My third baby’s due date is quickly approaching. It’s about time to pack my hospital bag again! When I was getting ready to have my first baby, I searched all over the web and asked friends and family what they packed and I put together a hospital bag checklist. If you’re not sure where to start, check out some of my ideas!

I recommend having your hospital bag ready to go by 36 or 37 weeks in case you go into labor before your due date.

Hospital Bag Checklist

Mommy to Be

Important Stuff

• ID/ Wallet
• Insurance Cards
• Paperwork for insurance/work if applicable 
• Face Mask
• Phone
• Extra Long Charger: I wish I brought an extra long charger the first two times. My charger was too short to reach the bedside table.
• Carseat: This is obviously not in your hospital bag, but make sure you have your carseat installed in your car to take baby home!

Clothes 

• Robe: A comfortable robe is one of the best postpartum clothing items out there. These robes from Caden Lane are SO SOFT and they have also have swaddles so you and your baby can match.
• Nursing Bras: If you plan to breastfeed, I recommend bring a few nursing bras. This brand is my favorite, I even wear them when I’m not pregnant or nursing.
• Underwear: Make sure you have comfortable underwear that you don’t mind if they get ruined, or you can just wear the mesh ones from the hospital.
• Comfy Pants: I am not an animal print girl, but these are seriously the comfiest pajama pants ever! Make sure whatever pants you bring, they are comfy!
• Nursing Shirts: If you plan to breastfeed, I recommend these shirts! They are really comfy and easy to nurse in.
• Nursing Dress: I wore this dress on the way home from the hospital. It was really comfy and it can double as a nightgown.
• Non Slip Fuzzy Socks: My feet are always cold so I brought fuzzy socks to the hospital. The hospital does give you socks, but I found they aren’t the softest things.
• Slippers: I pretty much live in my slippers at home, but I definitely needed them for the hospital! I did not want to have to walk barefoot, or just in my socks, on the hospital floor.
• Slip on Shoes: I recommend having easy to put on shoes, like sandals, to wear home. Your feet may be swollen.

Toiletries  

• Toiletry Bag: I have a roll up toiletry bag I use to keep all of my things organized. Bring your essentials: deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, face wash, face lotion, body lotion, makeup remover, vitamins, medicine, etc!
• Toothbrush/Toothpaste
• Hair Brush/ Hair Ties: I brought a lot of hair ties! The last thing you want to worry about is your hair all over the place while you’re trying to push a baby out.
• Chapstick: I think I am addicted to chapstick. Aside from this, I felt like I needed to apply chapstick 247 in the hospital. My lips and mouth were so dry during labor. I made sure to have a few sticks on hand.
• Makeup/Hair Styling: If you wish to do your hair and makeup for a few photos in the hospital, be sure to bring your makeup and hair styling tools!
• Glasses/Contacts: I don’t wear glasses or contacts, but make sure to bring what you need so you can see your sweet babe when they enter the world.

Baby

• First Photo Outfit/Coming Home Outfit and Accessories: A lot of parents choose to have a personalized first photo outfit or first photo swaddle set with a matching hat and or bow. These are really adorable and I am totally doing this for baby number three.
• A Few Outfits: My kids were honestly in only a diaper most of the time in the hospital and just wrapped in swaddles blankets. I still recommend bringing one or two easy to put on and take off outfits such as footie pajamas or onesies. Bring newborn and 0-3 months just in case newborn doesn’t fit your baby!
• Swaddle Blankets: I had my babies wrapped in swaddle blankets during most of our stay at the hospital. They are so soft and much better than the scratchy hospital blankets.

Support Person

• Phone
• Charger
• Pajamas
• Change of Clothes
• Toiletry Bag
• Pillow and Blanket: Your support person’s “bed” may not be very comfortable. Make sure they bring their own pillow and blanket.
• Snacks: I made sure my husband had some snacks, but he was NOT allowed to eat them in front of me while I was starving during labor LOL. I also made sure he had some snacks for me for after labor.

Other

• Camera
• Hand Sanitizer: I always like to have hand sanitizer.
• Boppy or Nursing Pillow: A nursing pillow is not a necessity, but it made my life 100 times easier! You could always use pillows if you wanted though.
• Nursing Pads: Make sure to pack nursing pads in case your milk starts coming in while you are in the hospital.
• Nipple Cream: If you plan to breastfeed, I 100% recommend having nipple cream starting from day one!
• Lifesavers or Mints: My mouth was super dry the whole time I was in labor. You can’t drink water, so mints and lifesavers were an actual LIFESAVER for me.
• Towels: I’m not sure if this is true for all hospitals, but the hospital I delivered at only had hand towel sized towels for showering! I suggest bringing a towel for you and your partner so you have something larger to dry off with!
• Pregnancy Pillow : I brought my pregnancy pillow with me to the hospital, but I didn’t bring my own blanket. I’m glad I brought my pillow because my hospital bed wasn’t very comfy.
• Announcement Props: A lot of new parents like to take a photo of their newborns with a custom name and birth stats sign. You can find a lot of adorable custom signs on Etsy or you can use a letter board and do it yourself.
• Diapers/Wipes: The hospital has diapers and wipes, but I always like to be prepared and packed a few diapers and a package of wipes for the car ride home JUST IN CASE.

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Is there anything else you would add to my checklist? Wishing you all the best as you welcome your little one to the world!

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