As moms-to-be, we know the excitement (and nerves!) leading up to the big day. One of the most common questions we ask ourselves is, “What do I really need to pack in my hospital bag?”

We don’t want to overpack, but we also don’t want to be caught without the essentials!

Having a well-thought-out hospital bag checklist can make those first few days with our newborn smoother and far more comfortable.

This post is all about hospital bag checklist for mom-to-be.

Below, we’re sharing a practical list of hospital bag must-haves for moms who are planning a vaginal birth.

You might think you have everything you need, but trust us, you won’t want to be stuck in the hospital empty handed without these important essentials.

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1. Important Documents

We always start with the essentials:

• ID, insurance card, and hospital paperwork. These are the first things the staff will ask for when we arrive.

• Birth plan (if we have one). While we know things don’t always go exactly as planned, it helps to have our preferences written down and ready to hand over. Make sure you and dad are both prepared for the unexpected.

Here is a birth plan checklist for free you can download by clicking here:

2. Comfort Items for Labor

Labor can be unpredictable, so we like to pack a few items that make the process a little more comfortable:

• Lip balm. Hospital air can be very dry, and we’ll thank ourselves later for this small but mighty item. This is our favorite! 

• Hair ties or hair clips. Keeping hair out of our face during labor is a must!

• Warm socks or slippers. Hospitals can be chilly, and cozy feet make us feel more grounded.I was so thankful I brought my Uggs for those hospital floors! 

• Robe or comfy cardigan. Something light we can throw on if we get cold.

3. Clothing for Mom

We’ve learned that hospital gowns aren’t always the coziest, so having our own clothes helps us feel more like ourselves.

• Nursing-friendly nightgown or pajama set. Something loose and easy for breastfeeding or skin-to-skin. We love these! 

• Going-home outfit. Think comfortable: stretchy leggings or joggers, a loose top, and a

• cardigan. Remember, you’ll still look about 6 months prego after delivery! This shocked me a little after my first baby! Don’t bring tight clothes and assume you’ll have your prebaby body back that fast- you won’t right away! 

• Nursing bras and nursing pads. Even in the early days, these come in handy. Pack these comfortable nursing or sprots bras- whatever is the best option for you, you’ll live in these! 

• Plenty of underwear. High-waisted cotton underwear, even disposable is great for holding postpartum pads and trust us, you’ll need them! 

4. Toiletries and Personal Care

We love having our own items instead of relying on the hospital’s basics.

• Toothbrush, toothpaste, and deodorant. Obvious, but easy to forget! We love deoderant that’s all natural and safe to use druing pregnnacy and postpartum months! You can read more here. 

• Face wash and moisturizer. Hospitals can be rough on our skin, you don’t need to pack your entire skincare line since you’ll hopefully only be there a few days. Pack the basics and what you will use the most! We love this face wash because it’s great for sensitive skin that many pregnany women have! 

• Shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. Dry Shampoo is a must-have if you don’t have time to wash your hair! Hospitals do carry shampoo and conditioner but depending on your hair, it may not be enough. Travel-size bottles are perfect, we love these! 

• Hairbrush. To feel a little more human after labor! But seriously, you’ll need one obviously so don’t forget to pack one! I love these mini ones! 

• Heavy-duty maxi pads. The hospital will usually provide some, but we like to bring our own! These are our favorites!

• Postpartum kits- There are many of these out there available now which makes packing your hospital bag a breeze. Here are a few we love that has everything you need for your vaginal delivery and postpartum recovery. 

1. Earth Mama Makes amazing kits- we love everything Earth mama!
2. MomCozy makes a great postpartum kit for vaginal deliveries and breastfeeding moms!
3. Frida Mom has postpartum kits that takes the hard work out of packing for your delivery! Pics below to learn more form our list: 

Dry Shampoo:

Buy on Amazon Primeeligible

Honey pot even makes a bundle to make life easier for moms: