New mom’s tell us their must have items to pack for the whole family before you head to the hospital to deliver your baby.

Checklist for Mom

• photo ID, insurance information, hospital forms, and birth plan (if you have one)
• eyeglasses and case, or contact lenses and solution (if you need them)
• cell phone, charger, and extension cord (plugs are behind the bed)
• two or three pairs of warm socks (hospital floors are cold)
• large colored towel, warm robe, or comfy hoody
• lip balm (hospitals are very dry)
• headband or ponytail holder (keeping your hair pulled back will be helpful)
• sugar-free hard candy or lozenges (to keep your mouth moist during labor)
• drinks, nonperishable snacks, and change for vending machines (for after delivery)
• two maternity bras (no underwire) and nursing pads (whether or not you plan to nurse, you’ll appreciate the support and leak protection)
• front-opening shirts for easy breastfeeding
• toiletries and personal items: hairbrush, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, face wash, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, aloe vera face wipes (small or travel-sized products work best)
• loose, lightweight clothing (maternity wards can be hot)
• comfortable, loose-fitting clothes and flat shoes or flip-flops to wear when you go home (or wear the clothes you came in with)
• address book, list of phone numbers, or email list to announce the birth
• heating pad (if you have a C-section, you may experience shoulder, neck, and upper-chest pain)
• nipple cream (get lots of this from Whole Foods and use it right away)
• eye mask and earplugs (to use after delivery; hospitals are bright and loud, and these will help you rest)

Optional Hospital Bag Items for Mom

• MP3 player with your favorite music
• earbuds (to listen to music)
• focal point to stare at during contractions, such as a picture or other object that makes you happy
• props you have practiced with to ease the pain, such as massagers or balls to squeeze
• light reading material (magazines and newspapers or books downloaded on your iPad; if you are an Amazon Prime member, you can download a free book, magazine, or music file every month, so start early)
• hair dryer
• comfy pillow (in a bright-colored pillowcase to distinguish it from the hospital’s pillows)
• a few pairs of maternity underwear that can get ruined (the hospital will have disposable pairs, which some women find handy and others find gross)
• nightgown that you don’t care about ruining (you can use those lovely hospital gowns, but your own may help you feel more human)
• breastfeeding pillow
• small duffle bag to carry home all the hospital goodies
• camera and extra batteries with a large memory card (or use a newer iPhone, which takes great pictures that are easy to forward and share with family and friends)
• makeup (for photos)
• massage lotion
• card games
• your personal breast pump (so you can get instruction from the hospital nurses and lactation consultants and start using it right it away)
• nipple shells if you have flat or inverted nipples (you can start wearing them before you deliver, just don’t sleep in them; you may need to use a nipple shield to make it easier for the baby to latch on—always ask for a lactation consultant to help you)
• pacifiers (we like the Soothie brand; if you are breastfeeding and do not want your baby to have a pacifier yet, make sure a nurse puts a note on the baby’s crib)
• burp cloths (in case your baby spits up on the way home)
• diapers, wipes, and formula (if you are bottle feeding)—the hospital will give you some, but ask for extras; also ask for extra-large peri pads, which will be helpful at home
• gifts for any siblings—tell them the gift is from the new baby

Baby’s Hospital Checklist
The number-one item is a car seat. You cannot take your baby home without a car seat. It is one of the only products you will ever buy that has the potential to actually save your child’s life. Read the manual or have a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician install and check the base months before you deliver. One child is involved in a car crash every 33 seconds, so parents need to be extra vigilant about keeping kids safe in cars. And while most families put kids in car seats, the latest research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that 59 percent of car seats are not installed correctly. For expert advice on how to protect children in cars, visit Safe Kids Worldwide’s “Ultimate Car Seat Guide” at www.UltimateCarSeatGuide.org.

What Will Baby Need?

• two newborn-size coming-home outfits (in case one gets spit up on)
• special blanket or props for a photo shoot (if you plan on having professional pictures taken in the hospital)
• warm blankets (for the ride home)
• outdoor gear such as a snowsuit and hat, as appropriate, or a cover that goes over the car seat (newborns are sensitive to cold, but you do not want them overheated)
• baby book (if you want the hospital’s staff to put your baby’s footprints in it)

Checklist for Your Partner

• cell phone and charger
• change of clothes
• toiletries: toothbrush, deodorant, face wash, shampoo, conditioner, eyeglasses, and contact lens, case, and solution
• iPad (for entertainment)
• camera or video camera with batteries, chargers, and an extra memory card
• any daily prescription medication
• pen and paper for taking notes
• pillow
• comfortable shoes (you may be pacing for a while)
• bathing suit (to wear while helping mom take a shower or bath to ease labor pains)
• champagne (put your name on it and ask the nurses to store it in the refrigerator)

Congratulations and good luck! Pack early and these lists should provide you will all the must have items to make your hospital stay as pleasant as possible.

In giving birth to our babies, we may find that we give birth to new possibilities within ourselves.” —Myla and Jon Kabat-Zinn