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Hospital Bag Checklist

Easy 25 items · 1 hour
testuser's avatar
testuser Published 13 hours ago
Health

Pack the hospital bag a few weeks before your due date, around week 35 or 36. Babies do not check the calendar, and packing at the start of labor is how phone chargers and car seats get left behind.

Ask the hospital what it provides before you buy anything. Many hand out pads, mesh underwear, diapers and wipes for the stay, so your own supply is mostly for the trip home. Some hospitals also let you pre-register in the last weeks of pregnancy, which means fewer forms to fill in at the front desk.

The list runs from paperwork to labor, then the days after, the baby and your birth partner. Print it, tick it, and keep the bag by the door.

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  1. Ask the hospital what it provides and what it does not allow — Rules differ between hospitals. Candles and other open flames are not allowed, and many supply pads, diapers and wipes.
  2. Pre-register with the hospital, if it offers that
  3. Pack your photo ID and insurance card
  4. Pack copies of your birth plan, if you have one
  5. Write a list of your medicines and allergies
  6. Save the labor and delivery phone number in your phone — Also check which entrance to use at night, since the main doors may be locked after hours.
  7. Pack a phone charger with a long cable — The outlet is often a long way from the bed.
  8. Pack a robe or loose top, and socks or slippers with grip
  9. Pack lip balm and hair ties — Hospital air is dry, and you may be breathing through your mouth for hours.
  10. Pack glasses and a contact lens case, if you wear them
  11. Ask your provider whether you can eat or drink during labor, and pack snacks if so
  12. Pack a toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant and shampoo
  13. Pack high-waisted underwear and a pack of maternity pads
  14. Pack nursing bras or soft bras, and nursing pads
  15. Pack a loose outfit to go home in — Choose something that fit you at about six months pregnant.
  16. Bring a pillow from home in a bright pillowcase, if the hospital allows it — The color keeps it from going off with the hospital laundry.
  17. Install a rear-facing infant car seat in the car — You need one to drive the baby home, and fitting it during labor is harder than it sounds.
  18. Have the car seat installation checked — In the US, certified child passenger safety technicians check car seats, often for free.
  19. Pack a going-home outfit for the baby in newborn and 0 to 3 month sizes — You will not know which size fits until the baby arrives.
  20. Pack a hat, socks and a blanket for the baby, suited to the weather — In the car seat, buckle the harness first and lay the blanket over it, never under the straps.
  21. Pack a few diapers and wipes for the trip home
  22. Have your birth partner pack a change of clothes, toiletries and their own medicines
  23. Have your partner pack snacks, a water bottle and payment for parking
  24. Leave jewelry and other valuables at home
  25. Put the finished bag by the door or in the car
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