Listen friends…I am 100% here for you and believe me when I say that this is THE best and most ultimate hospital bag packing list that you will ever find. EVER!

Who am I and how would I know what to pack for the hospital?

Well, I am a mama to 5 beautiful kids, ages 12 to 9 months, and I feel like I have got this baby delivery thing down at this point.

I have done this “go to the hospital and have a baby” thing a few times (5) and I think I finally nailed it when it comes to a complete packing list.

Now keep in mind…I like to be comfortable and uber prepared for all the things if possible, but I also have 5 kids and a full plate of to do’s so I am typically just making it to the things on time or just by a pinch remember to buy lunchbox items for packed lunches. I drop my fair share of balls but I have learned to roll with it as best I can. I do know that my mind feels at ease with a good list and the ability to check things off of that list so that I know I am as prepared for a situation as I can possibly be…outside of the things I have no control over.

So, without further ado, let’s talk about how to pack for the hospital when you are headed to have a baby!

Please just skip the weekender bag…

First and foremost….do not mess around with a “weekender” bag or a duffle. Come on friend, let’s take care of ourselves and make things amazing! You are about to deliver a human being from the inside of your body to the OUTSIDE of your body! Can we stop making that seem so “no big deal, I’ll just throw some things in my backpack for the hospital”. No. This is not college and we are not sleeping on our friend’s floor in our club clothes after a fun night out. You are becoming a mama!!

You have a baby to carry in and out of that hospital so you need your hands and baby daddy’s hands to be as free as possible. Just go ahead and pull out the rolling suitcase…..why carry multiple bags? Why make yourself juggle more than you need to? You need Dad’s hand and arm so the more free his hands are the better. One suitcase with wheels that holds it all will make you feel more organized. It keeps everything together and can sit still on its own or act as a little walking cane as you make your way to the check in desk. Trust me on this one…go with the big suitcase!

Ok…here goes….THE most complete

hospital packing list you will ever need:

For the mama:

• A large wheeled suitcase
  • First thing first….you need a bag that you can fit everything in so that you literally only have to grab that one bag on your way out the door to the hospital. A nice large basic suitcase like this one or you could splurge and snag one of these amazing Away suitcases here and get $20 off your purchase when you use that link!
• A birthing gown – Listen…this is extra, but I only brought my own gown for baby #5 and I wish I would had done it sooner. First of all, I realize that it is going to get dirty and I also realize that I am only going to wear it for as long as my labor and delivery are…but it made a nice difference for me when I delivered baby #5. The gown I got was so soft and it was a nice solid color so all of my initial hospital pics of me waiting for the next contraction just have a nice look to them since I am not in the geometric hospital print gown…that by the way…has been worn by how many other people? Gah! Come on. This gown comes in so many colors and the material was so soft. I do not regret this bit of extra-ness!
• A nice robe! I may be somewhat of a robe connoisseur and I appreciate a nice robe for the right occasion. I have a robe for each season and I typically get a new robe whenever I have a new baby. It’s a thing and I am not ashamed! I just have a thing for a good robe. They make the perfect cover up in the hospital as people are in and out each day. You need something that is pretty for pictures and comfortable to wear in and out of bed. You also need something to put on and take off as you are warm and cold…the temp is going to change in the hospital so let’s be ready to adapt. I like this light robe for warmer weather, this robe for cooler temps, or this robe to match the pajamas that I love, or as a bit of a splurge this robe is super cozy.
• Slippers – Ok…this should go without saying, but please do not, I repeat…DO NOT…walk on the hospital floor in your bare feet. I wish hospitals were cleaner, but the reality is that they are not…so please go in there with some type of slipper or washable house shoe, house crocs, whatever! These Slippers are great and to be honest, you could even throw them away before you leave the hospital if you wanted to.
• Pillow Case and Pillow – For the love of all things comfortable, bring your own pillow as well as an extra pillow case. Hospital pillows are so flat and uncomfortable and no matter how many they bring you, I promise you will want to lay your head on your own pillow and nice soft pillow case. This is no time for a slippery satin good for your skin pillow case…just get a nice solid color pillow case…in fact, bring two so you can switch it out in case one gets dirty….these are a nice thread count and inexpensive.
• Extra long phone charger – Chances are that the electrical outlet will be a fair distance from your bedside so you will need an extra long cord to keep your phone charged. Depending on whether you have an iphone or an android be sure you toss in a cord for your phone…and your hubby’s too.
• Pajamas – Ok once you deliver and get moved into your room, you are going to want to get out of the delivery gown and into some soft, clean pajamas. We also need to be able to nurse and do skin to skin though so we need pajamas that can accommodate. I adore these long sleeve or short sleeve pajamas as they have a button up top so it makes it easy to get baby on your chest for skin to skin or to nurse. You could also choose a nursing gown pj as well if that makes you happy.
• Flip flops / shower shoes – You will most likely take a shower before leaving the hospital and the last thing you want to do it stand on any hospital surface or shower floor with your bare feet. These are inexpensive flip flops you can snag or bring a shower shoe you already have…just bring something.
• Nursing bras – Ok, if you plan to nurse your little nugget then let’s make sure you have a nursing bra or two packed and ready. This is a great Sleep bra or this daily wear bra are perfect. I realize most of us enjoy the freedom of a no bra day, but for me, once my milk comes in, we have to keep these sisters contained. You may want to throw some disposable nursing pads in too just in case…or some washable ones if you prefer.
• A scalp massager – Yep, I am being extra again, but really…am I? I mean this is all about you and the journey that your body is taking in order to bring this beautiful little sunshiny nugget into this world…let’s make YOU as comfortable as possible. I adore this scalp massager as a great way to relax and just ease the pain and my nerves. It may also help the hubs if he starts to get a little high strung.
• An essential oil diffuser (with a night light) – Ok…so…maybe you use essential oils, maybe you don’t. I don’t know if they really have magical powers that some may claim, but I do know that they make things smell nice…as in, stinky hospital rooms….they make things smell nice and when things smell nice, then they are nice…ya know!?!? So, I highly recommend bringing along a compact little diffuser like this one to help add some calm to your delivery room and your mom and baby room. It also helps after you eat in your room and you want to help usher out the smell of chicken tenders and french fries…because let’s be real that is probably what you are ordering from room service.
• A night light – If you don’t bring the diffuser with night light, then throw a little night light in your bag. It gets dark in the hospital room at night of course and there typically aren’t dimmer switches on the lights. You may want a soft light at night so you can still see baby easily when you wake up. I am a fan of this type of night light because it is battery operated, it won’t break or make a loud noise if it falls and you can use it in baby’s room at home.
• A small fan – Whether you sleep with a fan or not on the regular, it is nice to bring a small fan with you into the hospital. It can serve a few purposes…1 you may get hot and need some air flow, 2 the air may be stagnate in your room depending on the air system and you may want to move things around a bit, and 3 you may want it for a bit of white noise in order to sleep. I like this type of fan because it will also serve the purpose of being your stroller fan after you get home…plus it is battery operated so you don’t need to find it a plug in the room and it can clip to your bed so it won’t take up table space.
• Journal – So remember how I said we don’t really know how long our labor will be. Well, I like to be prepared with things to keep me focused, busy, etc. I like to bring my journal, and maybe my rosary or prayer bracelet to keep my mind settled. The waiting can be taxing so it is better to be prepared to distract yourself, focus your thoughts, write things down that are on your mind etc. If you don’t already have a journal, then here are some pretty florals or classic or simple hardcover journals that you might like. OH and don’t forget a good pen…these are some of my favs here.
• Magazines – Speaking of keeping ourselves busy…pick up some good old magazines. I realize that most of us don’t leaf through actual magazines much anymore because we have social media….but this is a great time to put the phone down and just peruse a travel or baking magazine and just enjoy the downtime while you wait on the Pitocin to kick in or for baby to start making moves.
• A travel coffee mug – I like to bring my own travel mug that has a lock and won’t spill so that I can have my tea or coffee but not worry about it spilling on my tray or on me and baby. I love these Contigo travel mugs because they are no spill. I use mine all the time and can just toss it in my purse or diaper bag without a worry of spillage occurring.
• Snacks – I cannot stress the importance of this…bring some snacks! Pistachios / Bare Crunchy Fruit Snacks / Skinny Pop / Milano Cookies / Ding Dongs / Taki Chips / whatever your fancy, be sure you have snacks on hand…you never know when delivery will happen and whether or not the cafeteria is open at that time after when you may be ravenously hungry. Be prepared and have some sustenance on hand just in case.
• A small cooler – So this may seem crazy, but I cannot tell you how useful it is…we have used a little cooler to pack sparkling waters, cheese and salami, a few beers, champagne…for real…we had a New Year’s Eve baby so we brought a little bottle of champagne to toast in our room at midnight! It was awesome! The hospital has plenty of ice so you can keep things cool in your little cooler and I promise you will thank me later! This little guy is the perfect size unless you really want to be extra then you may want this one.
• Tea / Coffee – Can you tell I like to be prepared? Well I do and I don’t leave my coffee to chance. This instant coffee is amazing and we actually converted to this years ago…no more Kcups or coffee pot for us…just hot water and this instant coffee…you will be amazed at how good it tastes! Do you like honey in your tea, then pack that little honey bear too! Need some creamer, then put that in the little cooler for later.
• Small indoor heater – This mama does not like to be cold in the bathroom when I shower. I use a heater year round in my bathroom and so I pack my tiny little heater for the hospital too. You need this type of indoor heater and I typically put it in a plastic grocery bag all wrapped up for transport in my suitcase.
• A cozy cardigan to wear home – This Barefoot Dreams Cardigan is my absolute favorite. It is cozy and soft and great to wrap baby up in when you are nursing or holding her close.
• T-shirt for under your cardigan – You could wear any t-shirt from your closet or a specific nursing tank if that is comfortable to you.
• Comfy Leggings – This is no time to mess around. You will most likely still need your maternity leggings for a little bit of time after delivery. There is no shame in this! Our bodies are real and we need time to heal. Just stay comfy and able to move around in your trusty black leggings. I loved these Motherhood Maternity leggings but they also have a post delivery compression legging that I transitioned to a few days after delivery and you may appreciate them as well.
• Comfy shoes – Ideally you will wear the same shoes home that you wore in…I appreciate a great pair of sneakers like these New Balance or these are my all time favorite slip on shoes – Rothys – click this link for $20 off your purchase. The Loafer and The Driver are my all time favs! So comfortable and so stylish!
• Toiletries – Whatever toiletries you know you will need…you already have this stuff in your bathroom, but in case you need some travel cases, then these are great here or these are a super splurge, but awesomeness here….Here is a reminder list of toiletries you should bring:
  • Makeup – yes just a little unless you really prefer au natural
  • Contact Solution / Glasses / Contacts / Contact Case / eye drops
  • Toothbrush / toothpaste / floss
  • Face wash / Face lotions
  • Body wash / Body lotion
  • Shampoo / Conditioner
  • Blow dryer / Curling iron / straightener
  • Razor / Shaving cream
  • Hairbrush / Hair Ties / Scrunchies / head band
  • Tweezers
  • Nail file / nail clipper
  • Lip Balm

For the daddy:

For the daddy:

• Snacks – same as above…you can share with him right? If not, then make him pack his own. 🙂
• Drinks – Use that handy dandy little cooler to pack some dad friendly beverages – maybe his favorite sparkling water, gatorade or whatever you heart desires
• Toiletries – He will be staying overnight too so he will need most of the same ideas that you will.
• Pillow – He will probably sleep on a chair that folds open into a “bed”…trust me and make sure he has his own pillow too, unless he is super rough and tumble and wants to embrace the hospital pillows, then more power to him.
• Clothing – He will need to change out of his delivery clothes too because chances are he is going to get hot and sweaty…anxious and clammy…he will appreciate fresh clothes.

• Dad Shirts – It’s always a bit fun to get Dad a cute new Dad shirt to wear in the hospital…maybe one that says: Baby Daddy / I Make Cute Babies / A simple DADA shirt / If you know baby’s name then this fist bump shirt is the cutest! / Promoted to Daddy etc…
• Phone charging cord – There is no reason to share a charger here…just have one for each of you. Do not take a chance that his phone dies when in fact you need him to snap some pics and document this whole thing.
• Something to do – Just in case labor takes forever and hubby needs some distraction so that he doesn’t drive mom nuts….maybe a few magazines or a good book – these are some of my favorite parenting books – The Family Board Meeting / French Kids Eat Everything and here are some fav books of my husband’s – The Boys in the Boat / Sons and Soldiers / Greenlights

For the baby:

• Hospital outfits – I absolutely adore this brand and all of their skin to skin babywear. They have a perfect skin to skin baby sack for easy on and off diaper changes and skin to skin as well as footed pajamas which are perfect for the car seat and going home. The fabric is soft as can be and it is so easy to get on and off of those little squirmy newborn bodies. Click here and Use code MAMAEXTRA for 12% off of your purchase.

• Blankets – Swaddle blankets Cozy blankets for winter months – This Burt’s Bees reversible is so cute! Or how about this perfect snuggle storm by Little Giraffe! Or this silky satin and minky dot blanket! Or this double layer minky!
• Baby hats – Even if it’s summer, that little baby is not able to regulate body temp quite yet so we have to keep them snug as a bug. These little hats are so great and probably way cuter than what the hospital has to offer.
• Diapers, wipes, etc – Most likely your hospital will provide these items so you may not even need ot pack them…be sure to ask your nurses at your doctor’s office or call the hospital and ask to speak with the delivery floor.
• Baby book – Bring your baby book with you so that the nurses can add baby’s foot prints to the inside pages. I love this one because it is easy to keep up with and has all the things you need to fill in for a memorable first year or this one that will take you from birth to age 5 or this one because I adore it’s rainbow designs.
• Car Seat with newborn inserts – We have loved our Chicco KeyFit 30 seat for all of our kids, but you find whatever floats your boat.
• Stroller – Whatever stroller you choose will most likely be determined by the carseat that you choose. It’s nice to have the stroller for the hospital, but not a necessity. They will push you out in a wheelchair (per most hospital protocols) so you might end up carrying the baby in his or her carseat on your lap. I do highly recommend getting one of these grocery getter frame strollers though as they make it so easy to snap the baby seat in and out of so you can zip into and out of the store, your big kids school, etc.
• A felt board – I love using a felt board for pictures that I can spell baby’s name and date of birth out on. I love this one because it is double sided and has a stand that it sits in making it easy to display on the counter or tabletop. You can add a message and display this in the bassinet or on your bed to share baby’s details.
• Ultrasound Picture – If you can, then toss in an ultrasound pic to add to a photo opp in the hospital…baby on the inside and baby on the outside. So cute!
• Fabric piece for photos – So, I like to use a nice piece of fabric in my hospital photos of baby in the hospital bassinet. I bring my own fabric to lay under baby to serve as the photo backdrop rather than the pink and blue footprint blankets that they typically provide. Here are some fun ideas for fabric… Vintage Miniature Flowers / Sweet little piggies / Airplanes / Adorable little sloths / Woodland Pink / Sweet Minky Woodland Creatures / Soft Minky Dot in all colors
• A list of pictures to take – So, there is a lot happening when you are in the hospital to deliver a baby and your mind is a whirring blitz of information. Make a note in your phone or print out this list so you remember what you want to capture while in the hospital –
  1. A picture of you and hubby before you change clothes and get hooked up to everything – I realize if there is an emergency delivery then this may be difficult
  2. A picture of you in your gown, settled in your bed still smiling or maybe grimacing – whatever your heart desires – just don’t forget to tell hubby to capture some images of the process. Typically your nurses may even jump in here too…we have had nurses who grab the cell phone and snap some amazing images throughout labor and delivery even…they are pretty incredible to look back over.
  3. A picture of you first meeting your baby
  4. Baby measurements and hospital room info board
  5. You and hubby and baby in the hospital bed after everyone is cleaned up and ready
  6. Baby swaddled in the bassinet with the felt board of info about baby
  7. Baby wrapped in a blanket
  8. Baby in Mom’s arms
  9. Baby in Dad’s arms
  10. A snuggly pic of mom and baby asleep
  11. Baby and ultrasound pic
  12. Baby details – feet, hands, head, baby bracelet, bassinet card with info, etc
  13. First bath
  14. Breastfeeding pic
  15. Fist bump with baby and dad
  16. If there are any siblings then be sure to capture a few baby and siblings shots if they visit the hospital
  17. Leaving the hospital to head home

For the nurses:

1. An appreciation snack – A cake, donuts, bagels, sub sandwich tray, charcuterie box – something for them to eat! This is a small token of appreciation for these wonderful humans who are going to walk you through this amazing process! You do not need to overcomplicate this…you could pick up a cake from the grocery store or have it Door Dashed…or you could have a Charcuterie box delivered from a local purveyor…if you are in the northern Illinois area, then I highly recommend Fork It Foods – they have done a few hospital and doctor office deliveries for me and the nurses and doctors are always thrilled! If you go into labor and have to rush to the hospital then do not fret…you could have something delivered after you are all settled post delivery…or better yet ask a friend or relative to manage this task for you so that you don’t need to even think about it.

It’s also nice to think about your doctor and their staff that helped get you to this moment…this is a charcuterie box example that was a huge hit with my OB’s office. I had it delivered straight to my OBGYN’s office as a thank you to the staff there for all of my pre-natal care.

Phew….we made it….

Ok friend, there you go. You are in for such excitement and I promise I will be thinking about you as you pack your bag and get ready to meet your little babe. Enjoy this time and enjoy your delivery! It is a truly magical ordeal!

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