Hack of the Day: What to Pack in your Hospital Bag

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What to Pack in your Hospital Bag

Packing your hospital bag is when things start to get real. With both babies I had my bags packed and ready to go at 36 weeks as I expected that I wouldn’t make it to my due date with either Hudson or Charlie.

I read a lot of blogs and watched a lot of reels about what to pack in your hospital bag, and quite honestly I had a mash up of each of them. I’m also quite the over-packer so I’ll try to keep this short and sweet.

Top 10 Must-Haves for Your Baby Hospital Bag

1. Roller Bag: Pack yours and your partners goods in a roller suitcase. I really wanted a cute bag like influencers have but let’s be honest, you don’t want to have to actually carry anything, wheels make it so much easier on you and your partner. I used my go-to Dakine carry-on roller but any will do.

2. Phone Charger: Pack a phone charger for you and your partner. Do yourself a favor and get a 10ft cord, you never know how far away an outlet will be. We also loved this power bank.

3. Going Home Outfits: Pack going home outfits for you, your partner and your sweet babe. I’d recommend packing an extra for your little one just incase they have a blow out before you get home. We LOVE Little Sleepies bamboo pajamas for our babies. They are super soft and fit forever with fold over mittens and feet to grow with your babe.

Pro-Tip: Bring something really soft for yourself to wear home and that doesn’t have a tight band around your stomach. I wore my Lululemon align ribbed-waist joggers on my way home with Charlie and Lululemon Ready to Rulu Joggers with Hudson.

Pro-tip: I love to use packing cubes to easily organize goods in your suitcase.

4. Swaddle Blanket: While we used the hospital blankets to swaddle our babies during our stay we packed a swaddle blanket to use for pictures and to keep them cozy on the way home. Sugar House Swaddles on Etsy has the SOFTEST swaddles and they wash up phenomenally. We use them for burp cloths, blankets, and tummy time.

5. Nursing Bras: I wore a nursing bra during delivery with both to maximize the golden hour and immediate latch. Check out this post for a comparison of nursing bras. Target’s Auden bras are my favorite.

6. Toiletries: Bring the basics to make you feel more human: shampoo/conditioner, body wash, brush, toothbrush and toothpaste, makeup removing wipes, deodorant and some dry shampoo.

Pro-tip: don’t forget a hair-tie or clip for labor!

7. Blanket and Pillow: We were SO glad we brought our own blankets and pillows to really make it more comfortable. Also, if you don’t have a Coop pillow, you want one.

Pro-tip: use a vacuum bag to help it fit in your suitcase and colored blankets and pillow cases so they don’t get mixed up with the hospital ones.

8. Waterproof Birkenstocks: These were a game changer for me, they can get wet and wipe clean and are super comfy. Bonus, if your feet swell like mine they are a dream.

9. Comfy Bathrobe: A bathrobe is really nice to wear in the hospital, easy nursing access, and easy for the 100x they will come to check you and perform fundal massages.

9. Camera: For fun, we brought our polaroid camera to capture those precious first few moments.

10. SNACKS: Do yourself and your partner a big favor and pack a bunch of snacks, you never know how long you are going to be there.

Pro-tip: use dog potty pads and a diaper for yourself on the way to the hospital if your water already broke!

Maybes

Not needed as they are provided by the hospital but you may want your own:

1. Newborn Hat: Keep your baby cozy on the drive home, especially if it’s cold outside with a soft newborn hat. While they will provide one at the hospital, we love the soft ones from Copper Pearl.
2. Postpartum Underwear or Diapers: I preferred to wear the hospital mesh underwear or the Frida mom disposable underwear for the first week and then Depends or Postpartum underwear after that. Pro-tip: Wear two pads front to back for extra long coverage during the first heavy days.
3. Towel: The towels for showering are impossibly small and we regretted not bringing our own; (but… tall people problems).
4. Diaper Bag: while the hospital provides all the necessities, it’s nice to have your bag for the car ride home.

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What were your must-haves?