An Essentials Only Hospital Bag Checklist for Mom (Plus a FREE Printable!)

Are you preparing to give birth and looking for a hospital bag checklist? Here’s an essentials only packing list for mom!

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If you’re here you’re probably in your third trimester thinking about what you should start packing in your hospital bag for delivery. You’ve probably also seen plenty of hospital bag checklists that are telling you to bring a bunch of stuff that’s not really practical. I’m here to tell you that you don’t need much!

Having gone through childbirth already, I learned that the hospital will likely provide you with more than enough. It’s really up to you to decide, for instance, whether you want to use the hospitals products vs. your own. Or whether those mommy and me pictures with your newborn are important to you too. Either way, here’s a realistic hospital bag checklist for mom.

This post is all about an essentials only hospital bag checklist for mom.

When to pack a hospital bag

Deciding on when to pack a hospital bag isn’t anything that’s worth overthinking. You want to wait until at least your second trimester, which is when the rate of miscarriage drops. From then on, you can pack one whenever you feel is best.

If your pregnancy had been deemed high-risk by your health-care provider, it may be a good idea to pack a hospital bag in your second trimester. If you are not high-risk, you can wait until your third trimester. I wouldn’t wait past 36 weeks because from that point on, you can really go into labor at any time.

Different considerations to think about

Induction

If you’re getting induced, that may have an impact on what you’ll have to pack in your hospital bag. I was induced, but I didn’t know I was getting induced until I arrived at the hospital. Luckily, it only took about 8 hours until I entered active labor so I had everything I needed. If you’re aware ahead of time that you’re going to be induced, you may want to go through your packing list and double up on some items.

Distance to hospital

You may also want to consider the distance to the hospital while packing and also the rules and guidelines when it comes to COVID-19. In many hospitals, your partner (or whoever will be staying with you) is not allowed to leave once you’ve been admitted. So you want to be sure to triple check and ensure you have everything you need.

If your partner is allowed to leave after you’ve been admitted, and you’re not too far from the hospital, that’s best case scenario if you’ve forgotten something. The main point here is that you want to make sure you haven’t forgotten anything just in case or call and ask about the policy when it comes to leaving and coming back.

What type of bag should I bring?

The type of bag you decide to bring comes down to personal preference. Some common options are:

Tote bag
Duffle bag
Carry-On Suitcase

If you’re a light packer like myself, a duffle bag is great and easy to carry (I used this Hershel one and it’s my go-to travel bag). But if you have a small suitcase, that may be even better. A rolling suitcase is definitely more practical when you factor in the car seat, as well as your partner’s stuff too. Whatever works best for you.

What do I definitely NOT need?

Since this is a list of the essentials that you need, there are some things that you definitely do not need to waste your time bringing to the hospital:

Diapers
Wipes
Nursing pillow
Pillows or blankets for yourself
Portable speakers
Oil diffuser
Candles
Nursing pads for your bra
Snacks (although I’d check with the hospital, contrary to popular belief, hospitals feed you quite well)
Nipple cream

Hospital bag checklist with all the essentials you’ll need

Travel

A rear-facing car seat

A rear-facing car seat is the most important item you’ll need to bring with you to the hospital! They will not let you leave the hospital without one and you’ll likely meet with a car seat specialist during your stay. When deciding on a car seat, you definitely want to do your research and pick one that’s very safe. We went with the Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat, which has been great for us since the get-go.

Important documents

Driver’s license

As soon as you arrive at the hospital you’re going to need identification, even if you pre-registered. It’s really important so you want to make sure it’s in your wallet before you leave the house. A passport also works just as well.

Insurance card

Before you decide on a hospital, the most important thing you should do is make sure they take your insurance. You don’t want to go into labor and when you get there and they’re out-of-network. After you do that, giving them your ID and insurance card when they screen you for admission will be a breeze!

Birth plan

If you have a birth plan, you definitely want to make sure you bring that with you to the hospital. You’ll want to give it to your nurse and whoever will be delivering your baby (if they don’t have it already). So it’s important that you bring multiple copies!

Personal items

Wallet

I’m not sure if it’s just me but I always make sure I have my wallet everywhere I go! You never know when you’re going to have to spend money. I would make sure you have some cash, a debit card, and a credit card just in case.

Glasses

If you’re a contact wearer, you definitely want to make sure you have your back-up glasses on you. The first night with a baby is tough and you may not get much sleep. You’ll be happy when you get to take your contacts out!

Medication

Don’t forget to bring any medication that you’re currently taking! This is also true for your partner. We were in a situation where my husband needed painkillers and the hospital couldn’t give him any because he wasn’t a patient. They would’ve had to admit him, and he couldn’t leave the hospital due to COVID. Don’t let that be you!

Chapstick

Whatever you do, don’t forget chapstick! It may seem like it’s not essential but labor is exhausting. And when you’re working on your breathing for hours, your mouth will get so dry. You’ll be glad you brought some!

Scrunchies or a headscarf

You will absolutely need a scrunchie or a headscarf while you’re in labor. If you have short hair, you’ll want to make sure you bring anything that can hold your hair back. Labor is hard enough, you’re probably not going to want to deal with having your hair in your face!

Water Bottle

A water bottle is more of an optional item because the hospital will provide you with water. For us, they even ended up giving us those small pitchers with straws so there was no need for my 32oz jug I use at home. But if you feel comfortable bringing one, by all means!

Makeup

For those cute “Mommy and Me” pictures or to look decent if you’re having visitors. Bringing some concealer and some mascara is a must for some of us!

Adult diapers

The hospital will also provide those giant pads for you to wear in the mesh underwear I mentioned above. But for those who want their own set-up, you might want to bring your own adult diapers. I wore these Always Discreet ones when I first got home and they are super comfortable and absorbent. They do have a light scent though.

Electronics

Your phone and phone charger

Most of us bring our phones everywhere we go so this one should be a no brainer. Just don’t forget your charging cable. You want to make sure your phone doesn’t die when you’re taking all those cute pictures of your baby!

Extension cord

This item is so underrated. There’s no telling where the outlets will be in the rooms you’ll stay in. Usually, they’re not that close to your bed and an extension cord will save you so much hassle. Definitely a must-have!

Headphones

If you know you’ll be in the hospital for a while before you give birth, headphones are a good item to bring. In case your partner wants to sleep or something you can free listen to whatever is on your phone without disturbing him (or her).

iPad or Kindle

I was fine with just my phone during my stay at the hospital and I was there for 3 days. If you get bored easily then you may want to bring an iPad or a book/Kindle. But, having a baby is very tiring and you’re probably just going to want to sleep when you can.

Clothes

Comfortable clothing

After giving birth, you’re probably going to want to wear something that’s loose-fitting and comfortable. If you’re breastfeeding, try sticking with nursing clothes or clothes that aren’t too much of a hassle to remove before you nurse. You will be nursing a lot, so maybe shy away from crew neck tops.

I personally wore a clean hospital gown after delivery, then changed into a cute robe. Pants were not a priority for me with those mesh underwear and giant pads but here are some clothing items that are pretty common to bring, I’ll link some of my favorites:

Pajama pants
Loose-fitting pants
Comfortable leggings
Robe
Hospital gown
Zip-up hoodie
Button down shirt
Button down pajamas
Nursing tops

Whatever you bring, you do not want to bring clothes you were wearing pre-pregnancy! Your bump will not do down right after giving birth. They say that you should bring clothes you wore in your second trimester but I just brought clothes I wore in the third trimester and they fit perfectly. Also, the hospital can be warm or cold so be prepared for both!

Comfortable postpartum underwear

The hospital will provide those mesh underwear, which, I have to say are very comfortable. But they are not for everybody. When I got home, I bought some of these postpartum underwear to wear with a pad after the bulk of the bleeding stopped and they were very soft and snug! They’re better to wear after a vaginal birth though because they’re high-waisted.

Nursing bras

If you will be seeing visitors while you’re at the hospital, packing nursing bras is a great idea. I will say that you’re nursing so often and doing a lot of skin-to-skin, so you don’t need to pack more than 2. It might be easier to wear a hospital gown, robe, or something that buttons down. I have so many of these ones that I used while I breastfed and they’re so comfy.

Shower flip-flops

Taking a shower after giving birth is so relaxing however, hospital bathrooms aren’t the cleanest. Remember in college where you had communal bathrooms and wore a pair of flip flops to shower? Same concept! I love those Old Navy ones for $3.

Socks with grips

The reason for non-skid socks over regular socks is because they’re easier to walk around hospital floors with. Whether you walk the halls in labor or use a birthing ball to manage contractions, you won’t slip! They’re also extremely comfortable.

Going home outfit for mom

Amongst all the other items of clothes you’ll probably wear throughout your hospital stay, you’ll of course want to pack a going home outfit. Like I mentioned before, you do not want to pack sizes that you were wearing before you were pregnant because they likely won’t fit. You’ll also want to make sure your outfit is comfy so anything denim is probably a no-go!

Toiletries

However many toiletries you want to bring in your hospital bag is up to you but you’ll want to make sure everything is travel-sized to lighten your load. Here are a list of the essentials:

Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Contact lens case
Contact solution
Deodorant
Hair brush or comb
Shampoo
Conditioner
Lotion
Face wash
Face lotion

Baby

Newborn picture items

If you will be getting pictures taken in the hospital or taking pictures yourself, there are a few things you’ll want to bring. Those first few hours with your baby are so precious and it’s completely understandable to want to capture those moments. Here are some ideas of what you can bring to make those pictures unforgettable:

Going home outfit

Your little one will need a going home outfit also. The key is to bring both the newborn sizes and 0-3 month sizes because you never know how big your baby will be at birth. Here are some ideas of what to bring regardless of the weather:

Hat
Onesie (newborn size and 0-3 month size)
Footie pajamas (newborn size and 0-3 month size)
Long sleeve top (newborn size and 0-3 month size)
Pants (newborn size and 0-3 month size)
Socks
Swaddle blanket
Sweater
Booties

Bottles

If you are planning to bottle feed right from the start or your baby is in the NICU, you might want to bring a few bottles. The hospital will likely have them but if there is a specific kind you prefer to use, I’d bring them, including a couple different nipple sizes.

Formula

The hospital may have formula too but similarly to the bottles, they may not have the brand you prefer to use. So definitely make sure you pack enough formula for the duration of your stay just in case! If you are planning to breastfeed, there’s no need to bring back-up formula.

Pacifier

My hospital was very anti-pacifier and did not provide them. Not all hospitals are like this but to be on the safe side, I’d bring 2 or 3 different types of pacifiers to see which one your little one takes to.

Download a free hospital bag checklist here!

This post showed you an essentials only hospital bag checklist for mom. What all did you pack in your hospital bag? Let me know in the comments!