Packing for Baby - Hospital Bag Version

[MrsMB]

So I've got MY stuff packed for the hospital based on others' recommendations and this board. Tonight, I wanted to pack up HER things....seeing as how I washed everything over the weekend.

Hospital says "Just bring yourself and a car seat. We will have xyz." I have some hesitation there. I'm know they'll have diapers and such....but I'm pretty sure I should bring some things.

What did you/are you packing for baby? I know I'm bringing:

* Going Home Outfit

* Onesies-NB and 0-3 (How many of Each?)

* Swaddles (Hubby's Requested some in particular that we got from showers. I think it's sweet.)

* I have a frame for her hand and footprint. The kit doesn't require ink (or something) and can be done from home according to the instructions. Is it necessary to bring? I know so many people who bring the pages to the hospital for this.

* Is her baby book necessary to bring?

I don't want to over pack either....

[tarajane]

I just brought a few outfits and that's all I needed.

I wouldn't bring too much as you'll have to lug it all home plus baby and extra baby hospital stuff (the diapers, etc).

And camera! But I'm guessing that's with your stuff.

[booboo173]

I'm only bringing a going home newborn and 3 month outfit since I'm not sure of size. I did not dress the baby it he Hospital with DS1 just had him wear the hospital onsie and their blanket swaddle.
I'll bring a pacifier in case I want one and real wipes since the ones they give you are not good.

[Deleted]

I'm packing an empty bag in which to put all the things the hospital gives me. Also, I plan to add a blanket for use in the car (not sure how cold it is where you are), a warm hat (I don't think the thin one from the hospital will cut it if it's 20 degrees), some muslin swaddle blankies, and going home clothes including newborn and 3m onesies and cotton sleepers, and a fleece suit that is car seat-safe. Also I think I'll bring my Boppy.

I don't plan to bring a baby book or any of that stuff. I'll deal with that at home when we're settled in.

[D2M]

I think you're covered. You'll get diapers, wipes, etc. there, and my hospital had socks/hats/kimono-style shirts. Good call on bringing your own swaddles. I couldn't figure out the swaddling blankets at the hospital. The velcro or Miracle Blanket styles are idiot proof. What about breastfeeding stuff if you're planning to nurse? A My Breast Friend? (I actually didn't use this at the hospital because the sides of the bed got in the way, but plenty of people find it useful.) Nipple cream or Lanolin?

[jd15]

an empty bag is a brillant idea @moonbeam - i am totally doing that!

for baby i will just bring a going home outfit. i'll use what the hospital has while we are there.

definitely something for your nipples if you plan to bf - i expected them to have stuff there the first time around but that was not the case.

i need to get on this.

[Deleted]

I wouldn't bring the frame or baby book.

[MrsMB]

Dec 1, 2015 12:33:41 GMT -5 D2M said:

I think you're covered. You'll get diapers, wipes, etc. there, and my hospital had socks/hats/kimono-style shirts. Good call on bringing your own swaddles. I couldn't figure out the swaddling blankets at the hospital. The velcro or Miracle Blanket styles are idiot proof. What about breastfeeding stuff if you're planning to nurse? A My Breast Friend? (I actually didn't use this at the hospital because the sides of the bed got in the way, but plenty of people find it useful.) Nipple cream or Lanolin?

Yes, I've got the BF items in there for me for sure.

@moonbeam I've got a blanket/car seat cover since it will be somewhat cold(er) for her and an empty bag. I think you or someone posted that earlier so it definitely made the list for my items for sure.

I've got a whole ton of stuff in there for me so this is good to know I don't need to go crazy! I neglected to mention DH and I discussed doing a hat for her ride home as part of her going home outfit so we'll be good there.

[roo1oo]

You should only need a going home outfit, hat/socks, maybe a thicker blanket for while in the car seat, and the car seat. They will have EVERYTHING for the baby while you're there. You just need clothes to get them home.

My hospital also had everything I needed for breastfeeding/pumping, but they did not have boppy pillows or anything like that so it may be worth it to bring. You can leave a bunch of stuff in the car and have DH run out and get it if you need it.

And definitely pack a couple reusable shopping bags to take stuff home with you. They'll let you take all the non-fabric stuff. So diapers, wipes, thermometer, nose sucker, pad sickles, tucks etc.

[boiler717]

What did you put in your hospital bag? I don't have mine done yet!

[Deleted]

Dec 1, 2015 13:42:56 GMT -5 boiler717 said:

What did you put in your hospital bag? I don't have mine done yet!

I didn't pack mine yet, but here is my list:

Robe
Socks
Underwear (which will be granny panties)
(Nursing?) bras
Slippers
Loose-fitting sweats, t-shirts, hoodie
Eye drops
Water bottle, snacks
Camera
Hairbrush, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, shower cap
Hair elastics
Pads
Boppy
Lanolin
Regular pillow?
Towel
Mints

ETA:  Maybe some makeup and travel-size hairdryer as well

[polarbearfans]

Take her baby book for foot prints!

The only other things we needed were her going home outfit, unless I wanted to use the clothes the hospital had for her, and the car seat.


The hospital really had everything we both needed. We got sent home with tons of extras for me and the baby.

[speyedr]

What we brought for both girls:

Going home outfit. One NB and one 0-3. Our two 8+ lb babies wore NB for a few weeks.
Foot print page from baby book
A few extra onsies
Car seat.

I didn't use a nursing pillow, they have plenty of extra pillows. They had diapers, wipes, hats, blankets, lanolin for your nipples, pacifiers, bath supplies for baby.

[Susie]

We didn't pack a lot for Hobbes, and what we brought, Calvin brought in later - not when I was in labor/being admitted.  We basically just brought her diaper bag, with a hat, one NB outfit and one 0-3m outfit for her to wear home depending on size, diapers and wipes just in case of need, a paci just in case, car seat, and car seat cover.  We really only used the NB outfit and car seat, and didn't need anything until it was time to go home.  The hospital provided all the blankets, shirts, diapers, wipes, Soothie paci, pump and pump parts, etc. that she needed.

She was in the NICU for two of her 2.5 days there, so she was only wearing a diaper.  Even before she was admitted to the NICU, she just wore the hospital hats, shirts, and swaddle blankets. Babies need to be changed so frequently at first that dealing with outfits would be a PITA.  Plus I didn't need to be dealing with meconium poop on her cute outfits.  The hospital had all the Pampers Swaddlers we could need, although I agree with a pp that the hospital's wipes kind of suck, especially for dealing with the meconium poop.  

I would leave all the paper stuff, books, and frames, at home.  It's not like her hands/feet will change much between birth and arriving home  Hobbes just "officially" exceeded her birth weight at today's pedi app't, at 15 days old.

[MrsMB]

Dec 1, 2015 13:42:56 GMT -5 boiler717 said:

What did you put in your hospital bag? I don't have mine done yet!

Way too much

Let me see if I can type it.

[boiler717]

For the baby I was planning on bringing the stocked diaper bag (just because I want it already stocked for the first pedi appt) with two outfits (different sizes), a just in case Christmas outfit, A+A blanket, hat/mittens/booties, car seat cover, and car seat.

[sailorgray]

Definitely take your Boppy. I would have been lost without mine.  Plus, it was nice having something from home that my other guy used  

[roo1oo]

Dec 1, 2015 13:48:20 GMT -5 @moonbeam said:

Dec 1, 2015 13:42:56 GMT -5 boiler717 said:

What did you put in your hospital bag? I don't have mine done yet!

I didn't pack mine yet, but here is my list:

Robe
Socks
Underwear (which will be granny panties)
(Nursing?) bras
Slippers
Loose-fitting sweats, t-shirts, hoodie
Eye drops
Water bottle, snacks
Camera
Hairbrush, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, shower cap
Hair elastics
Pads
Boppy
Lanolin
Regular pillow?
Towel
Mints

ETA:  Maybe some makeup and travel-size hairdryer as well

Just a suggestion, leave the pads at home. The hospital will have plenty for you. Also, underwear - they'll give you mesh thingies to keep good air flow down there. They probably won't let you wear normal underwear until your discharged. Plus they get ruined, so better to ruin the ones the hospital gives you than the ones you paid for. 

Same thing for any cloth thing you bring. You may, uh, get bodily fluids on it and want to throw it away after the stay so make sure it isn't your favorite pillow/towel/robe. 

Definitely bring makeup and a travel sized hairdryer. The after labor shower is sooooo great and when you go home you'll want to feel partly human. 

[frozentoes]

I agree with everything roo1oo said. I didn't use half the stuff I brought because they had everything there. Just a going home outfit for her and boppy plus yoga pants/nursing tops/nursing bras for me.

Then again if it makes you feel better to have it all packed, go for it!