Are you wondering what to pack in your hospital bag for when you go into labor? I’ve got you covered! Here is a hospital bag checklist I used when I went to the hospital to have my babies and a printable checklist for mom, partner, and baby! If you’re having twins, just add on another car seat and going home outfit!
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How Much to Pack
A good rule of thumb is to plan for 4 days or so, in case an emergency c-section needs to happen. C-sections account for 23-35% of births in the U.S. and often aren’t planned.
For our first child, we ended up at the hospital for 6 days. Two days of induction and 4 days for recovery after the emergency c-section that happened after 27 hours of induction. The toll the long induction and then c-section took on my body resulted in an odd ‘phantom pain’ as I’ve dubbed it that put me into shock two nights after he was born.
All that to say, overpack and over plan. Who knows what may happen.
If you’re having twins, like I did with my second pregnancy, you don’t need to pack double of everything. Just pack a second car seat and second going home outfit. If you want to include another pair of pajamas, pacifier, socks, and beanie hat, feel free. I honestly don’t think we used most of that for any of our babies, just the car seat and going home outfits. I also had 2 emergency c-sections so maybe that’s part of it. Ha!
I’d also suggest having the hospital bag packed and ready to go with most of the items starting around 36 weeks pregnant for single gestation or 30 weeks pregnant for twins. That’s just my gut instinct and what I did. I’d also suggest having it with in the car when going to doctor appointments just in case they admit you and also installing the car seat(s) relatively early just in case. The only downside of installing them too early is if you get in a car accident you’d have to replace them.
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Toiletries
- Small Shampoo
- Small Conditioner
- Small Bodywash
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Floss
- Facewash
- Deodorant
- Chapstick
- Hairbrush
- Hairbinders
- Unscented Lotion
- Makeup if you feel it’s necessary
- Nipple Cream
- Any medications or supplements you take
Clothing for Mom
- Flip flops for shower
- Nursing bras
- Yoga pants/sweats (high waisted is ideal in case of c-section)
- Nursing tanks if desired
- Socks
- Slippers
- Comfortable panties, though you’ll likely use the ones they provide at first
- Nursing Pads
Items for Baby
- Going home outfit
- Socks
- Beanie hat
- PJs
- Burp Cloths
- Bottles if you plan to bottle feed
- Pacifiers
- Car Seat
- (Honestly all we had was the going home outfit and car seat and we were fine)
For Partner
- Enough clothing for a few days
- Pants
- Shirts
- PJ Pants
- Sweatshirt
- Socks
- Underwear
- Comfortable Shoes
- Slippers
- Long warm blanket for sleeping
- Pillow
- Small Shampoo
- Small Conditioner
- Small Bodywash
- Toothbrush
- Deodorant
- Chapstick
Other
- Identification Card/Driver’s License for both adults
- Insurance card for mom
- Extension Cord for charging phone
- Phone charging brick and cables for both adults
- Headphones
- Earplugs
- Eye Mask to block out light
- Journal/Notebook
- Pen/Pencil
- Manual Pump if you have one
- Baby announcements if you desire
- Small fan if you get warm or are used to sleeping with one
- Snacks
The Hospital May Provide
- Diapers
- Diaper Cream
- Small bottles
- Wipes
- Pads for Mom
- Peri Bottle for mom
- Clothes in NICU (if baby needs NICU time)
- Hospital gown for mom
- Hospital gown and swaddle for baby
Food Allergies
If you have food allergies, you may want to bring your own food, especially when it comes to gluten allergies or sensitivities due to cross-contamination being difficult to avoid.
I am sensitive to gluten, dairy, and soy so I brought all of my own food that we brought in a cooler and put the food in the mini-fridge in the room. There was a microwave down the hall where my husband would heat up the food for me. I also had made a loaf of amazing zucchini banana bread that I had frozen weeks prior and brought along for my breakfasts which was awesome. My husband ate the hospital meals since they were covered anyway.
If you plan on bringing your own food, I’d suggest that when you tour the hospital pre-delivery you see if there is a fridge nearby or one in your room.
As a mom of identical twins and a son two years older, I have gained invaluable experience in the realm, and chaos, of parenting. With a Master's Degree and Education Specialist Degree in School Psychology, I spent years as a school psychologist, helping children navigate through their educational and emotional challenges. Now as a stay at home mom and professional blogger, I combine my areas of expertise to help you in your parenting journey.