I remember all of the feelings I had as a first-time mom a few years ago as I was working on all of my hospital bag checklists. Yes, multiple checklists. I had one for me, for dad, and for Taya. I wanted to make sure I packed enough but also didn’t want to overpack. While I overpacked for myself, I ended up packing just enough for sweet Taya.
Many expecting mamas-to-be requested that I share my hospital bag packing list, as well as baby boy’s hospital bag checklist. You know I’m all about helping others out, especially new mamas, so here we are today. 🙂 New mamas have so much information to take in, so I thought this was best to write each blog post separately. Today, I’m sharing the baby essentials I’m packing for my baby boy in my hospital bag!
ESSENTIALS TO PACK FOR YOUR BABY – HOSPITAL BAG CHECKLIST
1. CAR SEAT – First and foremost, you’re going to want to make sure your infant car seat and base have been properly installed in your car BEFORE going into labor. You need to have an infant car seat since it’s hospital protocol to have a car seat check before leaving the hospital.
2. A GOING-HOME OUTFIT – You’ll want to pack your sweet baby a going-home outfit. This doesn’t have to be fancy at all. In fact, I recommend going practical and just sticking to a simple zipper sleeper and a cozy hat.
3. PEDIATRICIAN’S CONTACT INFO – It’s encouraged to have a pediatrician picked out before your baby’s arrival. Don’t worry, many hospitals don’t need an exact provider’s name. They’re more looking for what pediatrician practice you plan on going to.
4. 2-3 SLEEPERS OR GOWNS – When I had Taya, I had packed 2 newborn sleepers and they ended up being too big for her since she was a tiny thing at 5lbs 15oz. My mother-in-law had to run out and get premie sleepers! I recommend having a few different sleepers in a couple of different sizes. Gowns are also great for those newborn days for keeping baby cozy and making diaper changes easier.
5. RECEIVING BLANKETS/BURP CLOTHES – Receiving blankets are one of those baby essentials that I don’t think are talked about enough. They’re basically mini blankets that have multiple uses – swaddles for tiny babies, burp cloths, blankets, changing mats, and so on. Pack a couple for your stay.
6. BABY ACCESSORIES – Baby socks, mittens, and a hat are some accessories you might want to pack. You don’t need a ton at all.
You really don’t need to pack that much for your baby since the hospital has all of the essentials for you. If you’re specific about a kind of diaper or wipes you want to use, or outfits/swaddles you’d like your baby in, then your packing list will be a bit longer. Even still, try to keep things minimal. While it’s tempting to have a bunch of outfits for photos, I promise you’ll want to use that time to rest instead.
BONUS EXTRAS:
- Baby name announcement plaque
- Swaddle
- Nail file – not clippers (some newborns nails are super long and sharp)
- Pacifiers
- Diaper cream
- Baby lotion or balm
- Any special keepsake you want to use in photos
I’ll be using a simple backpack to be my baby boy’s hospital bag, instead of his diaper bag. This way I have extra room to pack extras from the hospital.
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I hope this was helpful to you, mama!
XO,
