What to Pack in your Hospital Bag for Baby and Mum

Congratulations on your pregnancy, what an exciting adventure you are about to embark on! As you get closer to your due date, you’re possibly pondering (or fretting) over what to pack in your hospital bag, as all new mums do!

We asked our very good friend and resident midwife, Mon from the Middee Society, to create an essential must-have packing list. You can find the list below and you can download it and pop it on the fridge as you prepare for your baby's arrival. 

TIP: Before you race out and buy a brand-new suitcase and stock it with goodies (yes, we all do it), first check with your hospital on what they provide. Each hospital should have a suggested list of what to pack. Ensure you ask for this list along with any questions you may have. Hospitals are there to support you, so make sure you lean on them.

What to pack in your hospital bag according to Midwife Mon

For baby:

• Car seat installed
• 6x Long Sleeve Layers in 0.2 TOG or 1.0 TOG, size Newborn or 0-3 months
• 2-3x Cocoon Swaddle Bags in 1.0 TOG or 2.5 TOG, size Newborn or 0-3 months
• 5x singlets (optional)
• Newborn nappies - (bring one whole packet)
• Wipes
• 2x Beanies
• Dummy (optional) 
• Milestone Card card (optional) 
• Night light (optional)

What baby doesn’t need:

• Bottles - hospitals provide these, so they can stay at home
• Formula - if you require, your hospital can provide this
• Mittens and socks - super cute, but not necessary (as they fall off easily on your wriggly bub)

For Mum:

• Birth plan (if you have one) 
• Medications
• Mobile, chargers (and an extra-long cable!)
• Headphones
• Labour outfit (Something loose and comfortable)
• Comfy clothes (3 x outfits), eg. tracksuit/leggings/shorts
• 7x High-waisted dark coloured underwear (suitable for use with maternity pads)
• 2x Packs of maternity pads/pull ups
• 3x Nursing bras or bralettes
• 2x Button down PJs or shirts for breastfeeding
• Compression wear (socks/leggings)
• 1 x Matchy Matchy Robe
• 1x jumper
• Socks, slippers or slides
• Going home outfit (loose, comfortable)
• Nipple cream
• Face wash, creams & lip balm
• Makeup (if desired)
• Shampoo and conditioner
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Glasses and/or contact lenses
• Deodorant
• Hairbrush and hair ties, clips or headband
• Water bottle with straw (easier during labour)
• Eye mask and ear plugs
• Pillow
• Snacks
• Items to optimise your birth space (optional, eg. speaker, fairy lights, salt lamp, etc.)
• Peri bottle (optional)
• Ice packs/heat packs (optional)

For your partner:

• Change of clothes and underwear
• Pyjamas
• Jumper or jacket (for any last-minute errands)
• Thongs and board shorts (optional, to help in shower)
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Deodorant
• Glasses and/or contact lenses
• Snacks

Hospital bag packing tips:

• Keep your length of stay in mind as you begin to pack
• Check with your healthcare provider on what will be supplied
• Leave valuables at home. If you forget something, don’t worry, someone can always bring it in for you.

Download Mon's packing list here.

Tips and advice from the mothers at ergoPouch 

We (aka the mums at eP) have also chimed in with our must-have items to include in your hospital bag, ideal for your first precious days of parenthood. (We had three mamas from team eP give birth this year!) 

1. Baby's first outfits

A key item in your baby hospital bag, your baby’s first outfits during your hospital stay should be soft, cosy and comfortable, easy to put on and take off, and accessible for nappy changes. As a newborn baby cannot regulate their body temperature, it’s important to dress them appropriately to keep them warm, but not too hot.

Our TOG-rated Layers are the perfect wardrobe for your freshly-arrived treasure, day and night. Designed to be worn on their own or underneath an ergoPouch swaddle, sleeping bag or sleep suit bag, our Layers are made from the softest, gentlest organic jersey cotton and bamboo. These natural fibres are breathable, lightweight, skin-friendly and promote safe and comfortable sleep for your baby.

Our Layers feature a 3-way zip for easy nappy changes any time of day. The 0.2 TOG Long Sleeve Layer is a great choice for hospital temperatures, to keep them warm without overheating. You may want to pack a few light, singlets from our bodywear range underneath also. We recommend packing six Layers for a 5-day hospital stay.

Check out our range of Layers to get started. Available in a mix of beautiful prints from our Heritage & Pouchtales collections.

2. You’re going to need more Layers once you get home!

Additional layers are an essential item in those first few weeks – you may be surprised at how often a tiny little baby can soil their clothing! As a baby sleeps around 16 hours a day, you’ll find you don’t need to dress them in their day clothes vs night clothes – a comfortable onesie that is easily put on and removed is all you need.

Depending on the time of year your baby is born and home temperatures choose from a Long Sleeve Layer in 0.2 TOG or 1.0 TOG for winter. 

Our handy What to Wear Guide will help you choose the best style and TOG rating for your home.

In addition to the 6 Layers taken to the hospital, we recommend another 2-3 Layers in size 0-3months to have on hand at home.

Shop Layers

3. Swaddling – the Cocoon Alternative

Chances are you’ve heard about Swaddling a baby for sleeping, either at your antenatal classes, from a friend or family member, or you’ve seen adorable burrito-like babies wrapped up snugly all over your Instagram. Swaddling a baby helps to control their startle reflex (which can wake them) and imitate the closeness of the womb to help them feel secure. But not all swaddling techniques or products are created equal, and HOW you swaddle to promote healthy growth and development is just as important as keeping those arms secure for a long sleep!

Whilst swaddling (or ‘wrapping’) for sleep with a muslin cloth is common, ergoPouch’s innovative Cocoon Swaddle Bag is an alternative you may not know about and a firm favourite with mums around the world.

Our Cocoon Swaddle Bag has a zip, for fail-safe swaddling without the complicated origami. Key features of the Cocoon Swaddle Bag include:

•  2-way zipper – getting your baby in and out of this swaddle is so easy and nappy changes are a breeze. It is also difficult to wriggle out from, creating longer sleep (hooray!)
• TOG rated – 1.0 TOG is designed for hospitals, and year-round comfort when temperatures in your child’s room are between 21C° - 24C° (68-75F). With a TOG rated swaddle, you don’t need any additional blankets.
• Friendly for Hips – the Cocoon Swaddle Bag is approved by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute. It has a bell-shaped bottom so that the hips + legs can flop outwards during sleep making it officially hip friendly.
• Friendly for Shoulders – The Cocoon promotes an arms-down or arms-crossed sleep position. Whilst containing their startle reflex, the Cocoon also allows natural arm movement for self-soothing and healthy shoulder development.
• Super Stretchy – there is a stretch in all directions which allows for growth spurts, full chest expansion and a very comfortable swaddle for your baby to sleep in.
• 2 IN 1 – converts from a swaddle to a sleeping bag by opening the poppers in the armholes once your baby is showing signs of rolling.
• Organic Cotton – this fabric is beautifully soft and skin friendly as it promotes breathability and prevents those sweaty feels. We recommend packing two-three 1.0TOG Cocoon Swaddles in your hospital bag in size newborn or 0-3 months.

Depending on the time of year your baby is born and home temperatures, you may want to get another 0-3 months Cocoon Swaddle Bag for home. Our handy What to Wear Guide will help you choose the best style and TOG rating for your home temperature.

When your baby is beginning to show signs of rolling, it’s important to transition to arms-out sleeping.

Shop Cocoon Swaddle Bags

4. The Drift Away White Noise Machine 

Hospitals are notoriously noisy, busy and loud. Our Drift Away White Noise Machine might be the perfect solution for both bubba and new mama to drown out the sounds. Ideal for when you can get some shuteye (which we know is hard when you’re staring at your beautiful newborn all day long).

The Drift Away Portable White Noise Machine features seven clean and clear sleep sounds, designed to promote deep, restorative sleep for babies and adults by masking disruptive noises in the sleep environment. Incorporate the Drift Away sound machine into your sleep routine by playing one of the sounds at bedtime to help you and/or your baby be soothed and calmed to sleep and build healthy sleep cues and habits.

Shop Drift Away

5. Save with our Baby Starter Pack Bundles

We have created a range of bundles for newborns, saving you 20% RRP. Choose from our Newborn Hospital Pack bundle featuring a 1.0 TOG Cocoon and Layer, A Winter Cocoon Bundle including a 1.0 TOG and a 2.5 TOG Cocoon for Winter Sleeping and a Cocoon Sleep Pack which includes a Cocoon and a butterfly cardy for when your baby shows signs of rolling or prefers to sleep in the hands up position. 

Shop Bundles

The eP checklist 

Sleepwear Packing List for Hospital Bag (for 5-day hospital stay)

·       6 x Long Sleeve Layers in 0.2 TOG, size Newborn or 0-3 Months

·       2-3 x Cocoon Swaddle Bags in 1.0 TOG size Newborn or 0-3 Months

·       1 x Drift Away White Noise Machine 

For Home

·       1 x additional Layers

·       1 x additional Cocoon Swaddle Bag

·       Baby Tuck Sheet (Game Changer) 

Optional Additional Sleepwear Items

·       4-5 x Singlets, size Newborn or 0-3 months

·       Organic cotton pyjamas for mum

With love, 

eP X 

Monique is a Midwife and Nurse, Founder of The Middee Society & Host of Middee - The Podcast, who is passionate about supporting families to best prepare for the many highs and lows that come with parenthood.

Download her packing list here.