Liz Denfeld | December 16, 2021

The Ultimate Hospital Bag Packing List

Hospital Bag Checklist for Mom and Baby

Hey beautiful mama! So we heard you’re in your third trimester and your due date is approaching. Maybe your OB has mentioned it or maybe you just know, but…it’s time to start thinking about packing that hospital bag!

The task of packing your hospital bag for the first time can seem daunting — what exactly do you need? What will the hospital provide? Preparation is key, and there are a handful of things to consider when packing, especially if this is your first pregnancy. You don’t want to forget any essentials at home, but there’s also no reason to overdo things (save yourself the extra back pain!).

Don’t know where to start? No problem! That’s where we come in. We want to help relieve as much stress as possible for when it’s time to meet your new bundle of joy! Read on for when to pack that hospital bag and what to put in it!

Learn how Junyuan’s Dream Weekender bag is the ultimate hospital bag.

When to Pack Your Hospital Bag

The best answer: whenever you feel is best for you! Yes, timing is important, but you have some flexibility when it comes to packing up your things. The general rule of thumb is to have your bag packed and prepared by 36 weeks or 37 weeks pregnant, just in case your baby arrives before the due date. Maybe consider packing your bag a week or two earlier if your pregnancy is more high-risk. Generally, it’s better to be packed early!

Hospital Bag Packing List for Mom

The first step is to find the perfect bag to hold all your necessities. Our new Dream Weekender bag is specially designed for hospital visits and traveling! Comfortably (and stylishly) stash away your new-mama birthing checklist items in this lightweight bag. Trust us when we say, you won’t have to worry about running out of room.

Now that you’ve picked out the perfect bag, let’s run through some basic essentials you’ll want for your hospital stay:

A folder with all your paperwork – this might include a Photo ID, insurance info, hospital forms, your birth plan (if you have one) etc.
A robe/dressing gown – and preferably one you don’t mind sacrificing (just in case). A warm robe or roomy sweater is the perfect postpartum clothing item.
Slippers and/or socks – for walking the halls before and after labor. We recommend keeping these in the bottom part of the Dream Weekender – the bottom compartment is ideal for things like shoes and toiletries!
Loose, lightweight clothing – in case the maternity ward gets hot.
A going home outfit – anything will do as long as it’s comfortable (and you have flat shoes). Maternity clothes work great: think loose pants and a big tee or sweater. Remember, after you give birth it takes time for your uterus to shrink back to its pre-baby size, so you’re most likely going to look 6-7 months pregnant. Keep that in mind as you are packing clothes for yourself — you want to be as comfortable as possible!
Toiletries – hair brush, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, face wash, shampoo, conditioner, extra hair-ties, and your contact lens case/solution. Hospitals can be very dry so don’t forget lotion and lip balm! Some mamas also want to bring makeup, but that is really a personal preference.
A cell phone charger – bonus points if it’s extra long…just in case the electrical outlet is across the room from your hospital bed.
2 maternity or nursing bras – regardless of if you plan to nurse or not, you’ll appreciate the extra support and leak protection.

Optional Goodies

Okay, so maybe these aren’t essentials, but it won’t hurt to throw these in.

Airpods or a speaker – music is an asset for some moms. Birth playlist anyone?
A comfy pillow – make sure you don’t mind the pillow case getting ruined.
Bath towel – hospital towels aren’t exactly luxurious hotel towels.
Nipple cream – if you’re planning to breastfeed, this can come in handy.
Light reading – or any entertainment that travels easily to use during downtime.
Snacks! – and change for the vending machines. Check out our reusable Snack Bags for this!

The hospital will have all the personal care items you should need after birth — but if you think you’ll feel more comfortable bringing your own, pack underwear and/or pads. If you want to save money you can also bring your own pain reliever and stool softener, but the hospital will provide that to you as well, so don’t sweat it if you don’t remember to throw those in the bag.

If you’re having a C-section, there are a few extra items you’ll want to consider bringing.

Pro tip: while the Dream Weekender has incredible built-in organization, if you think you need a little extra, check out our packing cubes. They’ll fit inside perfectly and come with little pull-tabs so you don’t need to unpack your entire bag just to get to the ONE pouch you need.

What to Pack in Hospital Bag for Baby

Now that you’re all packed and ready to go, let’s move onto the new baby! It might be kind of tricky to know exactly everything baby will need…but the good news is that they really don’t need much. Overpacking for baby is probably one of the biggest first-timer mistakes.

Your baby will most likely spend most of his/her time in just a diaper, wrapped in a hospital swaddle blanket. The hospital will have all the diapers and wipes you’ll need. They will also have hats and swaddle blankets, but if you want “cuter” versions you’ll need to bring your own!

Keeping baby skin-to-skin as much as possible those first few days is incredibly helpful when nursing (if breastfeeding), during bonding time and for many other reasons.

Here are a few essentials to remember:

A carseat – having this installed in your car early is one less thing to worry about during labor, delivery, and traveling home.
A coming-home outfit (and hat!) – bring two or three options, onesies are popular, so you’re sure to have something that will fit baby perfectly (newborn and 0-3 months since you don’t know how big baby will be when born).
Announcement photo props – If you’re planning on a sweet announcement pic of your new babe before you bring them home, make sure to pack the accessories you want to use: swaddles, wooden signs, letter boards, etc. Our Cutie Cocoons are extra cute for this, and take up very little room in your bag.
Warm blankets – for the ride home, especially during the colder months
Your pediatrician’s contact information – the doctors and nurses will probably ask you for this several times, so it’s good to have it handy.
Bottles – if you’re using.

Baby mittens or baby nail clippers — babies are born with nails, so mittens or a file may be helpful.

Necessities For Your Partner

On top of bringing all the normal overnight stuff (i.e. changes of clothes, pajamas, toiletries), your partner should be in charge of important paperwork / insurance cards / identification / etc. Depending on how nice the sleeping situation is, they might want to consider bringing a pillow from home as hospital pillows aren’t the most comfortable. Check out our full checklist here.

The last step after zipping up your hospital bag is to throw it in the car or leave it by the front door — and wait patiently for baby’s arrival! Good luck to you, mama. You’ve got this!

xoxo,
Team Junyuan