Your bag
Pack by Feb 1, 2027 (week 36). Weather on your due date: all seasons shown.
How long you'll stay
US group health plans that cover maternity care must pay for at least a 48-hour hospital stay after a vaginal birth and 96 hours after a C-section. So pack for 2 to 4 days. Source: US Department of Labor on the Newborns’ Act.
For you
Photo ID and insurance card
The hospital asks for both at check-in. Keep them in an outside pocket.
Hospital paperwork
Any forms your hospital sent, and your birth preferences if you wrote some down.
Phone and a long charging cable
Outlets are not always near the bed.
Comfortable clothes2 to 3 changes
Loose, soft, and front-opening if you plan to breastfeed.
A nursing or soft bra1 to 2
Comfort matters more than fit in the first days.
UnderwearSeveral pairs
Soft and high-waisted, which is kinder after a C-section.
Slippers or socks with grip1 pair
Hospital floors are cold and slippery.
A warm robe or cardigan1
For walking the halls and visitors.
Toiletries
Toothbrush, lip balm, hair ties, glasses or contacts, and a small towel if you like your own.
Any medicines you take
Ask your doctor which to bring and how the hospital wants them handled.
Snacks and a water bottle
For after the birth. Ask your hospital what you can eat during labor.
Your going-home outfit1
Loose and comfortable, like what you wore in late pregnancy.
For your baby
Infant car seat, installed and checked1, rear-facing
Install it before your due date. The AAP suggests having a certified child passenger safety technician check it before your baby is born.
Going-home outfit1, plus a spare
In Newborn and 0–3 month sizes, since you won’t know which fits until you meet.
Thin warm layers and a blanket for over the straps
Skip the puffy snowsuit in the car seat. The AAP says dress your baby in thin layers and put a blanket over the buckled harness.
A soft knit hat1
For the walk to the car.
A light, covering outfit and a brimmed hat
The AAP advises keeping babies under 6 months out of direct and indirect sun.
A light layer for the car1
A thin cardigan or blanket over the harness if the air is cool.
Socks or booties1 to 2 pairs
If the outfit has no feet.
Diapers and wipes for the ride homeA few
Ask your hospital what it provides during your stay.
For your support person
A change of clothes1 to 2
Labor can be long, and the stay can be 2 to 4 days.
Snacks, a water bottle, and some change for vending machines
Cafeteria hours rarely match labor.
Phone charger and a pillow
Hospital recliners are better with your own pillow.
Any medicines they take
Easy to forget when you leave in a hurry.
Leave at home
Jewelry and valuables
Less to keep track of. Leave rings and anything precious at home.
A whole wardrobe for the baby
One outfit and a spare is plenty.
Lots of cash
A card and a little change is enough.
Before you go
Packing the bag is one step in your Due-Date Plan, along with having the car seat checked and setting up the sleep space. For the going-home outfit and what comes after, the onesies and sleepers calculator works out sizes by season.
This checklist is for packing. For anything about labor, your health or your baby's, ask your doctor, midwife or hospital.