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Dads & Dads-to-be
Dad's Hospital Bag
Soon-to-be-Moms are always so worried about what to pack for the hospital for themselves, and the baby, but there's not too much of a mention of what to bring for the dad.
The hospital I'll be delivering at has 48 hour stays for a regular, healthy delivery, so I want to make sure Daddy is as comfortable as possible, and doesn't have to leave to get things he needs.
Anything you're planning on taking, or wish you would've taken to the hospital with you?
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Re: Dad's Hospital Bag
Here is what I packed, knowing that we were going to be in the hospital for 2 nights (c-section).
- 1 pair pajamas/sleep clothes
- 1 extra pair of jeans
- 4 shirts (you never know when you may get spit up on/pooped on/peed on)
- 2 pair regular socks
- 1 pair socks with grips (so you could walk around the room in just socks and not slide around)
- 2 pair underwear
- toothbrush, paste, razor, shaving cream, medicines
EXTRAS:
- the baby book to update
- laptop computer (mostly for posting facebook pics)
- digital camera and connecting cord to laptop
- my pillow from home (hospital provided some, but they were uncomfortable)
- snacks. I only left the room twice to eat and to get ice from the machine, those were the only times I left her room the whole time pretty much.
We had a TV with the latest DVD releases available for free on a channel on the hospital's in house station, so we weren't lacking for entertainment when our son was sleeping. There really wasn't much of anything I felt I was missing either in terms of what I brought. I was able to use the shower in the bathroom, and they provided soaps and towels, so I didn't really need much there. Maybe bring a book, but don't plan to get much reading done.
Since I live close to the hospital and had little time off of work, my bag mainly was camera equipment, a change of cloths etc. Both of us took our laptops but neither one of us used it much. I think I did have my DS and played that more.
For the dads, it should be more what they think they will want to have and is more individual to each person.
Just like my wife wore the hospital gowns the whole time she was in mainly because she was bleeding the whole time. I have other friends and relatives that would wear their own cloths.
Wow!!! Your really brought a lot!!
I guess a lot of it depends on how close you are to the hospital and how long the hospital stay is. Our hospital had the labor room for delivery, and 3 hours after LO ws born they moved us to the family stay ward. Our hospital stay was 5 days, and since it was blazing hot out I brought a bunch of tees and shorts and sweats. I went home twice a day, except on the day of delivery, to let the dog out and if I needed anything I would get it when I was home. We live 5 minutes from the hospital so it was no big deal.
Not a lot of sleeping going on anyway those five days, so I could have cared less what I was wearing at that point. For five days that was home, so I walked around like it was home.
The best thing I brought was a laptop for movies while we waited two days to be induced. WIthout that it would have been very stressful. I believe those kinds of things are more important than clothes. Clothes were the last thing I was thinking about once things started going.
I'm not a dad, but my hubs and I have had the "what we'd do differently" conversation over the hospital bag so I thought I could share his thoughts. Preface this with the fact that I was in labor for 42 hours.
We brought a ton of stuff for entertainment "while I labor" and "while the baby sleeps", and other than watching a couple of movies on my iPad while I was laboring/sleeping/just wanted left alone, hubs didn't use any of it.
Here's what he would have packed:
3 changes of clothes
Toiletries (and any medications. My hubs has severe allergies and has to have his allergy meds, which he forgot in his rush to get to the hospital. I was sent over and induced after an OB appt because of my bp/swelling. He was at work when I called him. He still won't admit he panicked a little.
)
His own pillow and a couple of warm blankets. (our hospital was so cold!)
Gum and chapstick
Lots of snacks and drinks --> this would be a must. It was like pulling teeth to get him to leave my labor room (even though I was nowhere close to pushing) just to get some food into him. My family brought him food, but it would have been easier had he had a cooler with snacks and drinks handy with him.
Camera, phone, and chargers.
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My kindle is on my list "just in case". Other than that- I have no idea. My wife is the Queen of Lists and I am sure has a detailed list of everything I will need to pack for us soon.
I like the suites our hospital has. They admit you to the same room you will labor, deliver, and recover in. They are nicer than my first few apartments lol.
Wow....I didn't bring that much, but this is a great list.
My bag had an extra pair of clothes, some pjs....a few pair because that's what I mostly wore the 4 days we were in the hospital. I also had my camera, debit card so I could eat, cell phone charger, laptop and deodorant/toothbrush. I also lived pretty close to our hospital so I went home once or twice when my wife had a lot of visitors....it was the perfect time to get a decent shower (I didn't like the hospital's shower).