The Ultimate Hospital Bag Checklist: What You Really Need (With Free Printable)

So, you're creeping up on your due date and the anticipation of finally meeting your little one is building -- and struggling over what to include on your hospital bag checklist is probably the last thing you want to worry about.

Packing your hospital bag is one of those things that's good to get done sooner than later so you're not left scrambling when labor contractions start (remember, newborns don't have a good concept of timing so they rarely arrive on their due date -- last we checked it was less than 5%). Getting your hospital bag ready is actually an important part of the labor prep process because it's a tangible thing that helps you feel prepared for the big day.

How should you pack your hospital bag for labor?

There's no right way to pack a hospital bag, so you don't need to stress about getting it perfect. At the end of the day, all you're really going to remember is holding your baby for the first time. Well, you may also remember that one really important thing your partner forgot to bring for you...

So, having the right stuff prepped ahead of time to help you -- and your partner -- get through the hours before baby arrives can be a game-changer; helping everyone involved feel a bit more relaxed and comfortable (and ready to have a baby!).

Everyone's hospital bag checklist is going to look a little different, but to help you cover the basics, we've got our free printable hospital bag checklist to get you started.

Our hospital bag checklist free printable:

Want to have this hospital bag checklist on hand? You can download and print it here!

How to make your hospital stay more comfortable during labor

So, we've got the essentials (and more) covered on the hospital bag checklist above, but there are some other items that will make you feel comfortable and keep you going even if your labor drags on.

A lot of these little luxuries are the things that you probably wouldn't think of until you're actually at the hospital, so we asked some of our Baby2Body Ambassadors what items they packed made a big difference during their birth experiences.

Mothers share their most-loved, hospital bag checklist items…

From Jenna,

“A Spotify playlist was amazing during labor, and a speaker if the hospital doesn’t provide one.”

From McKenzie,

“I took a comforter and was really glad I did. The hilarious part of [the hospital bag] is that I barely touched any of it. My son was taken to another hospital with a neonatal facility due to complications and I was released early to be with him. So my advice is don’t overpack, because your poor husband will have to tote everything for you and he’s going to be exhausted too. And just assume nothing on your birth plan will go accordingly. So it goes…”

From Tanya,

“Take a kettle!”

From Katrina,

“Essential oils, Earth Mama Perineal Spray, and travel toiletries and makeup samples." We definitely agree with bringing sample size products so you can pack them ahead of time!

From Judit,

Because Judit gave birth to triplets, she stayed in the hospital for almost a month (and arrived with a suitcase!). She says that her most important items were…

"hair dryer, shampoo, and conditioner as I can not stand going with unwashed hair for more than max 3 days!" She also had a waxing kit: "My sisters came to visit me in the hospital and provided me with cosmetic treatment... I had a huge belly and after the C-section and could not reach my legs so I needed help." We're always grateful for sisters (and sister-friends).

From Alyssa,

“Nipple balm, a nice hospital gown from Amazon, and a Bluetooth speaker!”

From Amanda,

“I overpacked the first time! For the second kid, I packed in 20 minutes after my water had already broken,” says Amanda. The most important thing in her bag? "A loofah! So hubby could wash my back after enduring childbirth."

From Keeli,

“A nursing bra and pads... and snacks for dad!”

From Courtney,

Courtney was in the hospital for 6 days because of an unexpected C-section, but she didn’t let it throw her. Here’s what she shared

“Expect the unexpected and have faith! A few good songs and a little essential oil can be amazing things to turn to as fatigue hits.”

Do you have any unexpected hospital bag must-haves that you’re planning on bringing to the hospital or that you've brought before? Share them in the comments or post a photo to your Instagram and tag us @baby2bodyofficial for a chance to be reposted!

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