Prepping Your Hospital Bag: Everything You Need and Some Things You Don’t

Packing your hospital bag in preparation for your birthing time is a task many well-planned parents look forward to as their baby’s due date approaches. As you gather your things in your final weeks of pregnancy, here’s ideas for items you’ll need to bring and some you don’t. Speaking of prepared parenting, have you looked into financial planning for your baby, like starting an RESP for your newborn yet?

Essential Documents

Bring along personal identification, like your medical care card and photo ID to be admitted to the hospital. You may also have pre-filled medical documents and a birth plan to bring along with you.

Clothing and comfort items

The hospital can feel cold, sterile and impersonal, so bring comfort items to make your stay more cozy. The hospital will provide a gown to wear, but as a ‘nice to have’ you may want to bring your own robe, slippers or flip flops, and socks. Remember, comfort is key. You will likely stay in the gown or robe while at the hospital, as well as postpartum underwear, so there’s no need to pack too many clothes. For moms hoping to breastfeed, your hospital gown will likely already be nursing-friendly, but you could consider also packing a nursing bra or tank. Hospital beds are notoriously uncomfortable, so bring your own pillow if you’d like…anything to make your stay more homey and comfortable as you welcome new life into this world.

Toiletries

Unlike staying overnight at a hotel, personal care items are not typically included in a hospital stay! So be sure to pack your own toiletries like a toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, hair elastics, skincare items and a facecloth. You may also want to bring along creams for new moms like nipple balm or belly oil to keep your skin hydrated. Skip out on things like makeup, perfume, or anything scented.

Snacks and Hydration

Giving birth has been likened to running an ultra marathon, make sure you stay hydrated! Water, of course, is readily available at the hospital, but you can also bring your own water bottle (and a straw) along with electrolyte hydration powders to help with hydration. You can also pre-wash easy-to-eat fruits like berries or grapes and bring along as a snack. After giving birth, if you don’t prefer the food served at the hospital, most restaurant delivery services (like UberEats or Skip the Dishes) will deliver directly to the hospital entrance.

Newborn Essentials

You will definitely need a car seat to carry your new baby home from the hospital. Many hospitals will help you look over your car seat configuration to make sure your newborn is strapped in correctly. Your newborn will also need an outfit to wear home, like a simple onesie paired with a swaddle tucked around them. Diapers are also a newborn essential – the hospital will likely provide you with newborns diapers during your stay, with a few extra you can take home. Remember to ask the hospital what items you can take home with you after.

You can check out this newborn baby checklist for a list of things to buy in preparation for life with your little one. Alternatively, you can also read this article on gadgets you may NOT need as a new parent!

Entertainment

If you encounter any downtime at the hospital, you’ll likely want to catch up on sleep. Yes, the adage of “sleep when the baby is sleeping” begins as soon as you give birth, and “sleep training” shortly after. You can also bring along magazines and parenting books to read. Keep things light and your expectations in check. You probably won’t be doing much else during your hospital stay other than looking after your newborn as you adjust to parenthood.

If the adrenaline of giving birth is keeping you up and you’re itching to stay connected to friends and family outside of the hospital, bring out your phone, iPad or laptop to video call friends and family to introduce to them the newest member of your family. It’s unlikely you’ll be bored during your hospital stay (newborns are all-consuming!)