Preparing for your little one to arrive can be hectic, you’re buying all the baby gear possible, stocking up on diapers and wipes, researching the safest car seats and cribs, as well as putting together the adorable nursery. But one of the most important things that you don’t want to forget about is your hospital bag. This simple and easy task can help ease your mind when the day arrives, and keeping it by the door can prevent you from forgetting it before heading out.

There are many articles out there on what to bring, but I wanted to make my list a little more special by hearing it first hand, from other mothers. So here are what my clients recommend packing for your hospital bag…in their own words!

Also, take a look at more photos of Janine, Tiffany and Madeline by clicking on their names!

Free Printable Hospital Bag Checklist!

Lisa:

For Mama

• Nursing bra & nightgown
• A comfortable going home outfit.
• Special toiletries from home – for me this was a nice lip balm, moisturizer, and rosewater face mist, so I felt a little pampered when I was recovering.
• Snacks – for both mama and partner! I was ravenous after I gave birth.. so was my husband!
• Drinks – I drank a lot of coconut water during labor.
• Phone
• Music playlist and bluetooth speaker – I used music to help me cope during labor.

• List of important phone numbers – my husband had the contact information of our doula, pediatrician, photographer & the people we were going to announce the birth of the baby to.
• Camera or ideally a photographer! (Can’t fit a photographer in your bag, though) – The photos I have of me and my husband meeting our daughter for the first time are priceless!

• Going home outfits in a couple of different sizes. Sometimes baby is too large for newborn clothes when they are born. In my case, baby was teeny tiny and needed the smallest outfit I had!

Tiffany:

• For breastfeeding mothers, definitely some nursing bras and tops.
• Comfy lounge pants or night gowns.
• Toiletries
• Slippers or comfy socks
• Magazines/books
• Phone charger
• I brought my own pillow and snacks.
• Going home outfit for baby!

Janine

•  A loose fitting dress/sun dress for after.
• Baby’s going home outfit.
• Sandals for the shower.
• Underwear you don’t care about.
• Deodorant & hairbrush
• Lip gloss (lips get chapped from dehydration in labor).
• Magazines/books
• Music
• Slippers, pajamas, and a nice robe.

  

  
  

Carrie

• For me, I pack a coming home outfit for me and baby.
• A robe and comfy clothes for after the birth.
• I also had a birthing gown that I loved that was so much better than the hospital gowns they give you.
• A huge recommendation I have is to bring your own pillow, but use a colored pillowcase, so it doesn’t get lost with all of the white hospital sheets.
• Another huge tip, bring an extra long cord for your phone charger.
• iPad or tablet is good for any downtime.
• Then there was my shower supplies, flip flops to wear in the shower and other slippers for wearing in the room.
• I wasn’t concerned about specific music and mood lighting, but a lot of people like to bring supplies for that.

Lisa

• Comfy pants and underwear.
• A comfortable tank top (breastfeeding one or regular).
• Socks/Slippers
• Your favorite pillow and blanket. Even though the hospital has all of this, there’s nothing more comforting than your fav blanket and pillow.
• Loose fitting clothes is much comfier.
• A breast feeding sports bra or regular bra.
• Robe
• Chapstick

• Coming home outfit for baby. Bring a few different sizes, since you won’t know exact size they’ll be.
• Socks
• Boppy pillow
• A headband, if it’s a girl.
• I personally didn’t need much for baby, because the hospital has everything!

• Comfy lounge clothes.
• iPad
• Camera
• Charger
• Pillow and blanket from home
• Socks
• Shampoo
• Body wash

Cristina

• Something for baby to wear home, bring newborn and 0-3 month options, you never know how big the baby may be!
• I ended up with a C-section and having a nursing nightgown was the most comfortable.
• I brought my own towel and toiletries, the hospital is not a hotel so it’s nice to have some things to make you feel human again!
• Chapstick and phone chargers.
• Insurance information, so you can call to add the baby, as well as any needed contact information for your maternity leave/FMLA.
• I also packed my pump and boppy pillow, but the hospital had a pump if I needed it and tons of pillows.