hospital Notes
It is a good idea to type and print a handful of copies (around 4) of your birth plan. Based on the length of your labour & delivery, you may see a few nurses as shift changes occur.
It is much easier to hand someone a piece of paper with your birth preferences nicely organized than try to explain and remember what they are for every shift change.
And don’t forget hospital notes and any ID cards you may need! These are crucial.
11. Snacks to Pack in Your Hospital Bag
I gave birth during the height of the pandemic. Lockdown restrictions were the tightest they had been since the pandemic started, which meant I had to bring everything with me at the beginning. This included snacks as there were serious rules around your designated visitor leaving the hospital once you were in.
Food wise, you need to consider during labour and after labour.
I guess I should refer to these as what snacks to pack, as you will be fed (I would assume?!) full meals by the hospital.
Snacks for During Labour
Ask your doctor what they recommend, but for during labour it was recommended I have:
- Gatorade. I would bring a full pack of 4-6 bottles.
- Chocolate or sweets that easily dissolve in your mouth.
- Fruit. I had apples & bananas.
- Water. Definitely bring your own refillable water bottle.
Why such high sugar options? Labour is quite the workout! You need energy to keep going, but you do not want to be ingesting any solids during this time. So grab your favourite Gatorade flavour and a few of your favourite chocolate bars and enjoy!
Snacks for After Delivery
Being a new mom, recovering from labour & delivery and then throw in breastfeeding – it is all very strenuous! I was ravenous in the middle of the night those first few nights. I highly recommend having:
- Easy to store fruits – like apples and bananas (6 of each).
- Granola Bars.
- A bit more chocolate (because why not).
- And more Gatorade. Probably another 2-4 bottles.
- Lots of water.
What to Pack in Your Hospital Bag for BABY:
Okay, all that above is just to cover you! The most exciting part of going to the hopsital is that you get a new little friend to take home with you! That new little friend is all your responsiblity and you need to make sure they are well equipped.
Here is what to pack for the baby:
1. Clothes
I had no idea what to expect when it came to dressing a baby in the hospital! As a first time mom, I naturally brought a bunch of the wrong items. I brought some really cute two piece outfits that I thought my little baby would be in right away – but I was quite wrong.
Stick to the basics and keep it simple here. I would pack:
- 3-5 onesies, with feet. 3 in newborn size and 2 in up to 1 month, just in case your little one is a bit bigger than newborn size! The full onesies with feet are best because it keeps them nice and warm and are easy to navigate. Zippers versus buttons is totally personal preference.
- 2 long sleeve bodysuits, in case they need a cooler outfit option based on climate.
- 2 pairs of socks.
- 2 hats. Babies will sleep in hats at the hospital and you will need to take them home with a hat on as well.
- 1 pair of scratch mittens. I did not use these at all, but they are worth having in case your little one has long nails when they arrive.
That’s it!
Babies are being checked on, weighed, fed & spitting up pretty much as soon as they arrive. They don’t need much to keep them comfortable, but they may need a few outfit changes. Keep it simple on you and save the fun outfits for when they are home.
2. Diaper Essentials
This was an eye opener! I made note in this post on My 14 Most Used Newborn Essentials in the First Month how I had no idea what to expect when it came to diapers. But more specifically, how many diapers a newborn baby goes through.
For the hospital, we packed 20 diapers. We were in for a week! This was no where near enough, we needed about 4x that amount.
If you are in for a few days I would bring:
- 40 diapers (size 1 most likely)
- 2 packs of wipes
I had also brought diaper rash cream but did not need that in the hospital. It just took up space at the end of the day.
You can always get more diapers if you are in longer, but this is one item you definitely don’t want to run out of!! Most hospitals will not have an extra supply on hand.
3. Receiving Blankets, Muslins & Burp Cloths
To be entirely honest – I had no idea what a receiving blanket was!!! I thought you had to bring your own blanket to catch the baby…
That is not what a receiving blanket is. But it is to wrap the baby up once they have arrived. This term is use interchangably now with muslins.
I would bring:
- 2 – 3 receiving blankets or muslins. They are really good to have to wrap your baby in, cover them in, cuddle them in, take pictures in… you get point.
- 5 burp cloths. They spit up pretty early on. You will want some burp cloths to rotate through. Small size ones are perfect.
4. Car Seat
As far as I know, most hospitals will not let you leave the hospital without a car seat – regardless of if you have a car or not. Bring this when you are ready to leave! It could be something that your partner brings back just before you leave or bring it with you right away.
5. Going Home Outfit
This can be as fancy or as simple as you’d like, but ultimately what it comes down to is that it must be weather appropriate and safely fit in the car seat.
For summer babies that is not a worry, but for winter babies it is something to consider, as bulky snowsuits aren’t recommended for use in car seat.
Printable Hospital Bag Checklist for You & Baby
To make it easier for you, I have created a simple, printable hospital bag checklist. You can download that here and start packing away.
Packing for the hospital is a terribly exciting time, although somewhat confusing as well. Hopefully, it is now somewhat more clear what is recommended to take with and why. Happy packing 🙂