As your due date approaches, the excitement of holding your baby in your arms will be accompanied by the anticipation of entering motherhood. Being prepared for the moment you welcome your baby will allow you to fully enjoy this unique experience.
To guide you through this exciting preparation, we will provide some recommendations. What should be in your maternity bag? When should you pack your maternity bag? How should you organise it? What should be included in the checklist of essentials? What do mothers need in the maternity bag? What do babies need in the maternity bag? We’ll answer all these questions and more in detail.
What Should Be in Your Maternity Bag?
Start by learning about the amenities provided by the hospital where you will give birth. This way, you can avoid packing unnecessary items, leaving room for the essentials you truly need.
It’s important to consider the seasonal conditions when deciding what to include in your maternity bag. For summer, include lightweight muslin fabric products, while for winter, opt for thicker items. Regardless of the season, ensure that the products you choose are made from soft, organic cotton to prioritise the health and comfort of both you and your baby.
Among the most important essentials for your maternity bag are organic cotton baby clothes and baby care items, which will be needed immediately after your baby is born. We will detail the full list of necessities for both mother and baby in the continuation of this guide.
When Should You Pack Your Maternity Bag?
Experts recommend preparing your bag from the 32nd week of pregnancy to account for the possibility of early delivery. This way, you won’t be caught unprepared in case of an emergency. However, it is important to air out the items in your bag periodically until your due date. If you include food items, be sure to check their expiration dates. Keeping your bag in an easily accessible location will make things more convenient in case of sudden developments.
How Should You Pack Your Maternity Bag?
Creating separate lists for the mother’s and baby’s needs will help you identify missing items more easily and organise everything better.
If you feel overwhelmed while preparing your hospital bag, don’t hesitate to ask for help from family or friends. This will make the process less stressful and ensure nothing is overlooked in this exciting and hectic period.
What Should Be in the Mother’s Maternity Bag?
When meeting your baby for the first time, you should feel happy, comfortable, and have all your needs met so you can fully enjoy this special moment.
Let’s outline what should be included in the mother’s maternity bag. It should contain loose clothing and undergarments to keep you comfortable during labor, hygiene products for bathing, personal care items to help you take care of yourself postpartum, and technological items to capture this unforgettable moment.
-You should choose wide and soft pyjamas or nightgowns that allow for comfortable movement during and after labor. It’s a good idea to have 2 or 3 spare nightgowns with you.
-A robe or cardigan to keep you warm in the hospital room will be an advantage.
-Nursing bras and nursing pads.
-Slippers or non-slip socks to move around the hospital comfortably.
-Loose and comfortable underwear will provide you with comfort postpartum. Disposable underwear is also a good option. Depending on how many days you stay in the hospital, it’s recommended to have at least 4–5 spares for a single overnight stay.
-Nipple cream, preferably one that doesn’t need to be wiped off before breastfeeding, will be more convenient for you.
-A nursing cover will make it easier for you to breastfeed comfortably even when visitors are present.
-A towel, as you may feel the need to shower before or after delivery.
-Personal care items such as a toothbrush, shampoo, comb, lotion, and makeup products can help you feel better after delivery.
-Your phone and charger will be needed to share the news of your baby’s arrival with your loved ones and to take photos.
What Should Be in the Baby’s Maternity Bag?
As you imagine the moment of holding your baby for the first time, you’ll want everything that touches their delicate skin to be as carefully and thoughtfully chosen as possible. For this reason, we recommend selecting products made from organic cotton, which will gently touch your baby’s sensitive skin. Newborns struggle to regulate their body temperature, so your maternity bag should include items such as onesies, bodysuits, blankets, socks, rompers, and hats to help maintain warmth.
Since newborns are sensitive to bacteria, it’s important to use items like burp cloths, muslin cloths, or blankets to cover them or prevent direct contact with surfaces. Having an organised bag where you can easily access all these items will make things significantly more manageable.
After outlining the essentials, we can move on to creating our list:
-The bag you will hand to the nurse for your baby’s use after birth should contain the first outfit your baby will wear. This includes an organic cotton newborn hospital outfit, consisting of a hat, mittens, booties, innerwear, a wrap jacket, and pants with built-in feet.
-Depending on the season, you can include an organic baby blanket, a hospital swaddle, or a muslin cloth to ensure your baby stays warm.
-To maintain hygiene and prevent direct contact with other surfaces, it is recommended to pack shoulder cloths, burp cloths, and a changing mat.
-Diapers and cotton wipes are among the most essential items for your baby.
-For diaper changes, you will need diaper rash cream and baby-safe wet wipes.
-A nursing cover and a stroller cover will be helpful for breastfeeding comfortably in front of visitors and for covering the stroller when leaving the hospital.
It is advisable to pack extra items depending on the length of your hospital stay. When combining the lists of essential items for both mother and baby, your bag may take up considerable space. Preparing separate bags for the mother and the baby will make it easier to access their respective needs.
Using organisers within your bags will help keep different product categories grouped together, making it easier to locate specific items. If only certain items are required, you can simply take out the organiser containing those items, avoiding unnecessary clutter or mess.
Our curated Maternity Bag Collection is designed to assist you in preparing your hospital bag with ease and efficiency.