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Medically reviewed by [Name, credentials] on [date].
This article is for general information and is not medical advice. Every pregnancy and every baby is different, so talk with your own doctor or midwife about your situation. If you think you or your baby need urgent care, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Read our medical disclaimer.
Most doctors and midwives suggest having your bag packed by about 36 weeks. Babies don’t read due dates, and the last thing you want in early labor is a husband running through the house looking for phone chargers.
This list is split into three bags: one for mom, one for dad, and one for baby. We have kept it practical. Hospitals provide more than most people expect, so we have also listed what you can leave at home.
Before you pack: the three things that matter most
- The car seat. You cannot leave the hospital without one. Install it rear-facing by 36 weeks, and have it checked by a certified child passenger safety technician (many fire stations and hospitals offer free checks).
- Your paperwork. Photo ID, insurance card, and any pre-registration forms. If your hospital offers pre-registration, do it now.
- Your birth plan. Two or three printed copies. If you have not written one yet, see our guide to a birth plan that honors your faith.
For Mom
Labor and delivery
- Photo ID, insurance card and hospital paperwork
- Birth plan (two or three printed copies)
- A dark-colored robe or open-front gown, if you would rather not wear the hospital’s
- Non-slip socks or slippers
- Lip balm (hospital air is very dry)
- Hair ties and a headband
- Glasses and contact lens case, if you wear them
- A water bottle with a bendy straw
- Any regular medications, in their original bottles
- A birth ball or peanut ball, if your hospital does not provide one
Postpartum recovery
- Comfortable high-waisted postpartum underwear (the hospital gives you mesh ones, but many women prefer their own after the first day)
- Nursing bras or soft sleep bras (two)
- Nursing pads
- Nipple cream
- A pair of loose pajamas or nursing pajamas
- A going-home outfit that fits at about 6 months pregnant
- Toiletries: toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, face wash, moisturizer
- Peri bottle (the hospital usually gives one, but an angled one is a big improvement)
- Your own pillow, in a colored pillowcase so it does not get mixed up with the hospital’s
For Dad
Husbands, you will likely be there for one to three days, sleeping on a fold-out chair. Pack as if for a long, uncomfortable trip.
Dad’s bag
- Phone and a long charging cable (outlets are never near the bed)
- A change of clothes for each day, plus something comfortable to sleep in
- Toiletries and any medications
- A sweatshirt (delivery rooms are kept cold)
- Snacks and drinks for you both: protein bars, nuts, crackers, electrolyte drinks
- Cash or cards for vending machines and parking
- A list of people to call, and who will make which calls
- A small Bluetooth speaker for music
- A pen for the paperwork
For Baby
Baby’s bag
- Infant car seat, installed in the car before 36 weeks
- A going-home outfit in newborn size and one in 0–3 months (you won’t know which fits until you meet them)
- A hat and socks or footed sleeper
- A warm blanket or car seat cover for the trip home, if it is cold (put blankets over the harness, never under it)
- Swaddle blankets (the hospital provides these, but your own are nice for photos)
The hospital will provide diapers, wipes, newborn shirts, hats and swaddles during your stay, so you don’t need to pack those.
Faith items worth bringing
These take up almost no room, and many couples say they were glad to have them.
Faith items
- A small icon or crucifix to keep at the bedside
- A rosary, prayer rope or chotki
- A pocket prayer book with prayers for labor and for a newborn
- Your priest’s phone number, in case you need it
- A small bottle of holy water, if you keep it at home
In your tradition: prayers in labor
CatholicMany mothers pray the Rosary during early labor, or ask the intercession of Saint Gerard Majella, patron of expectant mothers, and Saint Gianna Beretta Molla.
OrthodoxPrayers to the Theotokos, the Jesus Prayer, and an akathist to the Theotokos “Helper in Childbirth” are traditional. Some families bring an icon of that name.
AnglicanThe Psalms are a natural companion in labor. Psalm 121 (“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills”) and Psalm 23 are favorites, along with the prayers for a woman in childbirth in your prayer book.
What to leave at home
- Jewelry and valuables
- A full makeup bag
- Lots of baby clothes (you will only need one or two outfits)
- Diapers and wipes (the hospital provides them)
- Books and a laptop (you will be busier and more tired than you expect)
A note on C-sections
If you have a planned cesarean, or end up having one, a few extra things help:
- High-waisted underwear that does not touch the incision
- A belly binder, if your provider recommends one
- Loose nightgowns instead of pajama pants
- Slip-on shoes, since bending will be hard for a few days
Our picks
We will be reviewing the most important items on this list in detail. For now, here is what to look for in the one item you cannot do without.
What to look for
An infant car seat
Every car seat sold in the US must pass the same federal crash standards, so a higher price does not mean a safer seat. Choose one that fits your car, is easy for both of you to install correctly, and has not expired or been in a crash.
What we like
- Light enough to carry
- Clear level indicator for installation
- Base you can leave in the car
Keep in mind
- Never buy used unless you know its full history
- Check the expiration date on the label
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Print this list
When you are packing, take it one bag at a time, and pack together. It is a good way to slow down and talk about what is coming. Some couples finish by saying a short prayer over the bags by the door.
When the time comes, see our guide to what husbands can do during labor, and then the first forty days at home.
