Hospital Bag Checklist: What To Pack for Mom, Partner and Baby
Many people pack their hospital bag around week 35 or 36 so it's ready if the baby comes early. Ask your hospital what they provide. Many supply diapers, wipes, pads and baby blankets, so you can pack lighter.
Documents (in one folder)
- ☐ Photo ID and insurance card
- ☐ Hospital pre-registration paperwork, if you did it
- ☐ Birth plan, if you have one (a short page is enough)
- ☐ Pediatrician's name and phone (how to choose one)
- ☐ List of your medications and allergies
For mom
- ☐ Comfortable robe or loose clothes, nursing bra or tank tops
- ☐ Non-slip socks or slippers
- ☐ Toiletries, lip balm, hair ties, glasses or contacts
- ☐ Long phone charging cable
- ☐ High-waisted, comfortable underwear and a few extra pads
- ☐ Going-home outfit (sizes from about 6 months pregnant usually fit)
- ☐ Nursing pillow, if you plan to breastfeed and have one
For the partner or support person
- ☐ Change of clothes, toiletries, medications
- ☐ Snacks and a refillable water bottle
- ☐ Phone charger, headphones
- ☐ A pillow and a sweater (hospital rooms are cold)
- ☐ The list of people to text after the birth
For baby
- ☐ Car seat, installed in the car before you go. Hospitals often won't discharge you without one. A certified Child Passenger Safety Technician can check it for free in many areas.
- ☐ Going-home outfit in newborn and 0–3 month sizes
- ☐ Hat, socks or booties, a blanket for the car ride (over the straps, not under)
Leave at home
- ☐ Jewelry and valuables
- ☐ Large amounts of cash
- ☐ Too many outfits: you'll mostly wear the hospital gown
Not medical advice. Follow your doctor's and hospital's instructions.
The New Baby Admin Planner has a printable hospital bag checklist and the paperwork timeline for after you come home.
New Baby Admin Planner — $14
18-page planner: hospital bag checklist, birth certificate and SSN, insurance deadline, pediatrician questions, feeding and sleep logs, first-year money to-dos. Instant download: PDF + DOCX + XLSX.
Get the New Baby Admin PlannerFamily Paperwork Bundle — $34More guides
- Newborn Paperwork Checklist: Birth Certificate, SSN, Insurance
- How To Get a Social Security Number for Your Baby
- Adding a Baby to Health Insurance: Deadlines and Steps
- Choosing a Pediatrician: Questions To Ask Before Baby Arrives
- Well-Baby Visit Schedule: The First Two Years
- Newborn Feeding and Sleep Log: What To Track and Why
- Before Baby Arrives: The Third-Trimester To-Do List
- How To Ask for Help After a Baby (Without Feeling Awkward)
- New Parent Money and Legal To-Dos: The First-Year List