You Don’t Really Need All That Stuff

As I get closer and closer to my last few days of this pregnancy, I’ve been doing all the last minute preparing for our little one. One of those steps includes packing the hospital bags.

I don’t know about you, but I hate being “that mom” who walks in the hospital with 6 different suitcases and half the nursery packed because there might be some magical butt cream baby needs and we just have to have it just in case.

Trust me, plenty of moms do this, especially first time moms. And I am a planner, I like to be prepared. So even though this is isn’t my first pregnancy, I still have to remind myself that you really don’t need all that stuff and it’s going to make your life so much easier to not have to worry about lugging it around.

You want to focus on minimizing your belongings and maximizing your usage out of each one. A good rule of thumb should be that if there is room for any extra “comfort” items (in other words, things that aren’t necessary, but are nice to have) then you get to fill them with whatever is going to get you through this delivery. After all, sorry guys, but we’re the ones squeezing a child out of our bodies…sorry you can’t bring your xbox because I need my comfy slippers.

Let’s talk about some of the key points you want to remember when packing your hospital bags and then I’ll give you my ultimate list of everything you’ll really need when you go to the hospital.

Overpacking

Like I mentioned earlier, we all have a tendency to overpack, especially if you’re a first time mom and you don’t necessarily know what all you’ll need. Well I’m going to let you in on a little secret…the hospital doesn’t discriminate against people who know what their baby will need and those who don’t, so they prepare for the worst. In other words, they will have everything you’ll need to keep baby alive and comfortable while you’re in the hospital.

And most of the time, they’ll have everything you’ll need, too. Here’s a list of everything hospitals typically provide, so you can go ahead and remove them from your packing list:

For Baby:

• A gown to wear while they’re in the hospital – Yes you can put them in all those cute little outfits you bought, but most of the time they’re wrapped in a swaddle blanket anyway and the gowns they provide are honestly a lot easier to get in and out of for all of the diaper changes, testing and blood work they have to do during your stay. Trust me, one or two outfits is really all you need.
• Swaddle blankets – And they are the best swaddle blankets ever! First of all, they’re huge so they are perfect for swaddling whatever sized baby you bring into the world. I recommend you do everything in your power to take a few home, as long as they let you.
• Snot sucker bulb – Some people love these, some people hate them, but regardless, they are effective and they are provided. And they’re sanitary; they come in a plastic package you have to open so you don’t have to worry if the one you washed at home has mold or water in it.
• DIAPERS!!! – I probably should’ve listed this one sooner, but hospitals provide tons of diapers and in case you didn’t know, whatever you open while in your hospital room, the staff can’t give to anyone else. So if you have leftover diapers or anything you didn’t use, feel free to take it home because whatever you leave, they have to toss anyway. (Oops, did we already have an open pack, I couldn’t find it! Oh well, let’s just open another one…she says as she stashes diapers in the take-home bag)
• Wipes – This one kind of goes along with diapers, but no fear, the hospital will provide them as well.
• Hats – Every hospital provides at least one hat for the baby, and they’re usually the pink and blue striped ones. Although, I have seen a lot of hospitals lately working with local knitters and crocheters to make hats for babies and donate them to hospitals. You may or may not be able to take these ones home, but regardless, baby’s head will be covered.
• Soap/Lotion – Now other than their initial clean up after having the baby, typically, they won’t need another bath until you take them home, but regardless, the hospital does provide little soaps and lotions to keep baby smelling fresh as a…well, baby. This is something else you can take home with you when you leave. (**HINT HINT, they make great diaper bag stuffers or “just in case” options that don’t take up much room in your diaper bag)
• Thermometer – This is something else that the hospital is not able to use on someone else after they use it to take your baby’s temperature. If they give you the option, make sure to take it home. It never hurts to have an extra to keep in the diaper bag.

For Mom:

• Breast Pump – Believe it or not, hospitals actually have breast pumps available for you to use while you’re there. And they’re not just ordinary pumps, these are hospital-grade pumps, a.k.a. the best pumps ever! Although, for many women that want to breastfeed, your milk may not even come in while you’re at the hospital, and your primary goal will be feeding your baby, so you may not even use it anyway.
• Disposable Underwear – Let’s be real, almost every woman has her “period panties” (as much as I hate using that term…) but the gist is that no one wants to ruin their cute underwear by wearing it after baby is born. Instead, take advantage of the disposable underwear they give you. Besides, the best nurses will pack them full of ice for you (total lifesaver!)
• Pads – Going along with the last one, most women know that after baby, you will likely still be bleeding for at least a few days, so you will definitely need some good maxi pads. Fortunately, the hospital provides these for you, and the same deal works as with the diapers, if you open it while you’re there, they can’t use it, so you get to take it home!
• Socks – Many women are back and forth on whether they like to take their own socks. I say it doesn’t really matter. I typically wear the socks they give you during labor and the rest of that day because they have grippers on the bottom to prevent you from sliding, and you never know what you’re going to get on them that day. But, I also pack my own socks because there is something comforting about wearing your own. And they are socks…in other words, they don’t take up much room. Many people still recommend packing the kind that have grippers on the bottom so you don’t slip and slide while holding baby.
• Gown – Obviously, the first thing you do when you are admitted to any hospital is change into a gown. While some people hate them, I actually was completely comfortable in mine. I wore one on the front and one on the back and I wore it the entire first day my son was born. First of all, it’s all you want to wear while you’re in labor, and secondly, you’re going to be breastfeeding, getting checked out, etc. and gowns make all of this easier. Some women like to change into their own clothes ASAP after giving birth, but I say why not hang out in the gown for a little bit and save an outfit. Everyone is expecting to see you in one anyway.

Child #1 VS. Child #2

This brings me to my next point…I packed our hospital bags WAY differently preparing for our second son than for our first. I mean I was a first time mom, so I wanted to be prepared. We packed 2 less bags than the first time around, and I barely have anything to put in the diaper bag because I know that the hospital will provide just about everything we will need and we’ll be coming straight home, so why lug everything around in the meantime?

Multi-Use

In order to minimize the amount of stuff you take to the hospital, you want to focus on packing things that have multiple uses. This includes stuff you’re actually packing, as well as using bags for multiple things. Just because you’re packing for you and daddy and baby, doesn’t mean you need to have 3 different bags. It may seem like a good idea to separate everyone’s stuff so you can find it easily, but it just gives you that much more to carry around. And you packed it, so typically, you’ll be able to remember where everything is anyway. This time around, I packed one suitcase that has everything daddy and I will need, including toiletries and the diaper bag, which is filled barely halfway. So I stashed extra snacks for the hospital in the remaining room in the diaper bag.

If you’re really worried about whether or not you’ll need something, pack an extra bag full of “maybe” items that you keep in the car so it’s close by if you need any of these items, but you don’t have to carry it around if you realize you don’t.

So Here’s What You’ve Been Waiting For…

So now that you know everything you don’t need for your stay at the hospital, let’s talk about what you do want to bring. I’ll mention a few specific things you may not think of and then use my guide to pack the rest of your bags and rest assured that you should have everything you need.

For Baby:

• Receiving Blankets For Bringing Baby Home – Depending on the hospital you’re at, you may or may not be able to take home receiving blankets. So make sure you have a few for baby. I actually would pack more than one because when we brought our first son home, we fully expected to use the car seat insert for newborns, but I had packed a few extra receiving blankets just in case (typical first time mom). But we actually ended up not using the newborn insert for the carseat because it made our sons head sit too far forward, which can restrict their breathing. A nurse brought this to our attention as we were packing up and said it’s actually pretty common for carseats. She recommended we remove the insert and instead, roll up a couple of our receiving blankets and place them on either side of his head. It worked like a charm and calmed our nerves a little more for the ride home.
• Going Home Outfit – Because baby’s outfits will be covered while they’re in the hospital, all you’ll really need to pack is an outfit to go home. But I would recommend packing two. One that is newborn size and one that is 0-3 months. This is important because doctor’s aren’t always accurate when they try to determine baby’s size before they’re born, so you could think your baby is bigger or smaller than they actually are and you want to make sure you have an outfit that is going to fit them. Also, keep in mind the season you’ll be bringing your baby home in. Obviously, if it’s cold, make sure you have extra blankets and if it’s hot, make sure they won’t get overheated.
• Pacifiers – This one will largely depend on whether you will be using pacifiers or binkies for your baby. I know what the proponents of no binkies say, but we used one with our first son and he’s not obsessed with it. Sure he likes it and gets excited about it, but he doesn’t have to have it in his mouth 24/7. I think part of our success with it was that we never upgraded him to a bigger binky. He still has the 0-3 month ones, which consequently get harder to keep in his mouth because they’re too small. It’s kind of a natural trigger to let him know he’s growing out of it.
• Car Seat – This is the most important thing you can pack for your baby considering they won’t let you take them home from the hospital without one. Make sure you know how to properly install and use it. It sounds a little silly, but they can be tricky and if you’ve never done it before, it can be hard to figure out. If you want to make sure you have it installed correctly, contact your local police department. They usually have someone versed in how to install car seats and they will check it for you. If you can’t afford a car seat, check out your local community resources. Often, they will be able to get you a new car seat for very cheap.

For Mom:

• Nursing Bra – Even if you wear your gown the entire time you’re in the hospital, you’ll want to pack a nursing bra for the trip home if you’re planning on breastfeeding. This is something I hadn’t thought of the first time around and my wonderful mother bought a few and brought them to the hospital for me. They made life so much easier!
• Nursing Pads – These go along with nursing bras and they fit inside your bra cup and basically prevent you from leaking through your bra and consequently, your shirt, which can be very embarrassing. You may not really need them if your milk doesn’t come in until you get home, but you never know when it will so I’d pack them just in case to prevent any mishaps. You can get cloth reusable ones or disposable ones. The disposable ones are my favorite because many of them come with a peel off sticker on the back that help keep them in place.
• Nipple Cream – Another one just for nursing moms…and trust me, you’re gonna want to pack this one. The first few weeks of breastfeeding can be very hard on mom and these creams are a lifesaver! Make sure you get one that is safe for baby to ingest or you may end up having to clean it off every time you feed baby.
• Nursing Cover – Some women use these while others don’t, but especially if you’re a first time mom and figuring out breastfeeding for the first time, you’re going to want the luxury of having a little coverage. This does two things, it allows you to feed baby and still visit with those that come to see you and it allows you to not have to juggle your shirt/bra and baby to make sure they get set up to nurse. I remember being so thankful I had brought mine last time!
• Comfortable Clothes to Wear Home – Obviously you won’t be wearing your gown home, so you’ll need to pack a few things to wear. I would recommend something comfortable and make sure the pants you bring don’t have a tight waistband. Primarily, this is because you never know if you’ll still have a belly leaving the hospital or if you end up having to get a c-section, I’ve heard that with c-sections, you really don’t want to wear anything that will be tight against your stomach. It’s always best to plan for the worst and pack something you could wear no matter what.
• Chapstick and Lotion: I cannot stress this one enough! There is something about hospital air that just dries you out! Make sure you pack both chapstick and lotion in an easy to find spot because there’s nothing more annoying than not having them.
• Snacks – This is very important because you never know what time of day you’ll be giving birth. If the hospital cafeteria isn’t open, or most local restaurants and grocery stores, it may be difficult to get something to eat in the middle of the night. And you’ll both be so tired that you won’t want to go anywhere. I would recommend packing healthy snacks like granola bars or protein bars to help restore some of your nutrients lost during delivery. These will also satiate your hunger in the middle of the night when you’re up breastfeeding.

Once You Get Home

Last but not least, I recommend going straight home from the hospital. As excited as you may be to show baby off, you’ve just accomplished something amazing by bringing this little one into the world and you’re going to need some rest. Take it easy and just go home and recoup. Spend some time with just your new little family and get to know your little one. After all, you’ve only just met but you have to be ready to care for their every need and that takes a little time to learn what their “I’m hungry” cry sounds like compared to their “Just hold me” cry. Ask your friends and family to give you a little space and you’ll let them know when you’re ready for company.

And don’t feel like you have to be the hostess with the mostest when people want to come visit your new baby. Your visitors are there to see the baby. Sorry, but it isn’t about you anymore. They don’t need fed, they don’t need drinks, and they don’t need entertained. Use these visits as opportunities to get some rest and take a break from constantly holding baby.

Here’s your master list. It should have everything you’ll need!