Hospital Bag Essentials for New Moms

Packing the hospital bag is one of the most exciting pregnancy milestones. But what should you pack? To help you decide, I’ve created a free minimalistic hospital bag checklist covering everything you and your baby will need! Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you make a purchase at no extra cost to you.

When should you pack your hospital bag?

While most babies come around 39 weeks or later for first-time moms, it doesn’t hurt to be prepared and pack early! I was excited to pack my bag and ended up packing it around 32 weeks. I ended up repacking my bag a couple of times since I packed so early. My recommendation is to pack your hospital bag around 37-38 weeks pregnant if you are not high-risk.

Avoiding Overpacking

There is so much advice floating out there for what you need in your hospital bag. Upon doing some research, I discovered that what you need in your hospital bag varies by country. This checklist will focus on what you need for the average hospital stay in the United States. However, this checklist may still be useful for people outside the United States. I also made this checklist minimalistic, to avoid overpacking and having to carry extra stuff to the hospital.

What Type of Bag to Pack?

While a suitcase is completely fine to pack, I think a duffel bag is more practical to take to the hospital. You can pack a duffel bag for each person staying at the hospital to keep everything organized. This duffel bag on Amazon is cute and affordable and comes in an array of colors. There are also twenty color options!

What to Pack for Baby?

Deciding what to pack for my son was one of the most challenging parts of packing my hospital bag. After having him, I realized that the hospital provided almost everything he needed. They provided diapers, wipes, formula, blankets, tops, and a pacifier. However, there were a few things that I really enjoyed having.

You will want to have props to take adorable birth announcement pictures. A Hello World wooden sign makes for an excellent prop. This sign allows you to personalize it with your baby’s name and birth information. A matching bathrobe and swaddle set are also super cute for a birth announcement. I loved mine, and will forever cherish the sweet picture we took with the set. For skin-to-skin bring a Moby Wrap! You can use this when you leave the hospital too.

A couple of onesies and socks are also great to have in the hospital. I wanted to have cute outfits for pictures and was glad that I had brought extras. The hospital will provide swaddles, but I recommend that you pack sleepsack swaddles also. My son was able to escape the hospital swaddle but slept much better in these Halo Sleepsacks.

What to Pack for Mom?

I found deciding what to pack for me just as daunting as packing for my son. Surprisingly, I wore the standard hospital gown a lot. This helped me avoid messing up my clothes. Still, I enjoyed having a nice going-home outfit to take pictures in. If you plan to breastfeed, I would stick to a button-up dress or a two-piece set. Then just make sure to pack two pajama sets, socks, underwear, and comfy bras. If you are breastfeeding, a quality nursing bra is essential. I love this bra from Momcozy since you can use it for pumping and nursing!

There are a few things besides clothes that you will need to bring. Hospital bathrooms are often gross, so make sure to bring a pair of shower shoes. I was super hungry and thirsty after giving birth. I’d recommend bringing lots of snacks and electrolyte packets for yourself and your support system!

Anything Else?

There are a few more things to remember to pack! Make sure to bring the toiletries you normally use. Makeup wipes are nice to have for quickly cleaning your face. You will have a lot of stuff to take home, so bring an empty tote back and a linen bag to help carry everything. Speaking of going home, hospitals require you to bring a car seat to take your baby home.

There aren’t always convenient outlets by hospital beds, so bring an extra-long charger for your phone. You will need your insurance card and ID, so make sure that is packed along with your wallet. If you are planning to breastfeed, bring a nursing pillow. It will save your arms and your back!

Final Thoughts

Packing your hospital bag ahead of time will save you a lot of stress on the big day. Whether you are a first-time mom or a seasoned pro, these essentials will make your hospital stay much smoother.

Drop your hospital bag must-haves in the comments below! Also make sure to print my free checklist so you don’t forget anything.