Have you started packing your hospital bag yet? Worried about how you’re going to fit everything in, and if you’ve got everything you need for you and your newborn baby?
Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered! After having two babies I now have an amazing system for packing my hospital bag and I’m going to share it with you!
Now, some hospital checklists include everything but the kitchen sink. This is not one of those checklists.
Only the stuff you really, really need during labour and immediately after features on this hospital bag list. That means I’m deliberately leaving out things like hairdryers, your entire makeup collection and your own pillow.
It is of course worth thinking if these little luxuries will A) make you feel better during your hospital stay and therefore are essential or B) can actually fit in your bag.
What do you need in a hospital bag?
Trust me when I say, it will be much easier for you to stick to the absolute essentials only. And you really won’t care what your hair looks like, or whether you’ve put your full contour on!
There are also some new parent essentials that other people swear need to be in your bag, that in reality you won’t need to use until you’re at home. Things like a ton of breast pads, which soak up your milk.
Your milk doesn’t come in until a few days after birth and before then it’s thick colostrum that you produce. It takes a few days for the full on letdown milk spraying experience to begin – then you definitely need a lot of breast pads!
What you actually need is the practical stuff – clothes for you, clothes for baby, your own care essentials, diapers and wipes for baby plus your phone and charger.
The great thing about packing your hospital bag is it feels pretty exciting. It makes the impending arrival of your baby feel that bit more real!
I lost count of the number of times I packed and repacked my hospital bag.
It’s lovely to look at the little clothes your newborn will wear and imagine them wearing them. It helps to take your mind off the marathon that is giving birth that you’re about to experience.
When I packed my first hospital bag I included lots of stuff I didn’t need and didn’t pack enough of other things, like nappies! What a rookie mistake.
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I’ve produced a list of all the things I put in my hospital bag with my second baby. I stayed in hospital for one night and it was spot on. I also found a much easier way of organising everything.
Your hospital bag essentials
Your maternity hospital bag essentials should be packed around the middle of your third trimester. More on when to start packing your hospital bag here.
You need to focus on the key items for: You, your baby and your birthing partner.
For mother
- Your hospital notes and birth plan
- Giving birth PJs or nightie
- TENS machine if you plan to use one for pain relief
- Lip Balm
- Water and a snack
- Phone charger
- Camera
- Dressing gown
- Slippers
- Clean PJs for after birth
- Maternity pads x25
- Underwear x3
- Nursing bra
- Spare PJs
- Shampoo and conditioner
- Wash cloth
- Nipple cream
- Hairband
- Simple make-up/toiletries
- Makeup remover/wipes
- Deodorant
- Towel
- Tooth brush and toothpaste
- Face wipes and/or face cloth
- Going home outfit
For baby
- Vests or bodysuits for baby x3
- Sleepsuits for baby x3
- Hat for baby x2
- Blankets for baby x2
- Muslins x2
- Nappies x20
- Wipes
- Going home outfit
For dad
I also have a longer guide to hospital bag essentials for dad.
- Change of clothes
- Phone charger
- Snacks
- Cash including coins
- Camera
Here’s a printable copy of the hospital bag checklist and you can download a printable PDF version here:
Top tips for packing and organising your hospital bag
- When picking your hospital bag look for something that has different pockets and compartments so that you can divide your stuff and your baby’s stuff.
- Try to pack your bag with the items you will need immediately at the top of the bag and the spares at the bottom. The PJs or nightie you will give birth in should be at the top.
- Make sure your giving birth outfit is something you don’t mind getting ruined.
- Pop things like lip balm, which you will need easy access to, in a side pocket in your hospital bag.
- Nappies and wipes need to be easily accessible in front pockets of your bag if they have them so that you can reach them in an emergency.
- It’s worth double checking with your hospital what they may provide to you. Some might provide a towel, but in my experience you’ll need to bring your own!
- Pack energy bars and other easy snacks that won’t get crushed in your bag. Don’t forget change for the vending machines too!
- Hospitals tend to be quite warm places. You won’t need lots of heavy warm clothes for when you’re on the hospital ward. Just some comfy PJs or loungewear.
- If you are driving to the hospital then tuck a bag with spares inside in the car. This should have spare nappies, clothes for you and clothes for baby, just in case your stay lasts longer.
You may also want to check out my post about staying in hospital after having your baby and tips for the early weeks of breastfeeding. Plus this ultimate baby registry checklist features everything you really need for baby plus this guide to preparing every room in your home for baby.
Choosing a hospital bag
When it comes to the bags the best option is something with shoulder straps or that’s a backpack. This makes them easy to carry, and avoid anything too pink or flowery if your other half objects to carrying them too much (mine is a bit averse to super girly changing bags).
Pick something that’s easy to carry, and has plenty of pockets for stashing smaller items like lip balm and your phone charger.
One of the best ways to pick out a hospital bag is to get a good-sized changing bag you will use after the hospital and well into the baby’s toddler years. For my three-bag system I suggest a changing bag for immediately after the birth and a duffle bag for your hospital stay items.
Picking out a going home outfit
For your going home outfit, comfort is your friend. Try leggings or any soft pair of trousers as you’re likely to be pretty battered and bruised.
When looking at tops, opt for ones that are breastfeeding-friendly and choose a bra along the same theme.
Remember to think about the weather. Although the hospital will be warm, it may be cold outside. You’re likely to feel the cold a little more once the baby has been born.
Also even though you will have had the baby, you won’t immediately fit back into your old trousers. That’s not because you’re overweight, never think that, it’s because your bump won’t go down for a few weeks. Stick with the elasticated waistbands for now, which will be especially important if you have a C-section scar to take care of.
Don’t forget that you may want a few pictures to remember the moment you left the hospital, so choose something you love to wear as well as something that’s comfy.
When it comes to your baby’s going home outfit, think about it in layers. In the hospital your baby is likely to be very warm.
Then when they are outside it might be cold, before then getting into a hot car with heating on.
So choose a cotton vest and onesie. Then pop some blankets on top of baby once they are strapped into their car seat. It’s wise to avoid putting baby in huge padded coats and pram suits when strapping them into a car seat as they prevent you from tightening the straps up.
