Preparing to give birth soon and looking for all the hospital bag must haves to pack in your hospital bag? Well, you’re in luck! Keep reading to see what to pack in your hospital bag + to grab our FREE printable hospital bag checklist PDF!
Hospital Bag Must Haves Items For Mom, Baby, and Dad + FREE Hospital Bag Checklist Printable PDF
It’s almost time for your baby to make its first debut, but are you preparing for the trip to the hospital? Many mothers stress what exactly they need in their hospital bag, especially as first-time mothers.
But, I promise with this blog post you will know exactly what hospital bag must haves you actually need plus you will have a chance to download the printable hospital bag checklist pdf I have come up with for new expecting moms.
After reading this blog post, you will no longer ask what to pack in the hospital bag you will be bringing to the hospital.
Our hospital must have items list even includes hospital bag must have items for baby and dad as well!
Don’t forget to grab your FREE Printable Hospital Bag Checklist PDF at the end of this blog post!
What is a Hospital Bag?
If you are a super-duper new expecting mom, you might be wondering what is a hospital bag and why it is important (but we’ll cover the important part later)!
A hospital bag is a bag that is brought with moms who are getting ready to go to the hospital to give birth.
In the hospital bag, are items that the mom, baby, and significant other would need for their hospital stay.
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Why is a Hospital Bag Important?
A hospital bag is important because think of it like this, you want to be prepared for your hospital stay.
Also, think about your stay at the hospital as an unwanted vacation to a motel. Motels tend to lack comfort and items you actually need while away from home.
The pillows tend to be uncomfortable and the sheets are dirty at a motel. In comparison, you will want to bring your own stuff to the hospital for your stay to make it comfortable for all.
Remember, packing your hospital bag is one of the most important things you need to do before the baby arrives!
What Should I Pack in My Hospital Bag?
You want to pack everything you would want that would change the lack of household items, and make your hospital stay comfortable and a little bit more doable.
Packing items for the baby and your significant other entertainment is also a great idea.
This post contains affiliate links.
Hospital Bag Must Haves Items You Don’t Want To Forget At Home
Now that we have gotten the basics about a hospital bag and why it is important, it’s time that we go over the must have items for our hospital bag. Below you will find 13+ Hospital bag Must-Have Items:
Hospital Bag Must-Haves for Moms (Yourself)
Below you will find everything you need for yourself in your hospital bag aka hospital bag must haves for mom:
1) Your Birth Plan
Don’t forget to pack your Birth Plan In your Hospital Bag with extra copies for your Birth Medical Providers.
If you haven’t already you can grab a FREE Birth Plan Template, and learn more about Creating a Birth Plan, Here.
Related: How to Plan a Natural Birth: Everything You Need to Know
***Have You taken a birth course yet? Here’s an online course that is taught by a Labor and Delivery Nurse and is jam-packed with everything you need to know about giving birth, post-delivery, and even newborn care! The greatest part of it all is you can complete the whole course In the comfort of your home! Not to mention there’s a special section just for partner support!
2) Comfortable Clothes.
Sorry momma, even after you give birth, you won’t be able to instant fit your pre-pregnancy clothes. I recommend that you pack the following comfortable clothes in your hospital bag:
- A casual dress (a maxi dress)
- Super Comfortable Slippers that will make your feet feel better like these:
- Postpartum Leggings like this one:
- A loose-fitting shirt
- Nursing Bra that you will actually use Like this one:
- And Some Fuzzy Socks that are super soft and comfy, like these:
- A Going Home Outfit for Yourself.
3) Toiletries
You’re going to the hospital, not a 5-star resort. You will need to pack your own toiletries.
Don’t forget to pack items like hair ties, bath wash, Shower shoes, hairbrush, shampoo and conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrush, glasses, and contacts with solutions.
4) An extra-long Cell phone charging cord
You won’t know where the nearest outlet that you can use to charge your phone will be, so just to be prepared for anything, bring a super long Cell phone Charing cord like this one:
5) Comfortable Pillows
Bring Your Own Comfortable Pillows because the ones at the hospital are far from comfortable especially after giving birth.
But don’t bring any of your special pillows from home, because you don’t want to get those dirty with blood and breast milk.
6) Bath Towels and Hand Towels
As I mentioned earlier, you are not going to stay at a 5-star resort, you actually need to bring your own towels.
Make sure to pack one for your significant other and or overnight guests.
7) Maternity Pads
After you give birth, you will need to be wearing either adult diapers or these super huge maternity pads.
You might want to buy cheap underwear as well to wear instead of your good ones from home.
8) An Extra Empty Hospital Bag For Freebies
If you go to a great hospital or birthing facility, they will most likely provide you with newborn diapers and stuff you can take home.
You want to make sure you have extra room in your hospital bag to bring home the freebies!
9) Breast Pump (Optional)
Now before you start giving me weird looks, hear me out.
If you bring your own breast pump you can get the nurse or lactation specialist to help show you how to use it instead of learning how to use the machine they have in the room that you won’t ever use again!
10) Your Own Gown (optional)
If you don’t want to wear the itchy bloody hospital gown you gave birth in for your entire stay, you can get this awesome and comfortable Gown for your hospital stay!
Trust anything is better than the itchy gown you just gave birth in.
Related: 10 Hospital Gown Alternatives for a Comfortable Birth Experience
11) Nursing Pillow (Optional)
Bring Your Nursing Pillow is optional, you don’t need it but if you would like for baby and yourself to get used to using it during feeding, you might want to bring it along.
If you haven’t already picked out a nursing Pillow, you get a free nursing pillow using my exclusive Code (MyMotheroodMadeEasy) at nursingpillows.com!
12) Birth Ball (Optional)
A birth ball can help you manage your pain during the labor part of birth, Here is an amazing Birthing Ball you can grab:
Make sure to check with your birthing location, whether or not you can bring your own birth ball.
13) Nursing Pads
Now that you have a baby, your breast may have started to leak from the baby’s crying.
To help stop you from leaving embarrassing leak spill spots on your clothes, place nursing pads in your nursing bra!
14) Nipple Butter Cream
With all this breastfeeding action and responsive nipples to the baby’s cry, there’s a good chance your nipples will get sore and start hurting.
Apply Nipple Butter Cream can help ease the pain, just make sure you grab a nipple buttercream that can be used when breastfeeding your baby like this one:
Bonus: Birth Card Affirmations
If you want a little bit of extra motivation during your labor and delivery, you should definitely get these encouraging and super motivating printable birth affirmation cards!
Print them in the size you like, and add them to your hospital bag!
Related: 15 Natural Birth Affirmations to Help Ease Your Mind
Hospital Must-Haves for Baby
Below you will find everything you will need for your baby in your hospital bag:
15) A Car Seat (x1)
Don’t forget your Baby Car Seat at home, this is the most important item for you can’t leave with the baby without it.
In some cases, the medical providers will ask even to see the baby Car seat and check to see if you properly installed it.
Related: The Best Convertible Car Seats for Safety and Comfort
16) Going Home Outfit (x1)
Bring a Going home Outfit for the baby that is still nice and comfortable.
Make sure it’s weather appropriate as well You don’t want the baby to get sick from being exposed to the weather due to lack of clothing.
17) Baby Blankets/Swaddles (x3)
Bring your own organic blankets and swaddles for the baby.
This is another hack and tip that can help you after birth, Have a nurse teach you how to swaddle the baby in you the blankets/ swaddles you brought, so you know exactly how to do it with the ones you will be using at home!
18) Hospital Photo Outfit (x1)
Heads up! If you didn’t already know, In most hospitals, there is a baby photographer that comes in and takes pictures of the baby, you ad baby, and your baby and significant other. You want to make sure to pick a cute outfit for the baby for these pictures.
Also, note that they will sell you the pictures, and you will most definitely end up buying them, because of how super cute they are!
19) Baby Onesies (x3)
Ensure you pack at least 3 onesies for the baby’s stays at the hospital.
In most cases, you remain in the hospital for 2-3 days, so you want to ensure you at least have 3 outfits for the baby.
20) Baby Bottles
If you know you want to start feeding the baby from the bottle from the start then ensure you bring the baby bottles in your hospital bag.
Hospital Must-Haves for Your Spouse and Guests
Below are the items you want to either pack in a separate Hospital Bag for Dad or in the same hospital bag for you and your baby:
21) Wallet/ ID / Cash
Ensure you and your spouse have IDs, your wallet, and Cash Money.
You will want to bring money for your significant other meals since the hospital will most likely not provide food for your spouse.
22) Snacks/ Water
As mentioned above, the hospital will most likely not bring your spouse food, so pacing snacks and water for your significant other is vital.
23) Clothes for Stay
Just like a baby needs clothes, your significant other will need a change of clothes as well. During my delivery, my husband ended up getting blood on his white shirt. Side note, don’t wear white!
24) Shower Shoes
Just like you need Shower Shoes, your significant other or overnight guest will also need Shower shoes to wear when showering.
25) Entertainment
Some hospitals will have TVs in the room but some of them might not work or you might want to watch your favorite show on the t in the room.
Provide your significant other entertainment like Headphones for his phone to listen to music, Nintendo Switch for handheld gaming, and a portable Speaker so you both can jam out to your favorite songs.
26) Camera with Charger/ Batteries
If you want to capture pictures of your birth and video of the baby after birth, don’t forget to pack the camera with the charger and or batteries!
27) Phones and Chargers
Speaking of chargers, Don’t forget to bring your phone and its charger.
You don’t want to be stuck with a dead phone at the hospital.
Frequently Asked Questions about Hospital Bag Must-Haves
Here are some frequently asked questions about everything pertaining to a hospital bag and must-have items.
What Week Should I pack my Hospital Bag?
I recommend that you Have your Hospital bag in the last few weeks of your 2nd trimester (weeks 27-29), but you most definitely want to have everything packed by Week 35.
Personally, I started packing my hospital bag at the end of my 2nd trimester. I didn’t add any perishable items until I was walking out the door but I had them ready in a big ziplock bag.
Can I use a Suitcase as my Hospital Bag?
Yes, you can use a suitcase as your hospital bag. Just try not to pack your whole house.
You don’t necessarily need a suitcase, you can use a backpack or a bag that will be your diaper backpack after the baby is born.
I used this diaper backpack.
What Should You Not Pack In Your Hospital Bag?
You should not pack your bedding, nor your whole house. More items you shouldn’t pack are Underwears you care about, diapers, your bed pillow, and more irreverent items.
What are good snacks for Hospital Bag?
Some good snacks to pack are foods that are going to help you produce milk for your baby as well as foods that will help you heal faster. Here are some snacks to pack in your hospital bag:
- Oatmeal
- Almonds
- Cashews
- Carrots
- Lactation Cookies
- Spinach or Kale
Related: Healthy Snacks for Your Hospital Bag: What to Eat When You’re Expecting
Printable Hospital Bag Checklist PDF for Mom, Baby, and Dad for FREE
Grab this printable hospital bag checklist PDF for FREE!
This hospital bag checklist is printable and perfect to check everything off that you need in your hospital bag to help with an easy labor and delivery process.
This Printable and editable hospital bag checklist PDF helps you pack your hospital bag items for mom, baby, and dad!
Grab this printable hospital bag checklist PDF now!
Last Thing You Need to Know About Hospital Bag Must-Haves
With these amazing must-have hospital bag items, you will be well prepared for your hospital stay with your baby.
Make sure to grab the Hospital Bag Checklist PDF, and begin planning out your Hospital bag items.
As always, Sharing is Caring! Please share this blog post with your friends, family, and social media (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Reddit, etc.).
Also, don’t forget to mention your favorite and useful Hospital bag item below in the comments!
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