By KidsDirect Editorial Team
Hospital Bag Checklist for Labor, Delivery and Going Home
Somewhere around the third trimester, most moms start eyeing that empty hospital bag in the corner. They wonder what actually needs to go in it. The honest answer is less than you’d think. You don’t need everything the baby superstore is selling you. You need a handful of comfort items for labor, a few things for your birth partner, and a small, separate bag for the trip home. Pack that much and you’re covered. This is your hospital bag checklist
One trick that makes packing easier, split your bag into the four lists below instead of one giant pile. Pack the labor items where you can reach them fast. Keep the postpartum and baby bags zipped shut until the day you’re discharged. Nobody wants to dig through going-home outfits while they’re having contractions.
What Mom Should Pack for Labor
- Lip balm (hospital air dries everything out, lips included)
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Your own gown and robe, if you’d rather not wear hospital ones
- Shower cap
- A plastic bottle you can freeze, or a cold can from a vending machine, for pressure on your lower back
- Warm socks and slippers (hospital rooms run cold)
- Hair ties or scrunchies
- Your phone loaded with a relaxing playlist, plus earbuds or a small portable speaker
- A photo or small object to focus on during contractions
- Electrolyte freezer pops or your favorite juice in a small cooler, for when sipping plain water doesn’t appeal
- A small battery powered fan
- Your own pillow from home (a bright pillowcase keeps it from getting mixed up with the hospital’s)
- Cornstarch or unscented oil, if massage helps you relax
What Your Birth Partner Should Pack
If you’ve written out a birth plan, this is the bag it belongs in. This is your hospital bag checklist
- A printed copy of the birth plan
- A watch with a second hand, or a contraction timer app already downloaded
- Toothbrush, deodorant, and other grooming basics
- Snacks that won’t leave strong breath behind, think sandwiches, fruit, cheese and crackers
- A sweater or sweatshirt
- A change of clothes
- A swimsuit, if you want to be able to join her in the shower
- Paper and a pen
- A book or something to do during the slow stretches when she doesn’t need you hovering
- A list of phone numbers to call once the baby arrives
- Phone charger and a portable battery pack
- Phone or camera for photos and video
Most hospitals still take the baby’s footprints for the keepsake paperwork. There’s usually no need to bring anything extra for that.
What Mom Needs After Delivery
Pack this part separately from the labor bag. Leave it in the car, or hand it to your partner to bring in on the day you’re actually discharged. You won’t need any of it in the delivery room, and digging through going-home clothes mid labor is just extra clutter.
- Nursing friendly gowns that open in front, unless hospital gowns are fine with you
- Robe and slippers
- Toiletries and basic makeup, if that’s part of your routine
- Witch hazel pads for perineal care
- Snacks you actually enjoy, since hospital food gets old fast
- Nursing bras (our breastfeeding guide has more on getting that fit right)
- A book, address book, or anything you need for writing birth announcements
- A little cash or a card for small incidentals
- Going home clothes, and it’s worth sizing them for how you’ll actually look, closer to 5 or 6 months pregnant than pre pregnancy
- A waterproof pad for the car seat, just in case
What to Pack for the Baby
- A correctly installed infant car seat (get this done and checked before your due date, not after)
- A receiving blanket
- An outer blanket, bunting, booties, and a cap for the ride home
- A going home outfit, a nightgown or stretch suit works well
- An undershirt
- A few diapers, though most hospitals send you home with extras
Once you’re home and settled, you can shift your attention to the nursery itself. We’ve got a guide on preparing the nursery if you haven’t finished that part yet. And if your delivery ends up being a c-section, the same packing list still applies. You’ll just want a looser going home outfit.
