Hospital Bag

Hospital Bag Checklist for Mom and Baby: Shop Essentials Online

Labour rarely starts at a convenient time. It might be 4 am, in the middle of a family function, or the day before you’d planned to finish packing. When it does, you won’t want to be hunting for your phone charger or a clean nightgown. A packed hospital bag, sitting by the door, takes one big worry off your mind.

At Mee Mee, we’ve put together the things most moms end up needing during a hospital stay, all in one place. That includes a nursing bra, a postpartum support belt, baby wipes, a carry nest for the ride home, and a diaper backpack with enough pockets to hold it all. Use this hospital bag checklist to figure out what you already have and what you still need.

“Every mom we talk to says the same thing. The bag you pack for the hospital is really the first bag you pack as a parent.” - Team Mee Mee

When Should You Start Preparing Your Hospital Bag?

Most doctors suggest having your bag ready by week 36. If you’re expecting twins, have a high-risk pregnancy, or live far from the hospital, start around week 32. Babies don’t always wait for the due date, and the last few weeks can be tiring. Packing early also gives you time to order anything you’re missing.

Start with a list. Add things over a week or two rather than packing everything in one evening. Ask your hospital what they provide, since many give gowns, sanitary pads, and a few baby basics. That way, you won’t carry things you don’t need.

Build the Bag Around Three Simple Groups

The easiest way to pack is to split things into three groups: what you need, what your baby needs, and what you need for the stay itself. Some moms use three separate pouches inside one bag. Others keep a small bag for the labour room and a bigger one for the ward.

For Mom:

Pack two or three loose, front-opening nighties or kurtas that make feeding easy. Add a soft nursing bra like our wire-free padded cotton bra from our maternity lingerie range, and a pack of breast pads for leaks. Take maternity pads, a few pairs of large cotton underwear, slippers, a shawl or stole, a hair tie, lip balm, and basic toiletries. Many moms also pack a postpartum support belt like our Pre and Post Natal Maternity Corset Belt. If you’ve had a C-section, ask your doctor before you start wearing one.

For Baby:

Your newborn will need four to five soft cotton outfits or jhablas, a cap, mittens, and socks. Pack two or three swaddle cloths, a pack of newborn baby diapers, and gentle baby wipes like our aloe vera wet wipes. If you think you might need one, keep a baby feeding bottle handy, like our Milk-Safe steel bottle with an anti-colic teat. For the trip home, a cushioned baby carry nest keeps your baby warm and snug in the car.

For the Hospital Stay:

This is the group people forget. Keep your hospital file, ID proof, insurance card, and any scan reports in one folder at the top of the bag. Add phone chargers, a power bank, some cash, a water bottle with a straw, light snacks, and a change of clothes for your partner. If your hospital has mosquitoes, natural mosquito repellent patches from our mosquito repellents & nets range can help, especially during the monsoon.

What Should You Check Before Packing Your Hospital Bag?

Go through this hospital bag checklist for mom and baby a week or two before your due date. Tick off what’s packed and order what’s missing.

Make Your Hospital Bag Easy to Find, Not Just Full

A bag that’s stuffed to the top isn’t much help if no one can find anything in it. Your partner or mother will probably be the one digging through it while you’re in the labour room. Put documents in the outside pocket. Pack baby clothes in a zip pouch so they stay clean. Keep a labelled pouch for the first outfit your baby will wear.

A bag with lots of compartments makes this much easier. Our Multipurpose Diaper Backpack has 12 pockets, including an insulated pocket for a bottle, so you can sort everything properly. Once you’re home, it becomes your everyday diaper bag. Tell one person in the family exactly where the bag is kept, and keep it by the door from week 36.

From Hospital to Home With Mee Mee

The hospital stay is only a couple of days. What comes after is the real start. Once you’re home, you’ll keep reaching for the same things: diapers, wipes, a comfortable bra, breast pads and a safe place for your baby to sleep. You’ll find all of these in our maternity products range and our baby sleeping products, along with everyday baby care products. Mee Mee has been helping Indian families get ready for their new baby since 2006.