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

When it came to packing my hospital bag, I was the chronic under-packer I’d 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. Still, experts say there’s a happy medium between packing as if you’re going overseas and bringing almost nothing. “We’re all different,” says Dr. Christine Greves, MD, an ob-gyn at the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies in Orlando. “Some of us need to have everything planned as much as possible, and some get stressed out with planning. Once baby comes, you’ll have less control—so pack what brings you peace.”

Wondering where to start? This is where our ultimate hospital bag checklist for labor 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, 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 a blanket for the car seat, depending on the weather. (Make sure to place it on top of the car seat straps, not under, for baby’s safety.)
• 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).

Most- and Least-Used Hospital Bag Items, According to Real Moms on The Bump

When it comes to packing the best hospital bag for labor, real-world experience is the best guide. We surveyed our social media community and checked out The Bump forums to find out what items saved the day in the hospital—and which ones never left the bag.

Practicality and comfort win by a landslide. An impressive 47 percent of our social media users named an extra-long, 10-foot phone charger as their ultimate hospital bag MVP, while 27 percent said bringing a pillow from home made all the difference. Meanwhile, 14 percent favored bringing their own hospital gown, and 12 percent couldn’t survive without an ultra-hydrating lip balm.

Here are more of the items moms couldn’t live without:

• “Chapstick, charger, pillow, blanket, moisturizer, white noise machine, dimmable lamp.” - Danielle E., mom of one in Canada
• “I brought my giant pregnancy pillow—it was amazing.” - Allie K., mom of two in Michigan
• "Loose, soft PJs, a hair brush and the mother of all postpartum tools: the Frida Mom underwear.” - Bre B., mom of two in California
• “A towel—the hospital towels are small and not as soft as my own!” - millerbear56, The Bump community forum member
• “Eye mask—the lights are bright in there." - Paula K., mom of three in Florida
• “Dry shampoo. Especially if you’re a C-section mama and can’t take a shower right away.” - wildrainbow, The Bump community forum member
• “Deodorant. Seriously, those after-birth hormones can be strong.” - emjohn517, The Bump community forum member
• “Toiletries, clothes, purse, baby outfit, flip-flops—thats really all you need.”- aniceucchik, The Bump community forum member
• “I didn’t bring any snacks with my first, but did with my second and they were the best thing I packed. I was starving and wanted random things all throughout the day and night. My husband appreciated them also.” - pelorunningmama, The Bump community forum member

It’s easy to overpack entertainment and full-glam extras you won’t end up touching. A full 33 percent of our social media users confessed that their makeup and styling tools went completely unused. Additionally, 28 percent regretted packing a hardcover book or laptop, 22 percent brought fancy baby outfits they didn’t end up putting on baby and 17 percent never unpacked their personal breast pump.

Here’s more info on the hospital bag items that our readers packed, but never used:

• “All medicine, even my prenatal vitamins, had to be dispensed by my hospital.” - highsteaks, The Bump community forum member
• “I didn’t use makeup (except mascara), since I was too sore to care.” - honeybeebub, The Bump community forum member
• My slippers. I was hot most of the time, so my fuzzy socks were definitely enough. - 12bailey18, The Bump community forum member
• “I brought clothes for me to wear that I totally didn’t need. I stayed in the hospital gown the entire time until a couple hours before we were discharged. I probably could’ve left my entire closet at home.” - Adreajoy, The Bump community forum member
• “I used almost everything I packed except for the laptop.” - GoldenGibson, The Bump community forum member

What Not to Pack in Your Hospital Bag, According to Experts

As you can tell from real parents’ experiences, deciding what to take in your hospital bag can be pretty subjective. Still, medical experts agree that there are some items you can safely leave at home—either because the hospital provides them or they take up precious trunk space. Below, find the items you can pass on, plus a few “maybe” extras to consider based on your personal preference.

Items hospitals usually provide

The following are optional to add to your hospital bag checklist, since the hospital will likely 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 fine to bring)
• Disposable underwear (though, again, some moms like to bring their own!) “Take all the mesh panties with you because they are a gift from God!” says wildrainbow, The Bump community member.
• Pads for postpartum bleeding, which you might need for six to eight weeks post-delivery, transitioning from heavier pads to light liners
• A perineal spray bottle (peri bottle) to help clean and soothe your perineal area (although some moms prefer an upgraded version)
• A breast pump and pump parts. You likely won’t need it, but if you do, your hospital will have a souped-up version

Some hospitals also provide basic toiletries even if you forget yours. “Many hospitals have deodorant, toothbrushes and more, so just ask,” advises Dr. Greves.

Extras you don’t need—but might want

While there are a few essentials you’ll definitely want in your hospital bag, when it comes to the extras, there’s no right or wrong: Some moms pack a Kylie Jenner-level beauty arsenal, while others (hi!) throw in some cute baby outfits and their phone charger, and hope for the best.

These extras can create a more comfortable experience—but it’s highly likely that everything will go by so quickly that you might forget about them.

• Hair, beauty and skincare products (just bring the basics)
• Lots of extra outfits for baby
• Lots of extra outfits for yourself
• Specialty recovery kits (you can save these for when you get home!)
• Comfort items such as white noise machines (if you can’t live without it, by all means bring it!)
• Portable speakers for your labor playlist
• A plush nursing robe
• Personal jewelry and other trinkets

While you can, of course, tote along anything that makes you feel more comfortable on your labor and delivery journey, it’s not a good idea to bring anything valuable. Leave “anything expensive, such as jewelry, family heirlooms or a lot of cash” at home, says Dr. Sherry Ross, MD, an ob-gyn and women’s health expert at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California.

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 Dr. 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 begin earlier—exactly 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 your pregnancy 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!

To Sum It Up

When it comes to putting together a hospital bag, some moms are super no-frills while others pack the whole kit and caboodle. Whatever your style, there are some essentials that you’ll definitely need to include, like your photo ID and insurance information, a phone charger and a car seat for baby. Other items, like postpartum underwear, are typically provided by the hospital. As for extras, like hair and makeup, books and your lucky tarot card deck? That’s completely up to you—but chances are, you’ll be a little too busy for them.

How We Developed This Article

Many moms-to-be worry about putting together the best hospital bag checklist for labor. To find out what the essentials are—and what you can safely leave off your list—we spoke with two ob-gyns and a pediatrician. We also consulted a few real parents, including some of our own editors, on what made it into their hospital bag and why. Finally, we polled our social media users on their hospital bag must-haves, as well as items they brought but never used.

After editing, this article was vetted through fact-check and reviewed by our ob-gyn medical adviser. Learn more about how we ensure the accuracy of our content through our editorial and medical review process

About the author: Natalie Gontcharova is the senior editor of lifecycle content at The Bump and the mom of one zany, curious boy who sometimes feels like five kids. While she didn’t pack the most robust hospital bag, she learned something important from the experience: Sometimes less is more.

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.