Bring plenty to the hospital to get through your stay. Don't bring: Your own towels – there will be plenty at the hospital and no new mum needs excess laundry!
During your stay we will provide you with all the conveniences you would expect, such as fresh linen, hand and bath towels. Here's what you should bring to make your stay more comfortable.
Receiving blanket, diapers, and other supplies: If you are lucky, you will get a head start on this stash. Nasal aspirator: This allows you to gently remove mucus from your baby's airways. Baby bottles and pacifiers: Having a few extra of these can come in handy.
Hospital towels are usually tiny and rough. Bring along a big bath towel for when you get to take a shower. Make sure to pack some flip flops to keep your toes off the cold shower tile. Babies are born with sharp fingernails.
Aim for one outfit in newborn size and one 0-3 months. Don't forget hats and/or socks, if weather-appropriate. Your pediatrician's contact information. The doctors and nurses will ask you for this information several times, so it's good to have it handy.
The hospital will make sure you have clean sheets, towels and wash cloths. You'll also have a bed with several pillows and blankets. If you have a hard time sleeping with a different pillow, it might be a good idea to bring your own.
Clothing: A bathrobe, a nightgown or two, slippers, and socks. Hospitals and birth centers provide gowns and socks for you to use, but some women also bring their own. Choose a loose, comfortable gown that's either sleeveless or has short, loose sleeves so that your blood pressure can be checked easily.
Labour can be messy, so don't buy anything new to wear. An old nightdress or baggy T-shirt is ideal. It's also a good idea to take along a spare, if you have one.
You may shower, bathe or wash your hair at anytime after the birth of your baby. During your first six weeks, avoid strenuous work. You may choose to limit visits with family and friends during the first two weeks, as it may cause undue fatigue for you and could also be detrimental to your baby's health.
Small babies need little
In the hospital, blankets and onesies are typically provided. If you'd like to bring baby his/her own clothes to wear during your stay or a special outfit, please do so, but it isn't required.
The essentials
The hospital will have appropriate gowns for your birth and for postpartum, newborn diapers, baby blankets for swaddling, hats for newborns, and even travel toothpaste and shampoo in case you forget your own. Most hospitals will have birth and peanut balls to support you in your labor as well.
Baby Hospital Bag Checklist
So most people bring 2-4 outfits in their hospital baby bag. What is this? This list is a good starting point. New parents should also make sure the car seat is installed before bringing baby home from hospital.
When Should You Pack Your Hospital Bag? You should have your hospital bag ready to go between weeks 32 and 35 of your pregnancy, in case your baby comes a bit earlier than expected. A good time to start the packing process is around the 28 week mark, or at the start of your 3rd trimester.
Once upon a time, hospitals shaved pregnant women before delivery. Now, shaving isn't recommended at all.
Pillow* - Hospitals provide a pillow, but if you LOVE your pillow, bring your own. Make sure to have a non-white pillowcase, as to not get it confused with the hospital's pillows. Blanket* - Hospitals tend to be on the chillier side and the blankets they provide are not always the warmest.
Clothes should be comfortable, soft and easy to take care of. Stretchy jumpsuits that fasten at the front are best, as well as tops with envelope necks, which are easier to get over your baby's head. Jumpsuits with zips can make dressing your baby quick and easy too. Clothes made from cotton are a good choice.
A robe is a must-have for your hospital bag checklist. You can put it on over your hospital gown to walk the halls during labor and it's a favorite postpartum clothing item.
Baby Basics
Hospitals usually provide plenty of receiving blankets, hats, newborn diapers, wipes, and diaper cream. Typically, they can't hand off items you did not end up using to another new baby's family, so you are encouraged to take these baby basics home with you.
Yes! You'll need to bring nappies and wipes to the hospital. Although the hospital will have some nappies and wipes available, you'll be expected to bring enough for your baby.
You don't have to. Most people choose to wear the gown because it's easier, but you can wear your own clothes, if you prefer. Just make sure they're comfortable and can get dirty (or straight-up ruined), like a simple, cheap nightgown or a stretchy, knee-length skirt.
Newborn baby clothes sizes
Whereas size 0-3 months should fit your baby up to 12 pounds, and you can always roll up sleeves and pant legs for a few weeks while baby grows into the larger size. If your baby is predicted to be petite, or you have a preemie, Newborn or Preemie sizes make a little more sense.
I highly recommend packing a velcro or zip-up swaddle in your hospital bag. L&D will provide receiving blankets and you can always ring for a nurse to help you swaddle. However, it's SO much easier not to have to do this each time you change the baby's diaper.
It can be confusing to determine the difference between Newborn and 0-3 month clothes, but typically Newborn sizes cover babies in the 5-8 pound range while the 0-3 month sizes fit 8-12 pound children.