What to Pack in Your Hospital Bag

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I recently gave birth to our third child, and I admit, I didn’t pack my hospital bag soon enough… I almost forgot a few things on the way out the door. These are items that I either took with me the third time around or wish I had!

What to Pack in Your Hospital Bag for Labor & Delivery

Clothing/footwear – Robe, nightgown, comfy top, comfy shorts, stretchy pants, comfy outfit to wear home, socks, nursing bra, comfy shoes, and flip flops for the shower.

Toiletries – Toothbrush, toothpaste, brush, hair ties, body wash, deodorant, face wash, and makeup.

Boppy Pillow – This is helpful to have when nursing from the very beginning.

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Clothing for baby – The hospital will provide basic clothing, blankets and possibly a SleepSack for your baby, but I packed a few cute onesies. Also, you’ll want to have an outfit for baby to wear home.

Blankets for baby – I love the Cloud Island swaddle blankets from Target… They are softer and more lightweight than the hospital blankets… Plus they are cuter for pictures!

Camera, charger, SD card – Before we had our first daughter, I wanted to purchase a DSLR camera. We went with the Nikon D5300. At the time, I had no experience using a DSLR camera, so I’ve spent the last couple of years learning how to use it. It’s been a lot of fun learning how to take photos in manual mode, and I’ve been really happy with the Nikon. I use a Nikon 35mm f/1.8G Lens for the majority of the photos that I take.

Cell phone and charger – Of course, you’ll want to have your cell phone with you to capture photos and to let your family and friends know about your new bundle of joy. Just be sure and grab your charger before heading home from the hospital as cell phone chargers are one of the most common items left behind in hospital rooms.

Wallet – Driver’s license, insurance card, credit card, and cash/change for vending machines.

Baby book – I almost forgot to pack the baby book, but this is great to bring because you can ask the nurse to get a set of baby’s footprints and handprints for your book if you have it with you. I chose the C.R. Gibson Memory Book, Happi Baby Girl for our oldest daughter, the C.R. Gibson 5 Year Baby Memory Book, Bella for our second daughter, and this adorable Woodland Baby Book for our newborn baby boy.

Car seat – We chose the Chicco Keyfit 30 Infant Car Seat and Base in the “Romantic” color, which is black and gray. You’ll want to install the car seat in your car about a month before your due date. This gives you time to learn how to install it before going into labor.

Related post: Car Seat Basics

Folder – A folder is helpful to have for all of the paperwork that you’ll receive from the time you’re admitted to the time of discharge.

Playlist/Speaker – For each of our kids, I made a playlist that we could listen to during labor and also while in the postpartum unit. We brought a little speaker to attach to our phone the first time around.

Extra bag – This is helpful to have for all the stuff you may acquire while you’re there… Gifts, paperwork, postpartum items, etc… You can also ask your nurse for a couple of patient belonging bags prior to discharge.

Diaper bag – Bring baby’s clothes and blankets in the diaper bag and then pack it with the extra diapers, wipes, and any other baby items the hospital sends home with you when you leave.

Optional items:

Mittens – Many hospitals do not supply mittens so if you’re concerned about your baby scratching his/her face with his/her fingernails, you can pack some mittens.
Emery board – An emery board can be helpful if you want to file your baby’s nails while in the hospital.
Nurse gifts – This is something that is definitely not a must but is such a thoughtful idea… Something simple like candy or cookies can mean a lot to those who take care of you while you’re in the hospital.

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Helpful Resources

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$5 Meal Plan – If you’re like me, coming up with new meal ideas can be difficult, especially with little ones running around. That’s why I’m trying out a new weekly meal plan that I’m super excited about. We’ve already tried some of the recipes and love them. The great thing about this inexpensive service is you receive delicious recipes every week, along with a shopping list. I’m hoping this saves us a lot of money and time!

Ebates – Ebates is a free and easy way to earn cash back when shopping online. Some of my favorite places to shop through Ebates include: Amazon, Target, Etsy, Old Navy, Lowe’s, Walmart, and more! Ebates earns a commission on referrals, and they share that commission with you. I talk about it in depth in my post here: How To Earn Cash with Ebates. It’s super easy (and free) to join. You just provide your email address, and choose a password. You can get a $10 cash bonus after your first $25 purchase by signing up through my link here.

Ibotta – Ibotta is another free way to earn cash back. It’s like using coupons without the hassle of clipping coupons. You simply sign up for a free account and then after you shop, scan your products that have coupons in the app, scan your receipt, and watch the cash fall into your Ibotta account. I use the app when I shop at Target and Kroger, but there are a lot of places you can use the service. You can receive a $10 welcome bonus by signing up through my link here.

Airbnb – Airbnb is a great way to travel. Instead of staying at hotels, you can rent someone’s house, apartment, or room. I have even seen people list their Airstream trailers for rent. How cool is that?! We used Airbnb on our last trip to Washington, D.C., and it was awesome. We stayed in a cute little neighborhood near Dupont Circle and were able to walk to the grocery store, local bookstore, and local restaurants nearby. There were four of us total, and we rented the whole apartment and had everything we needed for a great stay. If you’re looking for a fun, cost effective way to travel, check out Airbnb. This referral link will give you $40 toward your first trip.

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