Hospital Bag Checklist

Answer a few quick questions and get a printable hospital bag checklist built for your birth — nothing you'll never use, nothing you'll wish you'd packed. Free, no signup, nothing saved.

Build my checklist

A checklist that matches your birth

Every birth is different. Tell us the essentials and we'll add — or trim — the right items, then hand you a clean list to print.

Tell us the basics

Where you're giving birth, the season, a planned C-section, whether your partner is staying over, multiples, and your feeding plan.

Get a tailored list

Your checklist adds C-section recovery items, adjusts clothing for the weather, and matches supplies to how you plan to feed.

Print and check it off

Print it with real checkboxes, tick things off as you pack, and keep a copy by the door for the big day.

Private by design: your answers build the page you see, then they're gone. Bornbir doesn't store your checklist or ask for an email address.

The full hospital bag checklist

Here's the complete master list. Use the builder above to trim it to your birth and print your own copy.

Documents & essentials

Photo ID and your insurance card
Hospital pre-registration or admission paperwork
Printed copies of your birth plan for each shift
Your phone and a long charging cable
Cash or a card for parking and vending machines
A folder for discharge papers and your baby's documents

For labor

A robe, grippy socks, and slippers
Hair ties, a headband, or a clip
Lip balm and lotion — hospital air is drying
Your own pillow with a patterned case so it isn't mistaken for the ward's
Massage tools, a tennis ball, or a handheld fan
A playlist, headphones, or a small speaker
Light snacks and an electrolyte drink for early labor
Flip-flops for the shower

For you (postpartum)

2–3 loose, comfortable outfits — nothing that fits at the waist
A nursing or sleep bra and a few pairs of underwear you won't mind losing
Toiletries: toothbrush, deodorant, face wash, and your glasses or contacts
A warm-weather going-home outfit in loose layers
A cold-weather going-home outfit with warm layers
Slippers or slip-on shoes — your feet may be swollen
For a planned C-section: high-waisted underwear that sits above the incision
For a planned C-section: a pillow to hold against your belly for the ride home
For a planned C-section: easy slip-on shoes so you don't have to bend down
If breastfeeding: a nursing pillow, nipple cream, and breast pads
If you'll pump: your breast pump, spare parts, and milk storage bags
If formula feeding: bottles and ready-to-feed formula in your preferred brand

For your partner

A change of clothes and their own toiletries
A pillow and a light blanket — pull-out chairs are thin
Snacks, a refillable water bottle, and some cash
Their own phone charger
A short list of who to call or text after the birth

For baby

A going-home outfit and hat in newborn and 0–3 month sizes
2–3 sleepers or onesies with fold-over mittens
A swaddle or receiving blanket
For warm weather: a light swaddle and a sun hat
For cold weather: a warm bunting or blanket and a snug cap
An installed, rear-facing infant car seat — required before hospital discharge
Expecting multiples? Double the outfits, blankets, and swaddles below

Nice-to-haves

A eye mask and earplugs for daytime rest
Your own towel — ward towels are thin
A nightlight for calmer overnight feeds
A journal or a book for the quiet stretches
A small gift to swap between the baby and an older sibling

Hospitals usually provide a gown, mesh underwear, maternity pads, and — for the baby — diapers, wipes, a hat, and swaddles during your stay, so you don't need to duplicate those. This is general guidance; every hospital and birth is different, so check with your provider or birth facility about what to bring.

Hospital bag questions, answered

When should I pack my hospital bag?

Many families have the bag packed and by the door by around 35 to 37 weeks, since babies don't always wait for the due date. Keep the car seat installed and a shorter list of last-minute items — phone, charger, glasses — on a note so a partner can grab them on the way out. If you're already past 37 weeks, pack today; it takes less time than you'd think.

What does the hospital usually provide, so I don't over-pack?

Most hospitals supply the basics for your stay: a gown, mesh underwear, maternity pads, ice packs, a peri bottle, and — for the baby — diapers, wipes, a hat, and swaddle blankets while you're there. Many also have basic soap and towels. Birth centers vary, so ask yours, and for a home birth your midwife brings the birth supplies. Pack what makes you comfortable rather than a duplicate of what's already in the room.

How many outfits does the baby actually need?

For a typical stay, two or three sleepers or onesies plus one going-home outfit is plenty, in both newborn and 0–3 month sizes since newborn size doesn't fit every baby. Add a hat and a swaddle or receiving blanket. If you're expecting more than one baby, simply double the clothing and blankets.

What extra should I pack for a planned C-section?

A few small things make recovery easier: high-waisted or dark underwear that sits above the incision rather than on it, loose bottoms, a small pillow to hold against your belly for the drive home, and slip-on shoes so you don't have to bend down. Your stay is usually a day or two longer than a vaginal birth, so pack an extra outfit and any comfort items to match.

What should I leave at home?

Skip valuables and large amounts of cash, candles or anything with an open flame, and most of your own toiletries beyond the essentials — the room has limited space. You generally don't need to bring newborn diapers or wipes for the stay itself, since the hospital provides them. A short, well-chosen bag beats an overstuffed one you have to dig through in labor.

Do I need a hospital bag for a birth center or home birth?

For a birth center, pack much like a hospital bag but ask what they provide, since supplies vary. For a home birth there's no bag to carry — instead, stage your midwife's requested supplies, plenty of old towels, waterproof sheets, and comfortable clothes in one spot so everything is within reach. Choosing "home birth" in the builder trims the list to what you'll actually need on hand.

Sorting out the rest of your birth plan?

Once the bag is packed, put your labor and delivery preferences on paper — and if you'd like a pro in your corner, doulas across the US list their services on Bornbir, and messaging them is free for parents.

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