I mentioned my hospital packing list in a post last week. I recently found the list I made for my hospital bags when I was about to have Hudson, so I thought I’d share the list with everyone and let you know how I’ve modified it a little after my first hospital experience.
photo via here
*I’m assuming it’s understood that there is lots of bleeding post-baby
- Socks- hospital floors are cold and yucky
- Robe- you will wear the hospital gown for a little while
- Cute Pajamas- something with lots of coverage. Pajama pants are good because they hold in all the absorbent pads and stuff you have to wear after the baby is born. It’s also nice to put on your own clothes for the 1-3 days that you may be in the hospital.
- Pads- the hospital gave me some heavy duty absorbent pads, but I also brought my own just in case
- Going home clothes (definitely still maternity clothes for me)
- Full coverage underwear (no Hanky Pankies)- if you’re wearing pads, you need full coverage undies
- Nursing bras or tanks
- Flip flops- for just walking around your room. My feet were so swollen (it was June) that I was so happy to have flip flops that were easy to get on and off.
- Make up- duh.
- Shampoo, tooth brush, tooth paste, deodorant, etc.- I didn’t wash my hair in the hospital because I’d had an awesome blow out the day I went into the hospital. But I did shower and it was nice to have my own shower stuff.
- Personal documents/identification/insurance information- you never know when you’ll need it
- Folders for new documents for you and baby- we had to fill out a lot of paperwork and came home with lots of documents for Hudson, so it’s good to have a place to keep up with all of that.
- Notebook and pen- for recording details about the birth story, baby’s height and weight, gifts you receive in the hospital, and most importantly, keeping up with the baby’s feeding and sleeping schedule in the hospital.
- Ponytail holders
- Headband
- iPod
- Pillow
- Boppy- this was helpful for when we had visitors who wanted to hold Hudson and after a long labor I was really weak, so I loved having the Boppy to support him while I fed him.
- Snacks- for you and for Daddy. I was in labor for 25 hours and TC never left my side. He loved having snacks. It was also nice to have some of my favorites for after the delivery when I could finally eat again!
- Phone charger
- Laptop- assuming you’re a blogger! hee hee!
- Laptop charger
- Camera
- Video camera
- Chargers for camera and video camera
- List of who to call after baby is born
- Going home outfit for baby
- Swaddling blankets- the hospital has their own swaddling blankets, but my favorite swaddling blanket is Swaddle Designs and I wanted to practice swaddling with that blanket in the hospital
- Diaper shirts for baby- the hospital where I delivered puts babies in the little paper shirts, so I brought the snap-on diaper shirts and gave them to the nursery for Hudson to wear so he could wear something softer
- Lovie for baby- I had been sleeping with the lovie for a couple of weeks before Hudson was born, and he kept it in the nursery when he was away from me.
- Pillow and blanket for Daddy (or whoever stays with you in the hospital room)- the hospital provides some stuff, but it’s hard to sleep when you’re hot or cold, so we brought extra just to be safe.
* I wasn’t allowed to wear my own, prettier version, of a hospital gown. I also wasn’t allowed to wear my rings or earrings. All hospitals are different, but those were the rules where I delivered Hudson.
*I brought Hudson’s baby book to the hospital for his birth and it really got in the way. I just ended up recording everything I needed to remember in the notebook and transferring it to the baby book when we got home.
Any of you moms want to add to the list?
Hey, y'all, I'm Erin. Thanks for stopping by! I'm a Believer, a boy mom and former event planner turned stay-at-home mom. I blog about our lives, my family, my faith, fun finds, and kitchen disasters. You can read more on my 'About' page 
WOW! I never realized how many items are needed, but they ALL sound extremely important! My mother has always told me to pack toilet paper because the hospital toilet paper is rough..and soft toilet paper is a must after pushing out a baby!
Oh my lord! I would never think there would be that much to bring! I seriously might save this post for whenever I have kids….in 10 years or so!
My list looked the same…. the only thing different was I brought the little mittens. Both my boys needed them b/c they scratched their little faces like crazy.
Thank you SO much for making this list! I’m due with my first in July and this totally helps me think through the things I will want to bring! I’m saving this!!
This is definitely something I need to keep tucked away somewhere for if/when I have my own babies! Thanks for the great resource
It will be a long time before I have kids, but I hope I will remember this list. Very helpful for anyone who does not know what to expect.
If you plan on nursing bring pads, cream and your pump if you are not renting one from the hospital. Newborns are pretty lazy the first 24 hours so they will do very little eating but I needed relief!!
I also brought and extra bag just to pack all the diapers, wipes, etc that the hospital gave to us. Each time our little man would come back from the nursery we would ask for more diapers and wipes. We ended up coming home with a pretty good stock pile of diapers!
I love this and even though this is baby # 2- I have forgotten a lot. Not the bleeding but the paper shirts and the mittens. A lovey is a great idea. Thanks for posting.
I actually found I wish I had brought LESS. The hospital had everything I needed. And I was only there for a very short stay. I personally find less is more for me. Plus, I wanted to “steal” as much stuff as I could from the room, so I brought empty bags so I could take all the stuff – like diapers, swaddling blankets, a giant water bottle, pads, creams, that weird underwear they give out, ice packs, I took it all! Everything that was not nailed down
Just remember the baby’s car seat!
Ah , Yes I remember it well
I might add one more thing …. MINT GUM 
what a practical and helpful list! love that you got a blowout and didn’t wash your hair!
Love this list. I didn’t make one with my first and my poor husband had to go out several times to get stuff and I felt bad because he didn’t want to leave us. Snacks is one that I have GOT to remember this time! And the boppy! I love the lovey idea, that you slept with it then gave it to him, I’ll remember that one for sure!
Two quick questions (I’m expecting in April):
1. What is a lovie?
2. When do they put paper shirts on your baby? Those sound uncomfortable! When should I give them something else so she doesn’t have to wear a paper shirt?
Thanks!!!
A few things that weren’t on your list that we found really helpful…
* a mini fan-I used it during labor. I could not get cool enough! I also used it in our room on the recovery floor. At our hospital, the babies have to “room in” and you are only allowed to put the temperature so low with the babies, so I appreciated having the small fan for me. I found it at target and it was about the size of a bagel. I was able to rig it to fit over the rails of my hospital bed.
*chap stick!
* If you’re nursing-nursing bras and/or tanks
*Clothes for hubs-This is kind of embarassing, but my husband was laying with me on the bed while I labored. When my water broke, he was happy to have a change of clothes
We brought the flannel pants thinking he’d prefer something more comfortable in case the night went long…which it did.
*Change for the vending machines
*A dvd player. I labored naturally, so I was happy to have something to focus my attention on while I tried to distract myself from the pain. We brought a portable dvd player and a couple disks of How I Met Your Mother. Some of my sweetest memories are of the two of us laying on my bed in the dark room cuddled up for the last time as a twosome watching our favorite show. I didn’t necessarily focus on the show, but it helped me zone out a bit during an intense time.
You sleeping with Hudson’s lovie is great news. I’ve gotten a very big head start on sleeping with my future child’s lovie (which I call my “silkies” and may have had since I was about 2). Todd does not think this is as good of an idea as I do and I hide it when he comes over.
I definitely recommend talking with your doc or hospital to see what daily supplies they provide. The hospital where I delivered furnished all the wipes and diapers you could ask for, however, the one that my sister delivered at did NOT…she ended up using a stack of diapers and travel wipes that she had brought just in case!!
I definitely recommend nursing pads and cream…and I recommend talking to the lactation nurse all.the.time if nursing is super important to you… even if you think you got it down and baby’s got it down, it never hurts to let them see you nursing to give you any tips that will help when you are home.
We always bring a personalize door decoration for our deliveries (I don’t know if all hospital’s allow this, but the one’s in my area do). A lot of times you can find something in the gift shop, but some of the cutest door decorations I’ve ever seen have been carved and painted wood pieces w/ vinyl lettering or specially made wreaths.
Oh, and don’t forget to have someone already lined up to tie a pink or blue bow on your home mailbox so everyone knows your little one is here! (or is that just a Southern thing???)
I love the blow out idea!
I would discourage pj pants for a c-section. I didn’t want pants on even to leave! The incision is soo sore and pants (and regular undies) irritated me. I took home extra of the mesh disposable ones,as they were super comfy compared to my regular undies.
My hospital put my newborn in a long sleeve mitten cuffed top and we loved it. The mitten cuffs saved his sweet face. We acrually brought some to the hospital before we knew what they were going to put him in. They stay sooo much better than mittens.
this is so very informational!! i just printed it! thank you!!
Itzbeen… best purchase made, pre-baby. In my sleep deprived state, it was an awesome way to keep track of feedings, diapers, sleep, etc. I still use it everyday.
Snacks are a great idea! I wish I had thought of that the first time. I was starving after baby waiting for someone to bring me something. I second the chapstick. I def rec taking anything you want from the room – trust me, you pay for it, it’s yours! I just asked for extra diapers, and extra of those packs that get really cold when you twist them(don’t know what they are called- for those with vag delivery )and asked for more of their pads- they were a lot bigger and better(imo) for the initial heavy bleeding. I wore those mesh undies (got extra of these too) for a few days after I got home too. didn’t wnat to ruin mine. you have a good list!
You couldn’t wear your prettier gown? Augh! A friend of mine works at our local hospital’s birthing center and I told her to look into that. I need my own pretty gown (preferably with polka dots
. Hopefully it’s allowed!
Thanks for this! My time to go to the hospital will be here before I know it, and I had NO IDEA what to take. Thanks, Erin!
Great list. Here’s my things to add:
Chap stick-the hospital is really dry
Toilet paper- your favorite kind. The hospital has that scratchy kind.
Flushable wipes
I did bring my baby book and when it was time to do the hand and foot prints she also did them in the baby book. We then packed it back in the bag.
A laundry bag. you do bleed…a lot! There were times I was examined and my cute pj’s got dirty. Also, the baby will pee out of their diapers. My mom took a few things everyday to wash. It helped me tremendously.
Paci’s
OK, great minds think alike with the blowout! I ALSO had one (I was induced–you too I’m assuming), because I hate washing my hair in random places and its takes me forever. So I didn’t wash my hair either! Also, I love the lovie idea. I will remember that for next time (God willing). I lived in slippers in the hospital too. Also, bring chap stick–this was a lifesaver for me during labor! xo!
Hubby and I brought the Bose speakers for our iPhone, turned on Pandora, and happily listened to the Beach Boys station for our entire hospital stay. It was wonderful to have music playing during labor and delivery, and then in our actual room admiring our precious baby. The nurses loved it too!
That was pretty much my list too. I did have lip gloss and I brought My own Pillow and clothes for hospital pictures and daily outfts for myself and my husband. He thought I over packed but turns out we used every thing. Next time though I plan to add nursing tops. We were supposed to be notified when people were coming but we only did 50% of the time. I got caught with my shirt up or off a couple times! I also packed one unisex outfit. Just in case!
a sound machine….snap gowns for baby….toilet paper….lotion…pillow
The Boppy is a MUST! My hospital said they had Boppies, but I called them “FLOPPIES” – no support AT ALL!
One other thing I’d add is a REALLY soft nail file for the baby’s nails. I found out the hard way that when born the baby’s fingernails are actually fused to their fingers so trying to use clippers hurts them and they bleed. Poor little guy! I like the big pink nail files from the drugstore.
Great list. I’ve seen so many lists that are so very helpful for when you are preparing for this time. My problem is you can’t pack most of these things until you are really leaving for the hospital. I use my comfy clothes daily, my laptop daily and various other things that would have to be on another list of things to grab when running out the door…
This is a good place to start though.
Lip balm (a must) and a flat of water bottles! Playing cards for when you have down time.
-If any readers know they’re having a C-section, the list changes a little. A previous commenter mentioned not being able to put on pj pants. Agreed!! I only changed from hospital gown to hospital gown when absolutely necessary. I just couldn’t move enough to change, unfortunately. Just know that you’ll be in bed for most of the time there. Oh, and stay as many nights as they’ll let you. I wanted to get home after being there for what felt like forever, and it was a big mistake. I was definitely not strong enough to go home yet. (Sorry, that turned into more than just what to pack!)
-We also took some DVDs to watch on the laptop of our fave movies/TV shows (MAD MEN/GILMORE GIRLS!) to keep us entertained.
-Leave a little space in the bag for the freebies… Take everything from the hospital that you can, including any extra formula they’ll give you, even if you don’t think you’ll be using it. (You may, like me, be glad you had it later.) And ask for extra pads and mesh panties, too. Don’t be shy. Raid the bassinet cart drawers and take the hospital’s baby blanket, too (if it looks useful). You won’t get in trouble.
I”m also one of those who brought very little… well, with my first child I brought pretty much everything on that list, but not for my 2nd child. AS much as we paid for our hospital stay, we used everything at our disposal and our nurses were more than accommodating when it came to giving us tons of supplies.
I didn’t have a c-section, so definitely didn’t bring pj pants. They checked me down below so often, anything other than a hospital gown would have been annoying to me. I did bring a robe for when i was up moving around.
I saved this post and will be using it to pack my bags! I need all the advice/suggestions I can get!
My big must-bring for baby #2 is the Lansinoh Lanolin. I couldn’t live without it the first time around, they brought me a sample at the hospital and I made my mom go buy a big tube before I left. Also, because the lanolin DOES NOT come out of fabric, I bought (and still have & will use again) the disposable bra pads. I think with #2, it’s so much easier to figure out what to bring! I won’t bring the kitchen sink, next time.
i didnt read the other comments so this may have been said but bring lasinosh cream and start using it after every feed- it made such a HUGE difference the second time and really saved me so much pain. it didnt hurt nearly as much to nurse the second time around. also nursing pads and an emory board for the babies fingernails. otherwise i think you have it all covered!
also i dont know if you have an iphone but i used the Total Baby app to help keep track of feedings, diapers, etc and it was a huge help.
I love this! I wish you had posted this amazing list 6 months ago. I am sure a lot of girls will get good use out of it!
Such a helpful post! Thank you so much! I’ve bookmarked it and will refer to it again in August when we’re heading to the hospital to have our little one.
This is so interesting! I can’t believe the extensiveness – but it’s so well thought out! Seems like you’ll be all set to go!
5 weeks and 1 day before my due date I thought, “this weekend I will pack my bag(s), make sure all the baby clothes are washed and folded, scrub the house, and attend two of my baby showers. After that we will assemble everything that is left (a lot was done), and install the carseats.” That night I ended up having to go to the hospital because I suddenly started gushing blood (like everywhere – sorry if it grosses you out). I left for the hospital from my in-laws’ house with only my purse. My poor mother and sister had to search through my stuff and put what they thought I needed and wanted in bags. I ended up having an emergency c-section (since it was an emergency I didn’t have to take off my jewelry or wear one of those attractive caps – yay). Needless to say, I was in the hospital four nights, and I think, by the fourth night we had managed to get most of what I needed to the hospital. The moral of this story is . . . prepare way ahead of time, and if anyone laughs at you just say “hey I read about this girl that . . . “
So smart to prepare ahead of time! I had an elective c-section 8 weeks ago, and I packed everything on your list. A couple things I didn’t know about c-sections:
1. You won’t bleed as much as you do if you have a baby through God’s intended path. (Total plus!) Because of that, you don’t necessarily need the diaper-like pads the hospital provides. You can totally use thinner ones.
2. Pack granny panties. Like true granny panties. In a size bigger than you’d normally wear.
3. Pants don’t hurt that badly, but don’t pack any with wide elastic waistbands. Skinny drawstring-waistbands work best.
4. Someone gifted me this matching nursing/baby outfit, and I loved it! I could wear the pants comfortably, and the nursing top gave me easy access in the hospital! The baby’s outfit was super soft too! http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=41578&vid=1&pid=635831&scid=635831032
excellent list–my kids are 21 and 24 now so I packed this sort of a suitcase a long time ago :}
I am a nurse though and I surely agree with the suggestions of lip gloss/chapstick, your favorite face cream, mascara, fingernail clippers or emery board for yourself! Nighties are often better, esp after c-sections, because it’s easier to get to the bathroom and more comfortable in bed. We give you the peri-bottle with the squirty water to use on the girlie parts to clean and help you urinate and it seems that the nighties are easier to keep out of the way! Please be very careful to consider the risk of loss factor–the more you bring, the more risk you take with having stuff inadvertently lost in the sheets (sometimes we change things very quickly), lost if you are quickly moved from labor to delivery to surgery. Less IS more a lot of the time. And sadly, things can get stolen. Leave your expensive jewelry at home! One thing that I was so grateful to have at the hospital–my OWN pillow in a BRIGHT pretty pillow case. You’ll have lots of pictures taken of you and the baby and it’s such a nice touch to have something besides the hospital linen in all your pictures :}
Best of luck to all you new mommies! Wish my 2 daughters would find boyfriends !! haha
Just out of curiosity…how many bags/suitcases did you all have? One big one? Ten small ones? There is so much to bring and I over pack naturally. I can just see me and hubs wheeling in the largest suitcase we have plus carrying bags. HAHA!
If you can’t bring a baby book, bring a small piece of cardstock. Hospitals will gladly print the new baby’s feet onto just about anything once they’ve got the official hospital records taken care of. We were expecting a surprise baby, so we had a small piece of blue cardstock and a small piece of pink. The footprint also makes a super cute picture on Daddy’s hand!
Sleep bras, breast pads, and my PUMP! I was told to bring my pump “just in case” and boy was I glad that I did. I had a c-section, was in the hospital when my milk came in at 2AM and all of the breast pumps that the hospital owned on the floor were being used. I needed relief so I had it. Also I took the baby book to get the footprints/ handprints. In my bag I packed brand new bottles of my fav soap, shampoo and conditioner…I wanted nice stuff that smelled really good and was brand new, its the little things that can make you feel better. Also my own pillow and nursing gowns- no pants. The morning of my surgery I had a blowout, it was money well spent. Fantastic idea on the lovey, I’m doing that next time!
Thanks for the list! I have just found out I am pregnant (so still a long way to go) but love to be prepared! And your nursery is just precious!
No pants if you have a c-section. I delivered in the summer so I brought comfy cotton tank dresses that I wore when I walked the hallway, etc. Nursing tanks are a must pack. I wore those instead of the gown most of the time and then threw a cardigan or bathrobe on over them when we had visitors.
The list sounds good and similar to the one I had.
I made an actual playlist of songs that I knew I would like to hear while I was at the hospital and in labor. I wound up not listening to it because any noise irritated the heck out of me, but I now have a supercool playlist that I listen to almost daily with my son as we’re getting ready in the mornings.
I made sure to pack colorful socks, so I couldn’t see any dirt my socks were attracting from walking the hospital floors. I also packed several pairs. Target has some really cute and comfortable patterned ankle socks for $1.00 that I stocked up on.
I wanted to get my own “cute” hospital gown, but I am glad I didn’t waste the money. Things were messy and goopy, so I was glad to be able to change hospital gowns often and not worry about taking them home to clean.
And I would definitely tell the hubby to pack extra clothing…nice outfit for vistors and laboring outfits and pajamas.
We also brought our own pillows (with colored/designed pillow cases, so they would not be confused with the hospital pillows).
And, yes, take advantage of whatever the hospital has to offer!!!
One more thing…Tucks pads are great to have when you get home!
Thank you so much for sharing this list. When you mentioned it in an earlier post I was really hoping you would share. Our first baby is due in August, so I have bookmarked this post to be able to come back and make my list from. It’s so nice to be able to get ideas from others about this stuff.
Question – what is a lovey? (a blanket or stuffed animal or something?) Oh, and what is a diaper shirt?(a onsie?) When my nephew was born they put these little shirts on and then used a shirt for pants – so I know I want something other than that from my baby. ha!
I agree with the no pants after a c-section. I wore the hospital gowns and had my own bathrobe to put on when visitors came. Another tip I got from a nurse was to put a pad over the incision when you put on underwear. Really helps prevent irritation – I continued to do that for about a week after we came home.
I loved this nursing journal:
http://www.glowbaby.ca/bluedetail.html
It sounds pretty similar to what you created for Hudson, but it’s bound and easy to deal with. I have given the journal with a Swaddle Designs Blanket and a copy of the Happiest Baby on the Block as a shower gift and all of the moms have loved it.
I highly recommend a set like this for after you give birth:
http://www.apeainthepod.com/Product.asp?product_Id=195940150&MasterCategory_Id=MC16
It is a nursing night gown and a robe. I have it in black, which was even better. The nightgown is super soft and the robe has pockets and an attached belt. So nice to have both.
What a great list! We are thinking of trying for our first this summer so I’ll definitely be referring back to this information when the time comes!
Good list, but after my c-section I found nightgowns were better than pj pants. just a tip.
Great list. I think I am going to do a blow out next time since I will be a schedule c-section. I had an emergency c-section last time. I also was not able to do pants until the last day I was in the hospital, which by the way stay as long as you can. You could wear you pretty hospital gown after the delivery though. Scrubs were a good option for pants one you are ready for them. Luckily it was still warm so I wore a casual dress home. Take as many of those mesh panities home as you can. I asked for more. That was the only thing that was comfortable over my incision for a week. Also my nurse gave me a small pillow to hold over my incision if I laughed or sneezed. It kept it from being so painful. The bleeding for me was not as bad as normal delivery and had stopped after a few days. Our hospital did not have wipes, so we brought those as well.
Do you think that you will have a c-section this time? I hope that you have a better delivery this time.
I wore my comfy maternity pants/shorts post-c-section with my second baby – even during the day in my hospital room. It made me feel more normal than being in a hospital gown or pjs all the time (which I did with my first). As soon as my IV was out, I was showered and in my clothes as quickly as I could, and I put my pjs back on at night. I did that for the rest of our hospital stay.
I wasn’t able to fit into my mid-pregnancy tops due to… well, let’s just say they were a bit too snug up top (but a good problem to have if you are BFing) – so make sure you have a couple of options.
What in the world is a paper shirt? OUCH!
I like what other girls have added: the chapstick, the flushable wipes (OH MY GOODNESS, YES!!! on this one), the nursing pads, etc. I’d add to be careful sending anything to the nursery; make sure you know what goes with baby and make sure it comes back with him/her. The nursery at my hospital changed out a receiving blanket I’d wrapped my son in and it did NOT come back with him and by the time I realized it, it was too late to try to retrieve it (got lost in the ginormous hospital laundry cauldron, I suppose). I’d also add to take anything that gives you comfort, whatever that might be: a silky robe, perfume, whatever. I felt so yucky that I wanted to surround myself with comfort. Also, I wished I’d thought of the toilet paper thing — all the girls who mentioned it are SO RIGHT — hospital toilet paper should be banned. Especially for a postpartum woman. I mean, c’mon y’all, we just GAVE BIRTH!!!
Oh, one more thing. If you do end up having a C-section, definitely USE the supportive wrap that they give you (if your hospital uses these). My nurse showed me how to use it and it provided great relief to the cut/sore muscles in my belly. It hurts like crazy to try to sit up/walk after a C-section; that incision causes some serious pain.
I’m the opposite of everyone I guess.
I’ve had 3 c-sections and I couldn’t wait to get my comfy PJ pants on…That combined with the band they have to wrap around your belly is a lifesaver! Plus my babies have always been in the NICU so laying in bed and not moving was never an option.
I had two c-sections (first one was after being induced and the second scheduled) and my experiences were night and day! If you have a scheduled c-section, you get a spinal block generally instead of an epidural (difference is the needle that delivers the drug does NOT stay in). Thus, after it wears off, you are on oral pain meds only and my nurses had me getting up and going to the bathroom, sitting in a chair only 10 hours after she was born! The more you do early, the better.
I would say if you have pajama bottoms that can go a bit higher (like towards where your bellybutton is), you’ll be fine with wearing them – I did the day after she was born.
I’d bring camera phone – really nice for sending a quick pic to a lot of people (or pasting to facebook)!
I remember reading this months ago and knew it would come in handy! Hard to believe we’ll be packing our bags in just a few weeks. Thanks for the tips!