Your Hospital Bag Checklist - What You Should Pack

Whether it’s your first time or fifth time, giving birth comes with a good dose of excitement and nerves.  Fortunately, getting your baby hospital bag ready to go beforehand goes a long way to calming those nerves. After all, it’s one less thing to worry about when it all starts to happen.  

We’ve created a baby hospital bag checklist to ensure you are ready to go when the time comes. Just make sure to have it sorted by 35 weeks in case your baby comes earlier than expected.

Here’s what to pack in your baby hospital bag.

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For Mum

Loose comfortable clothes are your friend after giving birth. Although you will soon hold your baby in your arms, it’s unlikely your old favourite jeans are going to fit comfortably for a little while. During the day loose dresses, elasticized pants, and stretchy activewear are all great, as are button-up shirts and nursing tanks to make breastfeeding easier. For nighttime, comfort is queen, so you can’t go past a pyjama set with a stretchy waist. Make sure to tick the following items off your baby hospital bag checklist.

Comfortable nursing tops. Check out our Essential Nursing Tanks!  Cardigan or warm jumper Comfortable daytime clothes, preferably loose-fitting or stretchy Comfortable pyjamas. Check out our Night Owl Maternity & Nursing PJs! This cotton set features relaxed fit pants and a roomy button through shirt. Maternity bras Bathrobe Cheap full-coverage cotton underwear. I’m not going to lie, this will get messy, so save your nice underwear for another time.

Slippers. Ideally, the kind that doesn’t have a heel so you can easily slide your foot in without reaching down. Flip flops for the shower. Maternity sanitary pads. Swimwear (if you’re planning a water birth) or an old shirt (to give birth in). Glasses / contact lenses. Toiletry Items. Essential items include deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, headband, moisturiser and body wash. Some women like to pack makeup in case they’re feeling up to it.

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Breastfeeding Items

Even if this baby is not your first, every baby is different, so no one knows what your experience of breastfeeding will be like until the time comes.  However, it’s important to be prepared for those first few days by ticking the following essentials off your baby hospital bag checklist. 

Nursing pads. We love these super soft nursing pads from Miss Mae Studio. Why do we love them? They’re eco-friendly, come in beautiful designs and are machine washable so you can use them over and over again. Nipple shields. Midwives may discourage these but for some, it’s the difference between being able to breastfeed and not. I think they’re a good idea to have for ‘’just in case’’. Nipple balm.

Ice Packs. We love the Maternity Ice & Heat Pack from BodyICE. Childbirth has its uncomfortable moments and this set of breast & perineum ice packs will help you get through the first few days and throughout breastfeeding. Lactation treats. Pack yourself a breastfeeding support pack from  Made to Milk, who specialise in amazing lactation cookies, yummy lattes and more … all created with ingredients to assist you in making that liquid gold.

 

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For Baby

Choosing a baby’s first clothes is one of the most exciting things about having a baby. However, we want baby to be comfortable, so ditch the complicated baby clothes and stick with the basics for now. It’s a good idea to bring a few different sizes into your baby hospital bag when it comes to baby clothes as you never really know what you’re going to get! 

Newborn nappies  Baby wipes Baby blanket Muslin wraps for swaddling

Singlets Onesies Socks and head coverings Sterilized dummy (if you plan to use one)

Paperwork 

Medicare Card and ID Hospital paperwork Birth plan (if you have one)

Insurance details (if you have it) Antenatal card

 

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General Items

There are a few essential items that you don’t want to miss in your baby hospital bag that will make a big difference to the enjoyment of your stay!

Phone/Camera and charger Book/Mags/Tablet Snacks

Eye mask and earplugs Cash for the vending machine Any usual medications

The Bag Itself

Of course, there’s no point talking about what to pack in a hospital bag if you don’t have an actual bag. We love the Array Canvas Tote as it can be used long after you leave the hospital as a baby bag or everyday bag. Why do we love it? It’s a casual style for those who like to keep it simple and has handy internal pockets for organising all your bits and pieces. 

Once you’ve gone through this hospital bag checklist and packed your baby hospital bag, pop your bag by the door so it’s ready to go.

Good luck sister, you’ve got this!