Printable checklist

Hospital Bag Checklist

The complete hospital bag checklist — 100 items across ten categories, with the essentials marked. Tick off what is already packed and come back to it any time.

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Timing

When to pack it

Most parents pack somewhere between 35 and 37 weeks, but the practical advice is simpler than a date: have it ready before you would struggle to pack it.

StageWhat to do
Around 30 weeksStart a list. You do not need to buy anything yet — just noting what you already own makes the later shop much smaller.
35–36 weeksPack the bag properly, essentials first. Keep it by the door or in the car.
37 weeks onwardsTop up anything you used from it. Keep the documents and going-home outfit together and easy to find.
Early labourAdd the last-minute items: phone charger, snacks, and anything you want with you in the first hours.

If you are likely to deliver earlier than 37 weeks for any reason, pack sooner and ask your provider what they would suggest for your situation.

0 of 100 packed

Ticks save in this browser, so you can pack over weeks and come back to it. When you are close to the day, print what is left and pack with the list in hand.

For Mom - Labor & Delivery

10 items

Essential items for the labor and delivery process

Comfort items for labour — Whatever you wear in labour gets ruined, and hospital gowns are one-size.Check Price

For Mom - Postpartum Recovery

10 items

Items to help with postpartum recovery and comfort

Postpartum recovery basics — Buying these beforehand beats sending someone out for them on day one.Check Price

For Mom - Comfort & Personal Care

11 items

Toiletries and comfort items for your hospital stay

Personal care and toiletries — Travel sizes cover a two-night stay and take up no room.Check Price

For Baby

12 items

Everything your newborn needs for the hospital stay

Coming-home basics for baby — One newborn-size outfit is all you need — they outgrow it in weeks.Check Price

For Partner/Support Person

10 items

Don't forget about the support team!

Kit for your support person — Snacks, a charger, a change of clothes. The things people forget in the rush.Check Price

Important Documents

9 items

Paperwork and important information to bring

Keep the paperwork together — One folder beats searching for your notes at check-in.Check Price

Going Home

8 items

Items needed for the trip home from the hospital

What you actually wear home — Loose and nursing-friendly. Nobody fits back into their usual jeans.Check Price

Entertainment & Electronics

9 items

Stay entertained and connected during your stay

For the long hours waiting — A power bank earns its place here more than you would expect.Check Price

Snacks & Drinks

10 items

Keep everyone fed and energized

Snacks for you and your partner — Hospital food keeps its own schedule, not yours.Check Price

Optional Extras

11 items

Nice-to-have items that can enhance your experience

Nice-to-have extras — The last few bits — nice to have rather than need to have.Check Price

This is a packing list, not medical advice. What you need, what your hospital supplies and what it allows all vary — many hospitals publish their own list, and your midwife or provider is the person to ask. Nothing here is a recommendation to take, use or avoid any product.

Questions

Hospital bag questions, answered

What should I pack in a hospital bag?

The essentials are usually grouped as: comfort items for labour, postpartum recovery basics, personal care, a coming-home outfit for you and for baby, a kit for your support person, your documents, snacks, and something to pass the time. The checklist on this page covers 100 items across those ten groups, and you can tick off what you already own.

When should I pack my hospital bag?

Most parents pack between 35 and 37 weeks. There is no single correct week — the useful rule is to have it ready before a point where packing it would be difficult. If you might deliver early, pack sooner and ask your provider.

What will the hospital provide?

This varies a lot between hospitals and countries. Many supply basic postpartum pads, a peri bottle, and newborn basics; others supply very little. Most hospitals publish their own suggested list, and it is worth asking your midwife what yours supplies so you are not packing duplicates.

Do I need separate bags for labour and after?

Some parents pack one bag plus a small separate bag for labour itself, and leave a third bag in the car for the trip home. It keeps the things you actually want in the first hours from being buried under everything else.

What should I pack for my birth partner?

Usually snacks, a water bottle, a change of clothes, a toothbrush, a phone charger and something to do during long hours. Some hospitals have limited space or food options for partners, so it is worth checking.

Am I missing anything if my bag is small?

Probably not. Most first-time parents over-pack. If you have the essentials — documents, a going-home outfit for you and baby, and something to wear during labour — you can buy anything else locally or send someone.

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