Getting ready for labor means packing a bag for a hospital stay! Below find our top 8 recommendations for what to pack for your hospital stay.

Before you leave for the hospital, most medical teams will recommend packing up a bag with essentials. Or, you can be like us, and pack at the last minute, after your water has broken with no clean laundry!  Don’t be like us actually… We recommend you pack for four days, since things don’t always go the way we plan them. (You could end up with  a c-section, and then you’ll be happy for the extra gear.) 

Some of the essentials are pretty predictable: your license, insurance card, a couple nursing bras or tanks (if you choose to breastfeed), shower shoes (flip-flops), phone, hairbrush, toothbrush and toothpaste, and something to wear home for yourself and bebe. But then there are the other things… the comfort things. The stuff that makes you feel more at home when you’re healing and learning about your new kid.

We asked a bunch of experienced moms about their favorite thing to pack in their hospital bags. These are a few of their favorites...

1. Favorite snacks

The food at the hospital might be great; some places pride themselves on it. But even if you like your options, it’s worth having some familiar easy snacks to munch throughout the day.  You can even bring a small cooler, if there are certain things that you want that need to be kept cool, like drinks.  You can also order take-out from most hospitals, and sometimes the nurses keep menus of the best places at the nursing station!

2. A portable fan

If you get overheated easily, a fan can be a big help.  Whether you’re in labor or settled into postpartum, once the hormones kick in, your body heat often cranks up.  Few hospitals let you crack the windows anymore, so it can be hard to cool yourself off, especially with a very warm little baby pressed against you. Plus the whirring can make a soothing noise that helps to combat the sounds of the hospital when you’re trying to catch some much-needed zzzs. 

3. The good toiletries:

Ask yourself what small toiletries make you feel most like yourself. Are you a person who likes to have some lipstick on every day? Or are you super dependent on your chapstick? Or maybe you have a favorite hair tie you use every night? Maybe there’s a special aromatherapy shower soother you’ve been saving for a special occasion.  These little self-care items can go a long way in making you feel refreshed.  Your first postpartum shower feels like a million bucks - so be sure to have your favorite body wash, shampoo and conditioner for the experience.  And heck, you might even want to put a little make-up on after, and if you do, go for it. 

4. Favorite reusable water bottle

There will be water at the hospital, of course, but if you have a water bottle you use at home, it can be comforting to have it along. Plus, the little your hospital tray/table will be covered in stuff before you know it, and an open cup will almost definitely spill on your phone, laptop, or bed sheets.  We love something that has a handle and a straw for easy access.

5. Laptop or Ipad

If you’re scheduled for an induction, you’ll definitely want to be able to stream some Netflix during what can be a long process. Babies also sleep a lot, so when you’re on postpartum and settled in, it can be nice to have something to entertain you when you’re nap-trapped. A laptop with a streaming service, or an Ipad player with some loaded music or podcasts can come in handy.

6. Your own clothes (loose muumuus)

Hospital gowns get old fast. While you’ll definitely find yourself in one, with some comfy, disposable mesh underwear that they give you, if you can, keep a lookout for some loose dresses (also called muumuus) that are comfortable.  Or just having some comfy pants (note: they should be the size you would have worn at 6 months pregnant) and some lightweight tanks or tees so you can be comfy.  Wash them before you leave home in your own laundry detergent. You will feel much happier wearing something that’s yours.

7. Cozy slippers or socks

Strictly speaking, you probably won’t need your shoes much in the hospital, but those tile floors get cold. Bring some nice warm socks to keep your toesies warm or some slippers that you can wear around your hospital room. Most hospitals provide anti-skid socks that are great, so you don’t slip when you’re moving around the room.

8. An extra-long phone charger

That outlet will likely  be pretty far from your bed, based on how hospital rooms are set up, and you’ll want to be able to charge your phone while still having it accessible. An extra-long charger can help with that.