When I was pregnant, one of the things I obsessed over was my hospital packing list. It felt like one of the few things I could actually control during the unpredictable journey of labor and delivery. I spent hours thinking about what to bring, wanting to pack light without forgetting anything important. In the end? I still had way too much stuff I never even used!
So here’s my advice: prioritize comfort and essentials! Think of packing as if you’re heading out of town and might come down with a stomach bug—be prepared, but don’t overdo it.
Pro Tip: Utilize your car. Pack a separate tote bag with items you might need in case you stay longer or items you’re not sure if you’ll want (entertainment, nursing pillow, blanket, pillow, extra PJ’s, etc.). Keep it in the trunk of your car. This way, you have everything you need without having to drag it into the hospital unnecessarily.
For Mom: Keep it Comfy
Clothing:
- Lightweight robes (2): Easy to throw on for comfort, skin to skin, and feeding.
- Nursing bra (1) : Make sure it’s soft and comfy for the first few days. Personally, I didn’t wear a bra until we were actually leaving the hospital.
- Pumping bra (1): If you plan to breastfeed, you might need to/want to pump in the hospital depending on the circumstances. I needed to and had to hold the pumps in place which meant I couldn’t reach for water or use my phone I just had to sit there, a pumping bra would have helped immensely.
- Comfy “going home” outfit (1): You’ll want something cozy, soft, and easy to get in and out of. I thought I’d want to look cute, but honestly, I was just exhausted and wanted to get home and could have cared less. I ended up leaving in a PJ dress.
Items I’d Skip Next Time:
- Fuzzy socks: too hot for this, even if it’s winter breastfeeding and the swelling in your feet make your feet hot.
- Button up PJ dress: this worked fine for breastfeeding but dealing with unbuttoning and buttoning was just an added task, pulling apart my robe was so much easier and my preference.
- Bluetooth speaker: would just use my phone next time. Speakers can be heavy and need their own charging cord, just another couple things to pack and carry around.
- Nipple cream: hospital will typically provide a small sample size.
- Gifts for nurses: you have so much to manage and anxiety/excitement when you actually go into labor, worrying about packing and carrying the gift baskets wasn’t a priority for me.
- Nursing Pillow: i’d skip this but it would make another great “car item”, having had a c section the pillow sat right on top of my scar and was uncomfortable so I didn’t use mine in the hospital. I’m glad we didn’t have to lug it around unnecessarily.
Essential Accessories:
- Stroller fan: (#1 item i’d pack!) Personally this was a lifesaver, especially after a C-section! I was sweating so much and the hospital room was hot. The fan’s flexible arms allow it to attach to the hospital bed’s railing, giving me a much-needed breeze.
- Power bank: You’ll want your phone for taking pictures and updating family and friends.
- Extra-long charging cord: If you and your partner have different phones, get one cord with multiple connectors attached. It saves you from packing two separate cords.
- Shower Shoes (1): make sure they are very loose or a couple of sizes larger than usual. Feet swell a lot following delivery and you’ll want something you can slip on and off without bending over.
- A couple of snacks: I overpacked snacks – we are big snack people but it just wasn’t necessary. The hospital provides 3 meals (for mom usually) and you’ll likely ask family to bring you takeout when visiting. Next time, I’d just pack a couple of granola bars for snacks and milk supply and nothing else.
- Basic toiletries: Keep it simple—deodorant, shampoo/conditioner, body wash, toothpaste, toothbrush, and face lotion.
- Entertainment (optional): you might want to pack cards/games/kindle/laptop. It could come in handy if you have a long slow labor. Personally, I had a semi emergent c section so I didn’t need any of this pre baby and post baby there’s no time. So I’d say pack one option in your bag and leave the rest in the trunk of your car so it’s accessible.
For Your Partner: Keep It Light
Clothing:
- Skin-to-skin shirt: If your partner plans to do skin-to-skin, this is a game-changer. It’s a shirt that zips open so they can hold baby without removing their top. My partner loved it, even though the zipper was a little hard to undo because the shirt was so soft.
- Comfy clothes: For a long labor, you’ll want your partner to be comfy. I’d recommend 1-2 loungewear outfits. They can always run home if needed to grab more clothes.
- Toothbrush: A small essential for freshening up during long hospital stays.
- Pillow & blanket (optional): Hospital accommodations for partners are basic, so if your partner wants to try and make it more comfortable a pillow or blanket from home could be nice. We packed it and left it in the trunk of our car just in case however, given that there isn’t a lot of quality sleep happening my husband just made due with what was provided.
- Shower shoes (optional): if your partner plans to shower at the hospital these are a must. My husband just ran home to take a shower so this wasn’t a necessary item for us.
For Baby: Keep It Simple
The hospital provides almost everything for baby (diapers, wipes, swaddle blankets, hat), so you really only need to pack a couple things.
What to Pack:
- 1 onesie in both sizes (NB, 0-3 months): Our hospital didn’t provide onesies so this was a must for bringing our baby home in the car seat. I’d pack both NB and 0-3 month sizes since you don’t know exactly how big your baby will be. Of course, bring more if you plan to dress your baby during your hospital stay.
- Burp cloth (optional): Our hospital didn’t provide these, and I found it helpful to have one for little spit-ups. However, you could just use a hospital blanket if you wanted, not a necessity.
- 1 Velcro swaddle (optional) : Hospitals will teach how to swaddle your baby, but when you’re exhausted and its dark swaddling can be a pain. I’d pack 1 velcro swaddle from home so you can simplify this part.
- Soft blanket (optional): The hospital provides blankets, so this is optional. But if you want something more personal or softer i’d bring one from home.
- Cute Bow & sign for newborn photos (optional): honestly, the hospital time was a blur and I didn’t feel like doing a photoshoot in the hospital. I took more personal cutesy pictures once I got home and was feeling more settled.
Summary Packing List
Clothing for Mom:
- 2 lightweight robes
- Nursing Bra
- Pumping Bra
- Comfy “going home” outfit
Accessories for Mom:
- Stroller fan
- Power bank
- Extra-long charging cord
- Shower shoes
- Snacks
- Basic toiletries
- Entertainment (optional)
Clothing for Partner:
- Skin-to-skin shirt
- Comfy clothes
- Toothbrush
- Pillow & blanket (optional)
- Shower shoes ((optional)
Clothing for Baby:
- 1 onesie in both sizes (NB, 0-3 months)
- Burp cloth (optional)
- 1 Velcro swaddle (optional)
- Soft blanket (optional)
- Bow & announcement sign (optional)
This is a very minimalist packing approach, but you’ll still be prepared without overloading your bag. Keep it simple, and focus on what will make you most comfortable during your hospital stay. Remember if you packed absolutely nothing you would be just fine with what the hospital provides so try not to stress. And remember: no matter how much you plan, the most important thing is that you’re welcoming your little one into the world!
