What to pack in your hospital bag
By The Zomee Team · Updated September 25, 2026 · 4 min read
Pack your ID and insurance card, your phone and a long charging cable, comfortable clothes, toiletries, and a few feeding supplies. For your baby, pack a going-home outfit and a receiving blanket, and install the car seat before you leave for the hospital.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends having your bag packed before your ninth month. Ask your hospital which supplies it provides during your stay. Leave those at home.
Paperwork and your phone
Keep your photo ID, insurance card, and your provider's name together in one pouch. Put it at the top of the bag.
Add a written list of your medications, doses, and allergies, and copies of your birth plan if you have one.
Pack your phone, the longest charging cable you own, and a wall adapter.
Clothes and comfort
Bring your own pillow in a colored or patterned pillowcase to tell it apart from the hospital's. Add nonskid socks or slippers and a robe.
Pack the toiletries you'd bring for a night away, plus lip balm and hair ties. Add a few snacks for after the birth.
If you'd rather not wear a hospital gown, pack a nightgown or pajamas that open in the front for nursing. For the ride home, pack loose clothes, such as sweatpants or a maternity outfit you wore mid-pregnancy.
If your feet and ankles swell, pack a pair of our Maternity Compression Socks. Their graduated compression can help reduce swelling.
What should I pack for feeding?
A nursing bra, nursing pads, and a nipple cream, if you plan to breastfeed.
La Leche League International says that in the first three to five days, soreness beyond slight tenderness when your baby latches may signal a problem with latch, position, or suck. Changing the latch or position often helps. If feeding hurts, ask your nurse whether a lactation consultant (IBCLC) can watch a feed.
Our Lanolin Nipple Cream can help soothe dry, cracked nipples. It's 100% pure lanolin, and you don't need to wipe it off before nursing.
What does my baby need for the ride home?
A going-home outfit, a receiving blanket, and a car seat. Pack the outfit in two sizes, newborn and 0 to 3 months.
Check the car seat's label for its weight limits. The American Academy of Pediatrics says the seat should be approved for typical newborn weights, or for babies under 5 pounds if you're having multiples or expect an early birth.
Install it rear-facing in the back seat, ideally in the middle, and never in front of an air bag. The academy also recommends having a trained professional check the installation.
In cold weather, the academy says any blanket goes over the harness straps, after you buckle your baby in.
Our fourth-trimester checklist covers your first weeks at home.
The full list
Have these ready before your ninth month:
- Paperwork: photo ID, insurance card, your provider's name, a list of your medications, doses, and allergies, and your birth plan, if you have one
- Phone: the longest charging cable you own and a wall adapter
- Comfort: your own pillow in a colored pillowcase, nonskid socks or slippers, a robe, toiletries, lip balm, hair ties, and snacks for after the birth
- Clothes: a nightgown or pajamas that open in the front, compression socks if your feet swell, and loose clothes for the ride home
- Breastfeeding: a nursing bra, nursing pads, nipple cream, and a nursing cover if you want privacy with visitors
- Baby: a going-home outfit in two sizes, a receiving blanket, and a car seat installed rear-facing in your back seat
Where to get help
For pump, sizing, parts, and support questions, call The Mom Line™ at 1-888-662-7159. Real moms and certified lactation consultants answer it.
After you're home, a lactation consultant (IBCLC) can help with feeding or supply concerns. For pain, fever, or questions about your baby's weight or diapers, call your provider.
Questions moms ask
When should I pack my hospital bag?
Before your ninth month. That's the timing the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends. If your care team expects your baby early, pack when they suggest.
Do I need a car seat to leave the hospital?
Yes. Before you go home, hospital staff will ask whether you have a rear-facing car seat installed in your back seat. The American Academy of Pediatrics says all U.S. hospitals check.
What should my baby wear home from the hospital?
One more layer than you're wearing, a rule of thumb from the American Academy of Pediatrics. In cold weather, that could be an undershirt and diaper, pajamas, and a soft cap. Above about 75°F, you can dress your baby in a single layer.
Can I get my breast pump before the baby comes?
If you're buying it yourself, yes. Through insurance, it depends on your plan. The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that some insurance companies let you order an electric breast pump in advance, so call your plan's member services number to ask.
