What You Actually Need to Pack in Your Hospital Bag

I’m about to have my third baby, and as a packing enthusiast, the top thing on my mind is what to pack in my hospital bag. I have been reviewing my lists and notes from my first two babies as well as consulting with friends who just recently gave birth, and I’ve landed on this list as the mother (pun intended?) of all hospital bag packing lists. On one hand, I think it’s pretty comprehensive. (I am a serial over-packer, after all…) But on the other hand, the minimalist in me has learned that sometimes it’s easier to not bring certain things. And luckily the hospital provides a lot, so you truly don’t need too much!

As always, be sure to think through your personal preferences and cater your list to yourself! But here’s a great starting point…

Hospital Bag Packing List

Note: Many things are optional, so I’ve denoted the required items with an asterisk (*).

On Your Person / Grab at the Last Minute

• *Phone
• *Wallet, including ID & insurance card

Mom’s Things: Labor & Delivery

• *Chargers – I highly recommend an extra-long one for your phone!
• Headphones
• Sleep aids – You may or may not have the opportunity to get some sleep during labor… but if you do, you don’t want ANYTHING unnecessary interrupting it, so I recommend bringing all the sleep aids! Plus, you’ll definitely use these postpartum as well…
  • Sound machine
  • Ear plugs
  • Eye mask
• Your favorite blanket & pillow(s) – These are optional because the hospital will provide bedding, but if you’re particular or want higher quality options, I’d recommend bringing your own 🙂
• Laboring items – These pain relief items, distractions, or supplements are totally up to your personal preference and/or your birth plan. If you’re planning on doing early labor at home and/or getting an epidural at the hospital, you may not need them. But if you’re getting induced or if you want a birth without pain medication, you may consider bringing some items to help you through labor, such as:
  • Heating pad
  • Portable fan
  • Essential oils
  • Chewing gum
  • Your favorite clear liquids – Ex. Electrolyte drinks, juice, bone broth, etc.
  • Music speaker
  • Books/Kindle/Tablet

Mom’s Things: Postpartum

• Nursing bras
• Hands-free pumping bras
• Favorite socks – Some lists say “fuzzy socks” or “non-slip socks”, but I don’t like those in regular life and have realized that I don’t like them at the hospital either. Just pick your favorite socks, in my opinion!
• Anything you would want for pictures – Whether that’s a special outfit or your own robe/gown.
• *Going-home outfit – Something loose! Your body will still look like it’s pregnant, and you’ll be wearing a diaper.
• *Toiletries – Whatever you would typically bring as your basic toiletries… possibly including hair and makeup tools, that’s up to you! I personally loved being able to shower and “get ready” the next day so that I could feel refreshed and get some pictures that I liked. Here’s my list:
  • Face wash
  • Moisturizer
  • Lotion
  • Lip balm
  • Deodorant
  • Toothbrush & toothpaste
  • Shower supplies
  • Dry shampoo
  • Hairbrush
  • Hair ties/clips
  • Hair supplies or products
  • Makeup

Dad’s Things

• *Clothes – Multiple outfits for a few days!
• Extra layers
• Comfy shoes
• *Toiletries
• *Medicine – The hospital will provide medicine for just about anything mom or baby needs, but nothing for dad, since he’s not a patient! So be sure to include back-ups of common things you might need.
• *Chargers – Plus an extra-long one for your phone!
• Headphones
• Earplugs and/or sleep aids
• Snacks & drinks

Baby’s Things

• Nail clippers – This seems to be the one thing the hospital doesn’t provide, and oftentimes baby’s nails are long! It’s nice to clip them early on to avoid baby scratching themselves.
• Sound machine
• Photographable outfit and/or accessories

Bring, But Leave in the Car

• *Car seat – You will have to bring this inside prior to discharge, but it’s so bulky that I (and most hospitals) recommend leaving it in the car and sending someone to grab it when it’s time to leave.
• Stroller – Only if it connects to your car seat.
• Gift “from baby” to older siblings – Unless siblings will come to the hospital to meet baby, then bring it inside.

Other Hospital Bag Packing Considerations

What I’m NOT Packing

Sometimes, what you choose to NOT pack is just as important as what you do pack. Because the less you bring, the more you can focus on the things that matter – like cuddling your baby! Here’s a list of things I’ve seen in other hospital bags that I am NOT packing in mine:

• My own robe/gown – The hospital-provided gown is a rite of passage, in my opinion!
• Underwear – This is literally the only trip you’ll ever catch me not completely overpacking in this category! Lol. But seriously, you don’t need it. The hospital will provide mesh underwear with pads as you need it.
• Postpartum recovery supplies – Hospital provides.
• Nursing pillow – You can just use regular pillows. They’re too bulky and you don’t want to get them dirty and feel like you have to wash them in your first week at home…
• Lanolin – Hospital provides.
• Nursing pads – Not needed until your milk comes in (after the first few days).
• Hakaa – Not needed until your milk comes in (after the first few days).
• Breast pump – Hospital provides.
• Water bottle – Hospital provides.
• Medicine – Hospital provides (for patients).
• Baby clothes & swaddles – Outside of 1 photographable outfit…the hospital provides the basics.

My Top 5 Must-Haves

These items are what I’ve found to be most valuable in my hospital bag:

• Car seat – This is literally required by law, so DON’T forget it!
• Extra-long phone charger
• 2 sound machines – My favorite sleep aid. One right by me, and one right by dad…or baby.
• Hands-free pumping bra – Pumping without this is no fun. And hopefully you don’t have to pump, but it’s helpful to have the option just in case.
• Heating pad – I like this for postpartum cramping, especially while nursing.

Bag Strategy

Now, let’s chat about how to pack your hospital bag…

I like to separate out Labor & Delivery items vs. Postpartum items so that we don’t have to open one of the bags in the Labor & Delivery room. But I would still recommend bringing the Postpartum bag in with you from the start. You never know when you’re going to want to grab some toiletries or extra clothes. And you don’t want to have to have your husband run back out to the parking lot RIGHT after you give birth.

As far as Dad’s bag vs. Mom’s bag vs. Baby’s bag, you can really do it however you want. I let my husband pack his own bag entirely because his needs remain similar each day & night, whereas mine change between Labor & Delivery vs. Postpartum. But I put all of baby’s items in my Postpartum bag because there just weren’t that many.

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What are you packing in your hospital bag? If I’m missing anything, add it in the comments below!