Hospital Bag Essentials

Written By jessica victoria

Preparing for the arrival of your newborn baby can be overwhelming. With so much information and so many different articles and videos on what you need to pack in your hospital bag, it can start to look like your packing for a 2-week holiday vacation. The truth is that your stay at the hospital is usually very short and your baby really won’t need much. Below is a list of all of the things I have packed up in my hospital bag for baby and I (we are sharing 1 bag). Your partner will also need a small bag with some comfortable clothing, toiletries, and optional sources of entertainment.

For MAMA:

  • Sleepwear (breastfeeding friendly if you are choosing to do so)

  • 2 pairs of postpartum underwear (I ordered black cotton high-waisted postpartum underwear from amazon)

  • 1 comfortable nursing bra

  • Robe or zip sweater (pullover sweaters are not as accessible for feeding)

  • 1 pair of socks

  • A comfortable outfit for going home (sweats and a T-shirt or light dress)

  • Flip flops (for walking around and also for showering)

  • Pads (some women prefer diapers but this wasn’t necessary for me personally)

  • Toothbrush/Toothpaste

  • Mini bottle of Dr Bronners castile soap (multiple uses including body wash)

  • Body cream (small bottle or just use the same one as baby for the stay)

  • Face cleanser or wipes

  • Hair elastic

  • Deodorant

  • Lip balm/chapstick

  • Makeup (optional but I packed just a few basics for pictures)

  • Nipple balm

  • Peri bottle (I like the Frida Mom one but the hospital will also provide one so this is optional)

  • Magnesium citrate (to help soften stools postpartum)

  • Water bottle with a straw

  • Phone, charger, headphones

  • Birth plan (if you have one)

  • Snacks! (I packed LARA bars, trail mix, and coconut water)

For BABY:

  • 1 short sleeve onesie

  • 1 long sleeve onesie

  • 1 footed sleeper

  • 1 pair of socks

  • hat

  • swaddle blanket

  • 1 burp cloth and 1 washcloth (I ordered both of these in soft muslin fabric from amazon)

  • Diapers

  • Wipes

  • Diaper cream

  • Nasal aspirator (also usually provided by the hospital but I prefer the one with the hose that you suck)

  • baby Vitamin D drops

  • Mini portable white noise machine (optional)

  • Car seat

jessica victoria
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