What to bring for baby to the hospital?

LoriMarie1121 · December 2014

Sorry if this is a repost but what are you bringing to the hospital for baby? Obviously the car seat and an outfit to wear home. Do you are you going to bring nuks, blankets, burp rags, other outfits ect... 1st time mom here and want to make sure I bring everything.

poopylove · December 2014

You should check with your hospital - ours gave us a list of things to take for both mom + baby which I found useful. It also helps to know which items they will give you to avoid overpacking. There was at least 1 v. Useful thread on here from STM+ that listed more personal items that they found useful that go beyond the hospital basics.

mamabisme · December 2014

The hospital should provide you with everything you need while you are there. I use what they give us so I don't have to bring home a bunch of dirty laundry. All I've ever packed for baby was a coming home outfit and last time I didn't even use that. She was sleeping when we were discharged and I was not going to wake her up just to change her outfit for the 3 mile car ride home.

dreemkin84 · December 2014

I'm bringing just a coming home outfit and a nice blanket/prop/hat for bella baby photographs.

kefttsc · December 2014

My SIL is a L&D nurse at our hospital and she said that we don't NEED to bring anything, but we are welcome to. She said they typically dress the babies a kimono style t-shirt and sleep sack in the NICU or nursery, but that she feels they are sometimes cold. (they obviously have lights and things to warm them up)

She suggested that I bring the following for the babies:

1 long sleeved onesie each

1 fleece sleeper each

2 pairs of socks each (1 for feet and 1 for mittens)

1 swaddle blanket each

I also am packing their go home outfits of course.

I'm sure this varies depending on the hospital!

krispy83 · December 2014

With DS, all I brought was a coming home outfit and a nice blanket for pics. The hospital had everything else we needed.

However, one thing I wish I had brought was nail clippers. His nails were crazy sharp and he kept scratching both himself and me, but the nurses couldn't give us anything to use. Since they don't take up much room and aren't heavy, I'll throw them in the bag this time.

Erichandme · December 2014

My hospital recommended items for me such as shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, and other personal items but said that all I need for the baby is an outfit to come home with and the car seat. They even send you home with diapers for a few days (take as many as they will give you because it will save you from spending that extra money-advice from my cousin who has four children, one set of twins). If you have animals at home it is a good idea to bring one of your own receiving blankets and have the baby sleep in it for a day then give it to your animal before you bring the baby home so that they are already used to the scent. I hope this helps!

Krista

AF9211 · December 2014

The only things I'll be packing for the baby are a coming home outfit (footie sleeper), fleece one piece zip up with a hood to go over the outfit for the car ride home, mittens to prevent scratching, and a handmade blanket and hat/headband/bow for pictures.

Our hospital keeps the babies swaddled in a blanket with a long sleeved kimono style shirt. They also provide diapers, wipes, pacifiers, formula/bottles and everything else baby will need during our stay. When I had DD1, I was allowed to take anything left over for baby home with us.

vpeazy · December 2014

As a mom for the 4th time this time, I am bringing clothes for myself (because I HATE not having pants/shorts on), a phone charger, and socks along with deodorant. For the baby, because I feel like they are cold in just a tshirt and diaper, 2 sleepers plus a coming home outfit, and a blanket, plus mitts for her hands since all my kids like to scratch their faces! Most importantly, pack some snacks for you and your partner! Most mother/baby units have things like turkey sandwiches or something like that, but when its 3 am and baby just got done eating and you just need something small, you'll have it on hand

DBride2006 · December 2014

Our hospital asks that we leave them in the t-shirt and diaper (and swaddle blanket) while they are there, so I just bring a going-home outfit/blanket (since it will be chilly!).

I will probably throw a burp cloth in my bag, just in case for the ride home.

The only other thing I liked having was a Boppy for breast feeding while in the hospital.

CGOODPAS · December 2014

We actually just packed our bag this weekend and I spent way too much time looking online at lists of what to bring!

In the end I followed the list I got in my packet from our hospital and packed a going home outfit. (I actually packed 2 in different sizes in case the baby is bigger or smaller than we anticipate), a picture outfit, two receiving blankets, car seat canopy and extra blanket (we live in Indiana and I'm worried about snow or very cold weather), a hat, and booties. Our hospital let us know they supply everything else the baby needs including spare diapers and wipes for the trip home.

HailsMom · December 2014

I know most hospitals supply wipes, but ours gives you these paper towel like wipes that you have to wet with water. They sucked, they were thick and difficult to use, and you had to sit there and wait for the water to warm up so they weren't freezing. I'm planning on taking some baby wipes for this reason.

Angeldcf · December 2014

Carseat & going home outfit. Less is more.

Our hospital provides everything else (clothes, diapers, wipes, pacis, lotion, swaddle blankets, etc).

SaraL1175 · December 2014

My hospital is "baby friendly" (read: breastfeeding nazis). I thought that would be cool, but realized with my last baby that meant NO BINKY. I wanted one for the 20 minute car ride home, and they refused to give it to me. They said I had to provide my own (which I hadn't packed). This was all going down as we were trying to roll out the door. 5th baby and first time I had ever encountered such a policy (first time I delivered there).

So--if you want a binky (just in case bubs needs a little something for the car ride home), check with your hospital in advance. You might need to pack one!

t8keepr03 · December 2014

Our hospital puts baby in a T-shirt and swaddles them in a blanket. I will bring a couple onesies and sleepers for baby to wear in the hospital because I feel like he/she will be cold. I will bring a going home outfit with my own matching hat. I will also bring his/her baby blanket.

As far as supplies go, my hospital provides diapers. The wipes are like paper towel type things that you have to get wet. Therefore, I will bring my own wipes this time. I will also bring my own pacifiers because the hospital does not provide these. Baby might want this for the trip home. I also took my Boppy pillow last time and was so glad to have it. It was great for just holding DD.

psychobutthead · December 2014

IDK what my hospital provides. But with DD all they provided was diapers and wipes.

They didn't have any kind of clothing or hats for them to wear. So because of that I will probably just bring some sleepers and hats for him to stay in so hes not cold and two blankets for leaving the hospital.

candiejustinian · December 2014

Don't forget about yourself too. Pack with your instincts. Are you familiar with any recent mom's that have given birth in that hospital? That's how I know what I'm taking.

cls78 · December 2014

I just took the hospital tour yesterday and the nurse said really all you need is a outfit to take them home in and a blanket to cover them up with for when in the car seat.

cinderella4282 · December 2014

Definitely check with your hospital. Ours specifically asks you to use their blankets and clothing while in the hospital because they don't want to lose anything that is yours in the laundry.

With DD we brought a blanket for home, the car seat, and a going home outfit. A nuk might not be a bad idea if you plan on using one.

morriskm1000 · December 2014

I have to say I'm a bit envious of you ladies have been told not to bring anything. I'm delivering in Toronto and I've been told they are providing nothing. No diapers, no pads I've even been told to bring my own pillow. That's free health care for you

SaraL1175 · December 2014

morriskm1000 said:
I have to say I'm a bit envious of you ladies have been told not to bring anything. I'm delivering in Toronto and I've been told they are providing nothing. No diapers, no pads I've even been told to bring my own pillow. That's free health care for you

Since baby and I will each have a $600 deductible plus 10% co insurance thereafter, I'm still jealous. Our bill will be close to $2000, you can buy a pretty nice set of pillows for that.

jknallen · December 2014

morriskm1000 said:
I have to say I'm a bit envious of you ladies have been told not to bring anything. I'm delivering in Toronto and I've been told they are providing nothing. No diapers, no pads I've even been told to bring my own pillow. That's free health care for you

I'm delivering in Burlington for the third time and it's the same. I have to bring clothes for myself and baby while at the hospital as well as wipes and diapers and of course stuff to take them home in.

I'd rather that any day than have to pay a single penny to have my baby.

MrsScally13 · December 2014

I think the other ladies on here have done a fabulous job answering this but I will add my 2 cents anyway. ;-)

After over packing for DS1 with DS2 I'm bring a boppy, going home outfit, a hat from my dad, and a blanket my late grandmother-in-law (whom I never got to meet) and aunt-in-law made for hubby's babies. Technically I'm also bringing like 10-20 other outfits (hand me downs from DS1 rock!) but they will stay in the car, they are in case I stay with my mom after the hospital (50-50 so I figure it's easier to bring them than send hubby to get my super specific requests).

If you are delivering in a US hospital they really do set you up with everything you will need after baby comes. If you are at a birth centre (where I was suppose to be with DS1) you need to bring more (hence why I over packed for my hospital birth).

That being said with DS1 what I was happiest to have with me for me was my laptop and a few DVDs/i-tunes movies, toiletries (my own shampoo, conditioner, body wash, razor, facecloth, and towel), a pillow from home, and finally a black maternity house dress. I was BIGGER AFTER BIRTH bc of a long long long labor and then an emergency c-section which led to crazy water retention so my yoga pants didn't work.

Hope my rambling helps. :-)

jdzevans · December 2014

My hospital gave us a short list: car seat, going home outfit, receiving blanket, and a baby book (to record events and for hand/footprints).

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