When I went to put together my hospital bag, I was totally overwhelmed with where to start. I didn’t want to overpack, but I also didn’t want to underpack either! I had mostly focused my bag on things that my husband or I would need during the stay, but fortunately at the last minute I decided to add more things for the baby and I’m so glad I did.
I rounded up 5 things that you might forget to put in your hospital bag that were lifesavers during our stay!
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One | Swaddles for Baby
This was the thing I was MOST happy I packed! At the hospital the nurses are swaddle pros – they take that receiving blanket and wrap the baby up super snug. I do not have that ability….at all. We would try, but Will would wiggle and I wouldn’t get it tight enough and give up.
I packed in my bag 2 swaddles that I was hoping to use when we got home – the Happiest Baby Sleepea Swaddle and the Ollie swaddle. The day he was born, I swaddled him up in the Happiest Baby Sleepea Swaddle and not only was it super easy to put on Will, but it got him used to the Happiest Baby Swaddles for when we got home. We purchased the Snoo which has an identical swaddle but with clips to keep it in the bassinet. So there was no adjustment period when we got home.
Two | Pacifiers for Baby
If you’re planning on giving your baby a pacifier, I would suggest bringing to the hospital the one you plan on using unless you plan on using the Advent Soothie pacifier that they usually give in the hospital. I had developed quite the collection of Ryan and Rose Cutie Pats prior to Will being born, so I kept my fingers crossed he would take it! Once Will and I were in the postpartum recovery room, I swapped out his pacifier for a CutiePat and he’s taken it ever since!
Pro Tip – if you do send your baby to the nursery make sure you send them with only things the hospital provided. We sent Will with a CutiePat one night and it unfortunately didn’t make it back to our room the next day.
Three | Sleepers for Baby
A lot of the hospital packing videos and blog posts I read suggested not bringing things for the baby to wear during the hospital stay. Our hospital provided shirts for the baby, but I found it much easier to put him in sleepers during the day. that way he was warm and comfortable during the day. I packed enough fo them for our whole stay and we used them all. But, see pro tip above – don’t send them to the nursery in them!
Four | Blankets for Baby
The hospital does provide receiving blankets, but I felt like they weren’t warm enough or plentiful enough! I brought a few blankest with me to the hospital so that we could wrap him up in those. My favorite blankets are the Monica and Andy Coming Home blankets and Kissy Kissy Receiving Blankets.
Five | Diaper Bag
Almost every video I watched said to not bring a diaper bag for baby. However, I’m so glad I did! I left our diaper bag in the car until we were getting ready to be discharged from the hospital. The day we were being discharged, I had my husband bring it to our room and I loaded it up with the items from the hospital (diapers, wipes, etc) and also made sure I had whatever I thought we’d need on the car ride home (pacifiers, burp cloths, etc) at the top of the bag. That bag then sat with me in the backseat while we made that scary drive home!
This Freshly Picked Diaper Bag has been the diaper bag I’ve used since Will was born and I love it! Stay tuned for a review of the diaper bag.
What was one thing you brought to the hospital that you couldn’t have lived without?
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