Hospital bag checklist: what you actually need

Hospital bag checklist: what do you actually need?

Packing your hospital bag can be one of those pregnancy jobs that suddenly makes everything feel very real.

The good news is that you don’t need to take half your house with you. A few practical essentials for you, your baby and your birth partner will usually cover most of what you need — and your own maternity unit may have specific guidance too.

The NHS suggests having your bag packed at least three weeks before your due date, while other maternity guidance commonly recommends being ready around 35–37 weeks.

When should you pack your hospital bag?

Aiming to have your bag ready by around 35–37 weeks gives you some breathing room if your baby decides to arrive earlier than expected.

You don’t have to pack everything at once. Start with the things you won’t need day to day, then add last-minute items such as your phone, charger and regular medicines when it’s time to leave.

It’s also worth checking your hospital or birth centre’s own guidance, as what is provided can vary.

What to pack for you

Start with the essentials:

• Your maternity notes and birth plan
• Any regular medicines
• Loose, comfortable clothes for labour
• Comfortable clothes for going home
• Nightwear
• Dressing gown
• Slippers or flip-flops
• Warm socks
• Several pairs of comfortable or disposable underwear
• Maternity pads
• Comfortable bras
• Breast pads if you would like them
• Toothbrush, toothpaste and toiletries
• Hairbrush and hair ties
• Lip balm
• Towel
• Water bottle
• Snacks
• Phone and charger

The NHS also suggests things such as an eye mask, your own pillow, a fan or water spray and a TENS machine if you plan to use one.

What to pack for your baby

Your baby doesn’t need very much to begin with.

Pack:

• Vests or bodysuits
• Sleepsuits
• A going-home outfit
• Hat
• Socks or booties
• Nappies
• Cotton wool or baby wipes
• Muslin squares
• Blanket or shawl

If you’ll be travelling home by car, you’ll also need an appropriate newborn car seat.

What should your birth partner pack?

It’s easy to focus entirely on you and baby, but your birth partner may be there for quite a while too.

Useful things include:

• A change of clothes
• Toothbrush and toiletries
• Phone and charger
• Snacks and drinks
• Any regular medicines
• Glasses or contact lenses if needed
• Anything needed for parking or transport

The NHS also suggests swimwear if your birth partner may be joining you in a birth pool.

One big bag or several smaller bags?

There’s no rule, but splitting things up can make life much easier.

NCT suggests thinking in terms of three bags: one for labour, one for a possible postnatal stay and one for your birth partner. That also means you don’t necessarily have to carry everything into hospital at once.

A simple approach could be:

Labour bag — notes, birth plan, labour clothes, water, snacks, toiletries, phone and anything that helps you feel comfortable.

Postnatal bag — fresh clothes, extra maternity pads, underwear, baby clothes and nappies.

Birth partner bag — clothes, toiletries, food, drinks and charger.

What if you’re having a planned caesarean?

Most of the same essentials still apply.

You may particularly appreciate comfortable high-waisted underwear that sits above your incision, loose clothes and easy-to-wear nightwear.

NCT also recommends considering a few extra items for a postnatal stay, as you may be in hospital for longer following a caesarean birth.

What about feeding?

If you plan to breastfeed, front-opening nightwear, a comfortable nursing bra and breast pads can be useful.

If you’re planning to formula feed, check with your maternity unit before packing. Hospitals can have different policies around bottles, formula and preparation facilities, so it’s better to know what your particular unit asks parents to bring.

The things that are nice to have — but not essential

These can make the experience more comfortable, but you don’t need to buy them just because they appear on a hospital bag list:

• Extra-long phone charger
• Power bank
• Eye mask
• Earplugs or headphones
• Own pillow or pillowcase
• Fan or cooling spray
• TENS machine
• Music or podcasts
• Massage oil
• A small bag for dirty washing

Think about what genuinely helps you feel comfortable rather than trying to create the perfect hospital bag.

Don’t forget: you can usually get more things later

You don’t need to prepare for every possible scenario.

If your hospital stay turns out to be longer than expected, a partner, friend or family member can usually bring additional clothes, nappies or toiletries later.

The aim is to feel prepared — not overloaded.