The Essential Hospital Bag Packing List

I have a dear friend having a baby today, in the same hospital with the same obstetrician I had. I wrote this list ages ago, its the list I had compiled before we went in to the hospital. We brought a TON of stuff and didn't end up using half of it, but some was essential!

CLOTHES

Yoga pants and long/nursing tops (I wore my maternity yoga pants under the ugly hospital gowns, I didn't wear the nursing tops, but we left within 48 hours after delivery :| HMO care ftw)

Socks (put on on the way out)

Black and grey maternity dress to wear home (yup)

Robe (wore it a lot over the open back hospital gown when guests came)

Warm, comfortable socks/slippers that can be thrown out without hesitation (didn't use)

Flip flops for shower (FORGOT to use, GROSSSSSS - definitely bring these)

Nursing Bras (yes thank god)

Underwear (didn't need these, used the hospital ones until we checked out. So one pair for when you leave is good)

PHARMACY

Non giant pads - like regular sized (i actually appreciated the hospital ones and didn't use the pads I brought)

Lotion and Chapstick (YES)

Mints (YES)

Deodorant, toothbrush, flosser (YES)

toothpaste, hair ties, headbands, hairbrush (YES)

Lanolin nipple cream (YES)

Breast pads/nursing pads (didn't need them, milk came in a week later)

Industrial-strength cover up makeup (yes for guests)

ENTERTAINMENT/COMFORT

Comfort food/snacks/drinks for your husband (yes, and I snuck some too before they let me eat finally)

Camera and charger (yes)

Pen and paper (yes - for taking down notes and times of poops, etc)

iPad (didn't really use)

Blanket or throw: For husband (yes, thank goodness)

Towel and washcloth (the red ones we have) (yes!!! There was NO towel in the hospital room shower!! WTF, glad we had one I could use! We left it behind.)

Pillow from home with not-so-great pillowcase and protective cover (didn't use, hospital had tons of pillows)

Extension cord (smart!! we were able to plug in all of our phones AND have the phones near us)

Cell Phone and Phone charger (yes)

Laptop, laptop plug in (I ended up leaving mine home and didn't need it)

Roll of toilet paper (didn't need this)

Nursing pillow (bring but leave in car) (didn't end up bringing mine and didn't need it, used the hospital pillows to prop the babies up)

Baby book: To record baby’s footprints and vital statistics (length, weight, time of arrival, SAT scores, etc.). (didn't have time to use this)

FOR BABIES

Onesies, going home outfits (bahahaha brought some, they were WAY TOO BIG)

Preemie outfits in case of NICU time (had these but they didn't need nicu time, and they were not good for the car seats because they didn't have individual legs)

Bring gerber sleepers that have full length arms, individual legs, and zip up - those will be the easiest to bring everyone home in in car seats. other than that, the hospital will just swaddle the little ones for you.

Little Hats - we used these to tell the girls apart - the hospital only had a few that were all the same.

Baby nail clippers - no need

Baby mittens - way too big on them, didn't use till later

Baby Socks - No.

Pacifiers - YES

Bottles - Didn't use these, hospital provided

ANOTHER FUN TIP! 

Everything in the baby bassinet or left in the room is thrown out at the end of your stay. We had a duffle bag we filled with everything that was brought into the room: diapers, wipes, formula bottles, formula bottle nipples, the baby comb, the nose suckers. All of that came in so handy when we got home. We also brought home a few of the swaddle blankets the girls were wrapped in as keep sakes, which have also come in handy as burp towels. We even asked for extra formula, nipples and preemie diapers (since we didn't have those specific ones at home) and the nurses put together an amazing package with a TON of those items, as well as some more baby shampoo and other goodies! It does not hurt to ask!