Hospital Bag Checklist: The Ultimate List of What to Pack for Mom, Baby & Partner

You’ve probably spent the past several months eagerly awaiting the day you finally get to meet baby—and you’ve spent lots of time planning. You’ve stocked up on all the baby gear you’ll need, decorated the nursery and figured out how to properly install your infant car seat. But don’t forget one of the most important remaining third trimester to-dos: Deciding what to pack in your hospital bag.

There are a few essentials you’ll definitely want in there (much more on that later). But when it comes to the little extras, there’s no right or wrong answer: Some moms pack a Mariah Carey-level beauty arsenal, while others (hi!) throw in some cute baby outfits and their phone charger and hope for the best.

Yup, when it came to my hospital bag I was the chronic under-packer I’ve always been: My phone and hospital gown were doing a lot of heavy lifting. (My biggest reason? I absolutely detest unpacking, and I knew it’d take me even longer to get to it while dealing with a newborn and C-section recovery.) Ultimately, I was happy to be a minimalist in this department, but it’s not for everyone—some moms like more creature comforts around them. Do remember that this (likely) isn’t an international trip, though. “It’s best not to overpack with too much clothing for you or baby,” advises Sherry Ross, MD, an ob-gyn and women’s health expert at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California.

Wondering where to start? This is where The Bump baby hospital bag checklist comes in handy. Read on to learn what to pack in a hospital bag for yourself, baby and your partner (and what to leave at home!)—plus the perfect timing for packing your “go time” bag.

Key Takeaways

• OB-approved hospital bag must-haves: When it comes to the bare-bones essentials for yourself, ob-gyns say you should make sure to have your photo ID and insurance information, a cell phone and charger, comfy socks and pajamas, glasses or contacts if you wear them, essential toiletries and comfortable going-home clothes.
• Pediatrician-approved hospital bag must-haves: The absolute bare-minimum essentials for baby include an approved car seat, snap undershirts, a going-home outfit and either a blanket or bunting for the car seat, depending on the weather.
• What to leave at home: Hospitals usually provide diapers for baby, disposable underwear for Mom, pads for postpartum bleeding and perineal spray bottles.
• When to pack your hospital bag: You should pack your hospital bag no later than between 37 and 38 weeks of pregnancy; 35 weeks if you’re high-risk or your doctor thinks you might go into labor early.

Hospital Bag Checklist for Mom

On average, moms who deliver vaginally stay in the hospital for one to two days, says Nicole Randazzo-Ahern, MD, director of newborn medicine at Mass General Brigham for Children. If you deliver via C-section, you’re looking at closer to two to four days. Keep the potential length of stay in mind as you select what to pack in your hospital bag. Personally, despite staying in the hospital for five days, I was happy with bringing a minimal amount of stuff. The one thing I really wish I’d brought? A breastfeeding pillow! As a first-time mom, getting the knack of lactation was hard enough (think sore, bleeding nipples) without having my arm go sore while trying to maneuver the hospital pillows into the right position. If you’re planning on breastfeeding, definitely pack one in your hospital bag—after all, baby’s going to want to eat every two or three hours, day and night.

A tip for the thrifty: Ask your hospital what they provide for moms, and take those things off your hospital bag checklist. Otherwise, you can find deals and offers on the items you’ll need, and use the following hospital bag checklist for mom.

For during labor and delivery

For postpartum recovery

Hospital Bag Checklist for Baby

You know what you’ll likely need, but figuring out what to pack in a hospital bag for baby can be a little less intuitive. Here are the essentials you’ll want to add to your baby hospital bag:

Hospital Bag Checklist for Partner

You’ve meticulously gone through the hospital bag checklist for yourself and baby—but your partner should grab a bag for themselves too! Since you’ll both likely be spending a night or two (or more) in the maternity ward, they’ll need to gather up some overnight essentials, plus a few things to keep them occupied (labor can last for a good long while). Here’s what should go in their hospital bag:

When you’ve gone through the hospital bag checklist and are satisfied you and your partner have packed what everyone will need, stash your hospital bag in your car or by the front door if you plan on taking a taxi to the hospital—and get ready for baby’s arrival!

What Not to Pack in Your Hospital Bag

Almost every parent-to-be I’ve met (including myself!) has brought way more cute newborn outfits to the hospital than baby realistically needs. (Again, you really only need a few!) I also brought a stack of diapers “just in case” but, of course, didn’t end up needing them because the hospital had them.

With that said, you likely won’t need to add the following to your hospital bag checklist, since the hospital will provide them. (Don’t forget to take home extra items—your nurses might even encourage it!)

• Diapers (though if you have a specific type you’d like to use, it’s a good idea to bring those)
• Disposable underwear
• Pads for postpartum bleeding, which you might need for six to eight weeks post-delivery
• A perineal spray bottle (peri bottle) to help heal your perineum and prevent infection
• A breast pump and pump parts. You likely won’t need it, but if you do, your hospital is likely to have one.

You also shouldn’t bring anything valuable. Leave “anything expensive, such as jewelry, family heirlooms or a lot of cash” at home, Ross advises.

When to Pack a Hospital Bag

While timing is important, you do have some flexibility in deciding when to pack your hospital bag. But, like so many other things, this will vary from person to person based on individual circumstances. “If a woman has a high-risk pregnancy and her OB feels she may go into labor early—for example, an expectant mom of twins—I’d recommend packing at around 35 weeks,” says Randazzo-Ahern. “In other cases, I’d recommend somewhere between 37 and 38 weeks. This way your basics are there should labor begin early, and modifications can always be made if needed.”

Of course, if you want to get a jumpstart on things, by all means start earlier—when to pack a hospital bag is up to you! But it’s a good idea not to leave it for later than 38 weeks: You want to have that hospital bag ready to go whenever baby decides to show up. “My water broke spontaneously with my first, so it was a relief to have a fully packed mini suitcase ready to go. Of course, in my husband’s state of urgency, he grabbed the handle so aggressively, it also broke!” shares Lauren Barth, associate content director at The Bump and mom of three in Long Island, New York.

When you’ve gone through the hospital bag checklist and feel satisfied you’ve packed everything you’ll need, stash your bag in your car or by the front door—and get ready for baby’s arrival!

Contributing writer: Nehal Aggarwal.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.