Hospital bag checklist: the complete list (mum, baby, partner)
Pack it by the end of the 8th month (around 36 weeks), leave it by the door, and forget about it. Expect a stay of 3–4 days for a vaginal birth, up to 5 for a caesarean. Here's what to put in — for you, for baby, and for your partner — without overpacking.
Paperwork (pack this first)
- ID, your health/insurance card, insurance details
- Your maternity notes, baby's health record, any test results
- Any hospital or birth-registration paperwork your midwife asked for
For you, during the stay
- 2 to 3 nighties or pyjamas that open at the front (handy for feeding)
- A dressing gown, slippers, warm socks
- Disposable knickers + ultra-absorbent maternity pads
- A ring/donut cushion if you have stitches or haemorrhoids (sitting gets far more comfortable)
- 2 nursing bras + breast pads
- A wash bag, hair ties, lip balm
- Something to pass the time: phone, charger (a long cable!), a bit of reading
- A power strip (or an extension lead) — sockets are scarce and far from the bed
- A night light (or a soft small lamp) for night feeds and changes without waking everyone
The sockets tip: a power strip (or an extension lead) + a long charger cable (2 m). Ward sockets are scarce and never next to the bed — a power strip lets you plug in phone, breast pump and night light all at once, no musical chairs.
For baby
- 4 to 5 sleepsuits + 4 to 5 bodysuits (newborn and 0–3 months)
- Cardigans, a hat, socks, scratch mittens
- A going-home outfit + a cosy nest for the season
- Newborn nappies (the ward often provides some, but bring a pack)
- A sleeping bag, a few bibs and muslins
- The car seat — ready in the car for the trip home
For your partner
- Supplies to keep going: water, snacks, a change of clothes for a long stay
- Some cash or a card for vending machines and parking
How to stay organised, stress-free
- Two bags rather than one: a small "labour bag" for the delivery room (kept within reach), and a bigger one for the stay.
- Three pouches: "paperwork", "mum", "baby". You'll find everything in a second, even at 3am.
- Packed by 36 weeks, by the front door. Tape a checklist to the bag for last-minute adds (wash bag, charger).
- A second "coming home" bag left at home for the days after.
And for all the gear — cot, pushchair, play — prepare your baby registry calmly before the big day, so loved ones can give what you really need.
Frequently asked questions
- When should I pack my hospital bag?
- Around the end of the 8th month (about 36 weeks), so it’s ready in case baby arrives early.
- What goes in the bag for the baby?
- Bodysuits, sleepsuits, a going-home outfit, a hat, socks, a sleeping bag, nappies and a muslin. The hospital often provides some of it.
- What do people forget most often?
- A power strip with a long charging cable, a change of clothes for the partner, and snacks for the labour.