Preparing Your Hospital Bag: A Checklist for Mother and Baby

As your due date gets closer, the excitement of holding your baby in your arms will be joined by the flurry of stepping into motherhood. Being prepared for the moment you'll meet your baby will help you fully enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime moment.

We'll share some suggestions to accompany you through this exciting preparation. What should be in a hospital bag? By which week should the hospital bag be packed? How should the hospital bag be prepared? What should be on the hospital bag checklist? What should be included for the mother? What should be included for the baby? We'll answer all these questions, and more like them, in detail.

What Should Be in a Hospital Bag?

You can start your research by finding out what the hospital where you'll give birth will provide for you. This way, you won't need to carry items you won't actually need, leaving room for the things that matter.

It's important to work out what to add to your hospital bag based on the season. For summer, you might add thin, muslin fabric items to your bag, while for winter you might pack thicker items. That said, whatever the season, choosing organic cotton, soft fabric products matters for both your health and your baby's.

Among the most important things your baby will need in the hospital bag are organic cotton baby clothes and baby care items. We'll explain the needs for both mother and baby in detail as this article continues.

When should the hospital bag be packed?

In case of an early birth, experts recommend packing your bag from week 32 onwards. This way, you won't be caught unprepared if something unexpected happens. However, it's important to air out the items inside at regular intervals up until the birth. If you're packing any food items, be sure to check the expiry dates. Keeping your bag somewhere easy to reach in the run-up to the birth will give you peace of mind if things happen suddenly.

How should the hospital bag be packed?

Making a separate checklist for the mother and for the baby will help you spot anything missing more easily and stay better organised.

While preparing your hospital bag checklist, don't hesitate to ask those close to you for help whenever you need support. This way you can feel more at ease during what's often a busy, emotional time, and pack your bag without overlooking anything.

Now that we've covered the basics, let's put our list together.

What should be in the hospital bag for the mother?

When you first meet your baby, you should be a happy, comfortable mother whose needs have been met, so you can fully enjoy this moment.

With that in mind, let's go over what should generally be included for the mother. Loose-fitting clothes and underwear to keep you comfortable during birth, bathroom products for your hygiene, personal care products so you can look after yourself after the birth, and some tech items to capture the moment for good.

You should choose a loose, soft-fabric pyjama set or nightdress that lets you move comfortably during and after the birth. You might want to bring 2 or 3 spare nightdresses.

A dressing gown or cardigan will be useful so you don't feel cold in the hospital room.

A nursing bra and breast pads.

Slippers or non-slip socks will let you move around the hospital comfortably.

Loose, comfortable underwear will bring you comfort after the birth. You can choose disposable underwear if you prefer; depending on how many days you'll be staying, it's recommended to bring at least 4 to 5 spares for even a one-night stay.

Nipple cream, ideally a kind that doesn't need to be wiped off before feeding, will be more practical for you.

A nursing cover will make it easier to feed your baby comfortably, even when visitors are around.

A towel, in case you feel the need to shower before or after the birth.

Your personal care products, toothbrush, shampoo, comb, cream and makeup items can help you feel better about yourself after the birth.

Your charger and phone will be needed to share the news of your baby's arrival with loved ones and to take photos.

What should be in the hospital bag for the baby?

As you imagine the moment you'll first hold your baby, you'll want everything that touches their delicate skin to be chosen with just as much care as you'd give yourself. This is why we recommend choosing products made from organic cotton fabric that will touch your baby's skin gently. Newborn babies struggle to regulate their body temperature. Items such as vests, bodysuits, blankets, socks, sleepsuits and hats that help maintain their body temperature should be in your hospital bag.

Because they're sensitive to bacteria, you can use items such as burp cloths, muslin squares, covers or blankets to place over them or to prevent direct contact with their surroundings. Having everything organised, in a bag you can reach into easily, will make things much easier for you.

Now that we've covered the basics, let's put our list together:

The bag you'll hand to the nurse for your baby's use after birth should contain your baby's first outfit, an organic cotton newborn hospital-leaving set (hat, mittens, booties, vest, cross-over cardigan and trousers with feet).

Depending on the season, an organic baby blanket, hospital-leaving swaddle or muslin cloth can be chosen to keep your baby warm.

To protect your baby's hygiene and prevent direct contact with anything else, it's recommended to use a burp cloth, muslin square and a changing mat.

Nappies and cotton wool are among the most essential items for your baby.

You'll need nappy cream and baby wet wipes for changing your baby.

A nursing and pushchair cover will help you feed comfortably even with visitors around, and to cover the pushchair as you leave the hospital.

We recommend packing spares of everything based on how long you'll be staying in hospital. Once all the items on the checklist for mother and baby are gathered together, they'll take up quite a lot of space in your bag. Packing separate bags for mother and baby will make it much more comfortable to find what you need easily in hospital. Using organisers inside your bags will help you keep different groups of items together. Being able to pull out just the organiser you need, when you need it, will also help prevent mess and confusion.

The Hospital Bag collection we've put together for you can help as you prepare your bag.