What Not to Pack in Your Hospital Bag: A Guide for First-Time Parents

Wondering What not to pack in your hospital bag? Check out this guide to go over the items you should just leave at home. Read for more!

If you’re a first-time parent, packing your hospital bag can be daunting. What do you need to bring? What should you leave at home? What’s the best way to pack everything? In this blog post, we will provide a guide on what not to pack in your hospital bag. By following our tips, you can avoid bringing unnecessary items and make your experience at the hospital more comfortable!

What is a Hospital Bag and why should I care about it?

A hospital bag is a bag that you pack for your stay at the hospital when you are giving birth. This bag should be packed ahead of time and should include all of the essentials that you and your baby will need during your stay. Many first-time parents make the mistake of packing too much or forgetting essential items, so it’s important to be prepared!

Biggest and Common Hospital Bag Mistakes by New Moms

One of the biggest mistakes that new moms make is packing too much. You do not need to pack your entire closet! The hospital will provide you with many of the essentials, such as pads, diapers, and wipes. There is no need to overpack your bag. Another common mistake is forgetting essential hospital bag items, such as your insurance card or ID. Be sure to double check the list of essential items before you pack your bag!

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What Not to Pack in Your Hospital Bag: Just Don’t Do it

Now that we’ve gone over some of the most common mistakes, let’s get into what not to pack in your hospital bag. Here is a list of items that you should not pack in your hospital bag:

1) Heavy makeup or perfume:

You probably won’t be feeling your best after delivery, so leave your heavy makeup at home. You also don’t want to overwhelm the staff with strong smells. Instead, pack a few essentials like lip balm and lotion.

2) High heels:

You might think you’ll want to look your best for those first pictures with your baby, but trust us, high heels are not worth it. Pack a comfortable pair of shoes that you can slip on and off easily.

3) Your entire wardrobe:

You won’t need more than a few changes of clothes while you’re at the hospital. Pack a few comfortable outfits and leave the rest at home.

4) Too many snacks:

It’s always good to have a few snacks on hand, but you don’t need to pack your entire pantry. The hospital will provide meals for you and your partner, so you won’t go hungry.

5) Your laptop:

You might be tempted to bring your laptop so you can stay connected, but we recommend leaving it at home. You won’t have much time for work or social media when you’re caring for a newborn. Instead, enjoy this time and focus on bonding with your baby.

What items should be packed in a hospital bag for labor and delivery?

The items you should be packing in your hospital bag for labor and delivery are the following:

A change of clothes for you and your partner
Your own Hospital Gown (so you don’t end up with the itchy nasty one they offer you).
Lip balm
Lotion
a comfortable pair of shoes
Shower shoes
Snacks
A camera or phone charger
Insurance information
Your birth plan (if you have one)

What items should be packed in a hospital bag for postpartum?

Here are a few items you should be packing in your hospital bag for postpartum:

a going home outfit for you and your baby
nursing bras and pads
toiletries
snacks
a phone charger

What items should be packed in a hospital bag for your partner?

Here a few items you should be packing for your partner in your hospital bag:

comfortable clothes to sleep in
a change of clothes
toiletries
snacks
their ID and insurance information
a camera or phone charger
cash or a credit card for vending machines or parking meters

What items should NOT be packed in your hospital bag?

As mentioned above, these are the items you should not be packing in your hospital bag:

heavy makeup or perfume
high heels
your entire wardrobe
too many snacks (the hospital will provide meals for mom)

Last Thing You Need To Know About What Not To Pack in Your Hospital Bag

By following our tips, you can avoid bringing unnecessary items and make your experience at the hospital more comfortable!

P.S. – Don’t forget to pack your ID and insurance information! You’ll need it when you check-in.

Packing for the hospital doesn’t have to be stressful. By following our tips, you can avoid bringing unnecessary items and make your experience more comfortable. What other p. acking tips do you have for first-time parents? Share them in the comments below!

Happy packing! 🙂

What are your hospital bag packing essentials? Let us know in the comments below!