For your hospital bag, pack 4 to 8 muslin cloths, as they get soiled quickly with spit-up and spills, but the hospital often provides some essentials; bringing a few extra ensures you have enough for burping, wiping, and covering during your stay and the journey home. Don't stress too much if you don't have enough, as you'll quickly learn you can never have too many and will get more soon after.
The hospital will provide a blanket, but it's nice to have your own as a spare, plus you'll need it when you leave hospital to keep baby covered and warm. Muslins. Take at least 4, as these can get soiled with spit-up milk pretty quickly. You'll soon realise, you can never have enough muslins handy!
As a general guideline, it is recommended to have at least 10-12 muslins on hand. One for each room that you will be using with the baby, a couple in the changing bag, one in the car, one kept in the pram and a few in the wash should be enough for everyday use.
5 or 6 pairs of knickers, disposable ones may be useful. 2 or 3 comfortable bras, including nursing bras if you're planning on breastfeeding. breast pads. 2 packets of super-absorbent sanitary or maternity pads.
3-4 Baby's outfits. Make sure you have layers, regardless of the season. Many hospitals are FREEZING, in my opinion.
Onesies or sleepers: Pack 2-3 newborn outfits, including one for going home. Choose soft, easy-to-snap clothing. Receiving blanket: This is great for swaddling or as an extra layer in the car seat. Hat and socks: Even in warmer months, newborns need help staying warm.
The 5-5-5 rule is a guideline for what kind of help a postpartum mom needs: five days in bed, five days round the bed — meaning minimal walking around — the next five days around the home. This practice will help you prioritize rest and recovery while gradually increasing activity.
Overpacking is a common mistake people make on vacation. It's better to take less and not need it than to take extra, only for it to remain in the suitcase. Limit yourself to one backpack and one bag, and you'll have more fun and fewer hassles.
FAQs at a Glance
As babies go through a lot of diapers, you might want to have about 280 newborn diapers for your first month (roughly 3 boxes if you're buying packs with about 100 diapers).
The 2-hour rule for babies means they shouldn't stay in a car seat (or travel system seat) for more than two hours at a time, whether in or out of the car, because the semi-upright position can strain their developing spine and restrict their breathing, increasing the risk of low oxygen levels, especially for newborns and preemies. For long journeys, parents should take breaks every two hours to take the baby out, allow them to lie flat for a while, stretch, and feed, ensuring they get proper head/neck support and circulation.
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.
The main difference between receiving blankets and swaddles is their shape and how they're used. Receiving blankets are versatile, while swaddles use different designs, features, or fasteners to keep your baby wrapped securely. Read on for more details!
The "2 or 3 finger rule" for swaddling ensures safety by checking that you can fit two to three fingers between your baby's chest and the swaddle blanket, meaning it's snug enough to prevent loose fabric but loose enough for comfortable breathing and hip movement, preventing hip dysplasia and breathing issues. Always place the baby on their back to sleep and ensure the blanket is loose around their hips and legs for proper development.
If you plan on taking a swaddle or blanket with you to the hospital, we recommend 2 or 3 just in case baby has some spit up. If you're not planning on using the hospital blankets, you may want to bring even more than that.
Be sure to include these in your hospital bag essentials:
The 5-4-3-2-1 packing method is a versatile capsule wardrobe strategy for light travel, typically involving 5 tops, 4 bottoms, 3 pairs of shoes, 2 layering pieces (dresses/jackets/etc.), and 1 accessory set (bag, jewelry, hat), allowing for numerous mix-and-match outfits from minimal items, focusing on versatile, neutral pieces that suit your trip's weather and activities.
People forget an average of two essential items each time they pack for a trip. The items most often left behind when packing are toothbrushes and toothpaste (22%) and chargers for phones, laptops and other electricals (19.1%). 80.4% of travellers make sure to pack a portable charger when going on a city break.
The 40-day rule after birth, often called confinement or "The Golden Month," is a widespread cultural tradition emphasizing a mother's deep rest, healing, and bonding with her newborn, with family often handling chores and visitors, promoting physical recovery (like stopping bleeding) and mental well-being, rooted in ancient practices from Asia, Latin America, and religious traditions like Judaism and Christianity. Key aspects involve nourishing the mother, sheltering her from stress, and focusing solely on resting and bonding, a stark contrast to Western pressures to "bounce back" quickly.
In reality, the third week might be the hardest week postpartum, since everything seems to feel “normal,” but so much is happening at the same time. This being said, the third week will be an important week to focus on your mental health.
💖 Give your child your undivided attention the first 10 minutes they are awake. 💖 Give your child your undivided attention the first 10 minutes when they return from being away. 💖 Give your child your undivided attention for the last 10 minutes before they go to sleep.
But don't bring diapers or wipes
The hospital has all the diapers and wipes you'll need.
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.
How Many Pajamas/What Kind to Bring? Pack one to two pairs of nursing-friendly pajamas or loose-fitting sleepwear.