What to Pack in Your Hospital Bag

Disclosure: Affiliate links are used in this post. You can read my full disclosure here.


What we did was use the diaper bag for baby and then used a carry on bag with wheels for our things. Pillows wouldn't fit in the carry-on, so they were in a separate big bag (highly recommend the Homegoods or Ikea sized bags!). The breast pump had its own backpack, so we carried that separately as well. We also had a cooler for snacks and drinks.

Also, note our baby arrived in December, so some of the items you will not need if born during a warmer season, like a car seat cover.

I have provided a list below of what we had packed and I have also crossed out whatever we ended up using, so you can see what we used and did not use to help you plan your own bag. I always tend to overpack since I prefer to be safe rather than sorry! However, it would have been nice to have brought less so we didn't have so many bags to carry! Luckily the hospital we delivered at lends you a cart to put all your items on and push to your car.

Here is what we packed in the baby's bag/diaper bag:

  • 2 Hats - didn't need as hospital gave us 2
  • 1 Set of no scratch mittens - didn't need the shirts as the ones they use in the hospital have folded sleeves and so did the take home outfit we brought
  • 2 Pairs of socks - didn't use as hospital used blankets to swaddle and take home outfit had footsies
  • 2 Newborn outfits  - only used 1 for going home
  • 1 0-3 Month outfit - the baby was just under 7 lbs, so didn't use
  • 2 Burp cloths - didn't use
  • 2 Receiving blankets  - only used 1 for going home
  • 1 Fleece blanket 
  • 2 Pacifiers and 1 pacifier clip - didn't use, not recommended until breastfeeding is established
  • Extra disposable newborn diapers - didn't need, the hospital provided
  • Extra baby wipes - didn't need, the hospital provided
  • Grooming kit (hairbrush, nail clipper, etc) - didn't use

These items weren't in the bag but in our car ready to go!
  • Car seat base and car seat
  • Car seat cover
  • Infant head support for car seat

Here is what we packed in our bag:

  • 1 Robe for mom
  • 2 Nursing Tanks
  • 2 Nursing bras  - Now this is one item I wish I had brought more of!
  • Disposable nursing pads - didn't need, milk didn't come in until day 3
  • Pajama bottoms for mom
  • Socks with grips for mom
  • Toiletries for both mom and dad (shampoo, toothpaste, etc - anything you would bring on an overnight trip basically) - we did use our own, but the hospital also had these avialable, so we technically didn't need to bring them.
  • Towel wrap for mom (for laboring in the tub) - didn't use, labor was too fast, didn't even labor in the tub!
  • Going home outfit for mom
  • Hairbrush, hair ties, and bobby pins
  • Pajamas for dad
  • 1 extra outfit for dad 
  • Heavy overnight pads and adult diapers  - used only 1 for the trip home!
  • Camera
  • Suckers
  • Granola bars
  • Breath Mints
  • Breastfeeding pillow (My Brest Friend)
  • 2 Pillows - we just used the hospitals
  • Breast pump - didn't use, found breastfeeding easier
  • Powerade  - My husband drank one. I actually only had water.

As you can see we didn't use a lot of what we brought, mainly because I had a really quick labor and because the hospital provides so much! They even gave me a bag of supplies to take home! I also ended up wearing the hospital gown because postpartum bleeding is messy and I didn't want to ruin my own clothes. Plus the snaps made breastfeeding convenient.

You can find most of these items in my Amazon Shop!


Attribution: Image used in blog post photo does not belong to me and was found on Pixabay.