As you prepare for labor and delivery don’t forget to think about what to bring to the hospital for your baby. Here is a hospital bag checklist of things that many new moms have found useful.
Hospital Bag Packing List Essentials (and a few non-essentials) for Mom
The paperwork
- Health insurance card
- Pre-registration forms from the hospital
Personal Items
- Nursing bra(s) – This supports swollen, tender breasts, and helps keep breast pads in place.
- Sports bra – Many women find these extremely useful during a water birth or when using the birth pool; they are also good for suppressing lactation if you are not planning on breastfeeding.
- Breast pads – You will need these whether or not you are breastfeeding because they stop leaks by absorbing milk.
- Nursing pillows – These can be used if you are breastfeeding or bottle feeding; either way they reduce the strain on your arms, neck, and back when feeding your baby.
- Nightgown and robe – Make sure they open in the front if you are planning on breastfeeding.
- Slippers – During early labor it is always recommended to walk around. These will also come in handy as you make trips to the nursery to check on your new baby.
- Socks – Many women complain of their feet being cold during the delivery, so have a couple of pairs in case one pair becomes soiled.
- Going-home outfit – Choose one that fit when you were around 6 months pregnant.
- Toiletries – To be more comfortable, take a toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, chapstick, makeup, hairbrush, shampoo, soap, lotion, hairdryer, etc.
- Sanitary pads – The hospital can provide you with these, but many women feel more comfortable when they bring their favorite brand with them. Remember, you are going to need a pad designed for a heavier flow.
- Hair clip or band if you have long hair – Women with long hair like to have it pulled out of their faces during labor and delivery.
- Pillow from home – This makes you more comfortable; just make sure you have a different colored pillowcase on it to distinguish it from hospital pillows.
- Extra washcloths – These also need to be colored to distinguish them from the hospital’s washcloths.
- Magazines – You will not have a lot of downtimes, but there could be a few minutes here and there when you could read.
- Mints or breath strips – Many women experience nausea/vomiting during labor and delivery; these will help freshen your mouth or the mouths of your support people.
- Lollipops or other hard candies – These can alleviate dry mouth.
- Glasses and contact case
- Breastfeeding book – Take along any reference books that would be helpful.
- Baby book – The nursery often will take your baby book and put your baby’s footprints in it. This will save you a lot of time and trouble.
- Large envelope /file folder- This may be used to store any loose paperwork.
- Tube socks that have been filled with tennis balls or rice – These can help alleviate the sore aching muscles during labor. Just take a tube sock and place three tennis balls inside the sock. Tie or sew off the open end of the sock to keep the tennis balls in place. Many women like to place these between their backs and the bed because the pressure applied makes them feel better. You can also fill a sock with uncooked rice (but not instant). These can either be heated or placed in the freezer and provide comfort during painful contractions.
Hospital Bag Packing List for Baby
- Infant car seat and infant head support – You will not be allowed to leave the hospital without one; make sure you bring the instructions.
- Going-home outfit
- Hat – Babies lose the vast majority of their body heat through their heads.
- Booties/socks
- Receiving blankets – Newborns love to be swaddled, and these blankets are perfect for swaddling.
- Newborn diapers – If they do not have the umbilical cord area cut out, make sure you fold them down.
- Wipes – Begin with the wipes that are designed for newborns or sensitive skin.
- Mittens – Many newborns will have longer nails, so they can easily scratch their face and other parts of their bodies.
Hospital Bag Packing List for Your Partner
- Change of clothes
- Pajamas
- Bathing suit – This is important if you and your partner are planning on a water birth or using the birthing pool during labor.
- Toiletries
- Snacks – Labor can be a long process, so you want to be prepared.
- A cooler filled with drinks and sandwiches – This keeps the partner close by and can help avoid multiple trips to the hospital cafeteria.
- Quarters for the vending machine and/or payphone- Remember not all hospitals allow cell phone use.
- Watch with second hand
- Video/still camera – Make sure you have extra tapes, film, batteries, chargers, etc.
- Address book – This will help you contact friends and family about your new arrival.
- Massage oils – Many labor classes discuss the use of massage oils during class because they can help alleviate back labor.
- iPod/CD player – Soothing music may help you and your partner relax both during and after labor.
- Take out menus
Packing List for Siblings
- Crayons, markers, paper, coloring books
- Books
- Toys
- Snacks
- Special camera
- A gift from big brother/sister to the baby – This can be something that was picked out prior to delivery by the older sibling.
- A gift from Mom and baby to the big brother/sister– Many times older siblings tend to get jealous around the birth of the baby. A special gift can help alleviate this problem and allow the big brother/sister to know that they are still important.
Want to Know More?
- Creating Your Birth Plan
- Stage One of Labor
- Cord Blood Banking: Your Three Choices Explained
See Also
The Ultimate Hospital Bag Checklist (with FREE Printable) - Conquering MotherhoodHospital Bag Checklist: What to Pack for Delivery | PampersThe Ultimate Hospital Bag Checklist [Printable PDF]Hospital bag checklist: What to pack for labor and postpartumBLOG CATEGORIES
- Can I get pregnant if… ?3
- Child Adoption19
- Getting Pregnant60
- Fertility54
- Pregnancy Loss11
- Healthy Pregnancy16
- Breastfeeding29
- Changes In Your Body5
- Cord Blood4
- general2
- Is it Safe While Pregnant54
- Labor and Birth65
- Multiple Births10
- Planning and Preparing24
- Pregnancy Complications68
- Pregnancy Concerns62
- Pregnancy Health and Wellness149
- The First Year41
- Week by Week Newsletter40
- Your Developing Baby16
- Options for Unplanned Pregnancy18
- Paternity Tests2
- Pregnancy Symptoms5
- Prenatal Testing16
- The Bumpy Truth Blog7
- Uncategorized4
- Unplanned Pregnancy22
- Abstinence3
- Women's Health34
NAVIGATION
- Thank You for Your Donation
- Unplanned Pregnancy
- Getting Pregnant
- Healthy Pregnancy
- Resources
- About
- Privacy Policy
- Contact
FAQs
Share this post:
Similar Post
Labor and Birth
Pudendal Block
The pudendal block gets its name because a local anesthetic, such as lidocaine or chloroprocaine, is injected into the pudendal…
Labor and Birth
What Is an Episiotomy? Episiotomy is a procedure in which a small cut is made to widen the opening of…
Labor and Birth
Retained Placenta
The final stage of labor occurs when the placenta is expelled from the mother’s uterus. For many women, this process…
As an expert and enthusiast, I have access to a wide range of information on various topics, including the concepts mentioned in this article. Here is some information related to the concepts used in the article:
Hospital Bag Checklist for Mom:
- Nursing bra(s): Nursing bras provide support for swollen and tender breasts and help keep breast pads in place.
- Sports bra: Many women find sports bras useful during a water birth or when using the birth pool. They can also be used to suppress lactation if you are not planning on breastfeeding.
- Breast pads: Breast pads are necessary whether or not you are breastfeeding, as they absorb milk and prevent leaks.
- Nursing pillows: Nursing pillows can be used for both breastfeeding and bottle feeding. They help reduce strain on the arms, neck, and back while feeding the baby.
- Nightgown and robe: If you are planning on breastfeeding, make sure the nightgown and robe open in the front for easy access.
- Slippers: Slippers are recommended for walking around during early labor and for making trips to the nursery to check on the baby.
- Socks: Many women complain of cold feet during delivery, so it's a good idea to have a couple of pairs of socks.
- Going-home outfit: Choose an outfit that fits when you were around 6 months pregnant.
- Toiletries: Take along essential toiletries such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, chapstick, makeup, hairbrush, shampoo, soap, lotion, and hairdryer.
- Sanitary pads: The hospital can provide sanitary pads, but some women prefer to bring their favorite brand for comfort. Make sure to bring pads designed for a heavier flow.
- Hair clip or band: If you have long hair, it's helpful to have a hair clip or band to keep your hair out of your face during labor and delivery .
- Pillow from home: Bringing a pillow from home can make you more comfortable. Just make sure to have a different colored pillowcase to distinguish it from hospital pillows.
- Extra washcloths: Bringing extra washcloths can be useful, and it's a good idea to distinguish them from the hospital's washcloths by using different colors.
- Magazines: While you may not have a lot of downtime, having magazines can provide some reading material during those few minutes of rest.
- Mints or breath strips: Many women experience nausea or vomiting during labor, and mints or breath strips can help freshen the mouth.
Hospital Bag Checklist for Baby:
- Infant car seat and infant head support: It is essential to bring an infant car seat and the accompanying head support. You will not be allowed to leave the hospital without one.
- Going-home outfit: Choose a comfortable outfit for your baby to wear when leaving the hospital.
- Hat: Babies lose a significant amount of body heat through their heads, so it's important to have a hat to keep them warm.
- Booties/socks: Keep your baby's feet warm with booties or socks.
- Receiving blankets: Newborns often enjoy being swaddled, and receiving blankets are perfect for this purpose .
- Newborn diapers: Make sure to bring newborn diapers. If they do not have the umbilical cord area cut out, fold them down to avoid irritation.
- Wipes: Start with wipes designed for newborns or sensitive skin.
- Mittens: Many newborns have longer nails and can easily scratch their faces or other parts of their bodies. Mittens can help prevent this.
Hospital Bag Checklist for Your Partner:
- Change of clothes: Your partner should bring a change of clothes for their comfort.
- Pajamas: Pajamas are essential for your partner's comfort during their stay at the hospital.
- Bathing suit: If you and your partner are planning on a water birth or using the birthing pool during labor, a bathing suit is important.
- Toiletries: Your partner should bring their own toiletries for their personal care.
- Snacks: Labor can be a long process, so it's a good idea for your partner to be prepared with snacks.
- A cooler filled with drinks and sandwiches: Having a cooler filled with drinks and sandwiches can keep your partner close by and avoid multiple trips to the hospital cafeteria.
- Quarters for the vending machine and/or payphone: Not all hospitals allow cell phone use, so it's a good idea to have quarters for the vending machine or payphone.
- Watch with a second hand: A watch with a second hand can be helpful for timing contractions or monitoring the progress of labor.
- Video/still camera: Make sure to bring a camera with extra tapes, film, batteries, chargers, etc., to capture special moments.
- Address book: An address book can be useful for contacting friends and family about the new arrival.
- Massage oils: Massage oils can be used during labor to help alleviate back labor.
Hospital Bag Checklist for Siblings:
- Crayons, markers, paper, coloring books: These items can keep siblings entertained during their visit to the hospital.
- Books: Bringing books can provide siblings with reading material during their stay at the hospital.
- Toys: Siblings can bring their favorite toys to keep them occupied during their visit.
- Snacks: Having snacks for siblings can help keep them satisfied during their time at the hospital.
- Special camera: Siblings can bring a special camera to take pictures of the new baby.
- A gift from big brother/sister to the baby: Siblings can bring a special gift that they picked out prior to the baby's arrival.
- A gift from Mom and baby to the big brother/sister: A special gift from Mom and the new baby can help alleviate any feelings of jealousy and make the older sibling feel important.
I hope this information is helpful! Let me know if you have any other questions.
