Good Morning!
We are getting close to my due date it feels like it’s just around the corner but still so far away. I have a million things to still get together but we are getting everything done.
When it comes to packing my hospital bag this time around I know to pack different things. Things I forgot the first time around. I will also need to pack Little Miss an overnight bag. So many bags to pack lol.
Let’s get started!
Let’s start with baby!
Baby Bag
Baby is pretty simple. You want basically blankets, outfits, and pacifiers. The hospital provides a lot like diapers and wipes. We bring our own butt cream, Little Miss got a really bad rash from her first tar poop and the hospital bum cream was not working poor girl. A take home outfit is a right of passage its just for photos so if you lack space or time the hospital onsie will do. I was totally unprepared with Little Miss so she was only in hospital onesies the whole time. Make sure you have the car seat installed ready to go, or you will be doing it in the hospital parking garage. They will not let you leave unless this is installed correctly. Babies will cycle through pacifiers so bring a few different types if you can. Little Miss would only take the hospital provided ones and wanted to nothing to do with ours.
Mom Bag
Now on to Mom, you will need the most!
Again I felt so underprepared with my daughter. I am so thankful that the hospital had so many things I could use. You can use the normal hospital gown that works just as well. You can bring your own, those may be a little more comfortable. Just make sure they are nursing friendly. I really wish I would have brought one to change into instead of sitting in the same one I had at delivery.
A robe will be your best friend. I know a lot of moms that just hang out in a robe and their underwear. You will be so tired and layers while breastfeeding get hot. You are also constantly getting checked and drained sometimes you just don’t want to deal with layers.
AirPods were something I wish I had during nursing hours. Babies nurse for a while during the start, your milk is trying to come in and they are hungry. If you have AirPods you can listen to a podcast or some calming nature noises to pass the time. You can also have silence with you and your baby. It is also nice to have the AirPods for sleep. Hospitals are not quiet and you have people coming in and out constantly. Brandon and I switched off shifts so put on some white noise put on your sleep mask and get some sleep!
Of course have that nursing pillow it will not only be great for nursing but hospital pillows suck. They are basically paper. So your nursing pillow can double as your pillow.
Hair ties to keep your hair out of the way, babies like to grab, and I remember my hair always getting in the way during nursing. Also have a good nipple cream on hand. I know the hospital has these tiny tubes for you but I have huge boobs and I was out the first day. I also love this nipple cream! This cream is safe for consumption and it helped me when I got really bad chapped nips.
Of course nursing bras are a given, I owned zero with aria and wreck a lot of good bras just lifting them. Don’t be like me invest in at least 2. Also nursing pads…they are life saving. I used both disposable and washable and both worked the same. The washable kind were more comfortable and less wasteful but its extra laundry with a new baby.
I was gifted this Frida Postpartum kit from a family friend and it comes with a lot of things you need for delivery. It’s $99 but comes with a Peri Bottle, 4 Underwear, 4 Instant Ice Maxi Padsicles, Witch Hazel Pad Liners(24ct pack), Perineal Healing Foam, toiletry bag, and caddy. So it has your essentials. I love Frida products.
Last of all warm socks, and a belly band. The warm socks are a given, the belly band will help you with healing if you don’t have a c section. You have to let your incision area heal so this is mostly after a vaginal delivery.
Dad’s Bag
Dad/Partner doesn’t need a lot but he needs some things.
Men never need much. Hygiene kits, blankets, and snacks. They don’t get fed and at the time we didn’t have a cafeteria in our hospital so he had to leave to get food or he would finish my food. I eat kid sized portions and they always gave me huge amounts of food so there was usually enough to share. They will definitely need snacks though. For the both of you.
Now onto the kiddos who you are sending off to grandparents, siblings or wherever.
Overnight bag for kids
Of course, you need the essentials like clothes, pajamas, underwear and their hygiene care. I like to include money or a gift card for dinner one of the nights. As a thank you for watching my child.
I want to make sure she has her devices to keep her occupied for some of the day so I will be sending her with her iPad and headphones. That way if whoever is watching her needs to do some work or get on a phone call Aria is occupied and quiet. We have he iPad loaded with movies so she has our entire Disney library. We will also be sending her with some of her favorite toys, books and coloring books.
Little Miss cannot sleep without a certain stuffed animal so we will have to make sure to pack that incase she is overnight somewhere. We will also pack her nightlight and alarm clock so she gets a full nights sleep. What I love about this alarm clock is it turns green when its ok for her to get out of bed. Kids sometimes like to get antsy and wake up at 5 in the morning. Little Miss knows when the light is yellow she needs to go back to sleep and get more rest. When it’s green she can get up and get ready.
She is a huge snacker so of course I will be sending her with snacks. It’s also fun to give them something they don’t get much of at home to make it easier for them to be away. I will also include a few surprises for her like a new book, and a new toy or game. We have never been away from her so we want to make this process easier for her. I will be a wreck.
Bags I love
Now for the bags, I love the Freshly Picked bags for the kids. Baby boy will be packed up in my black Freshly Picked diaper bag, and Little Miss will be packed up in her brown Freshly Picked Bag. I will be packing in my iFly carryon luggage. I have so much to pack and last time my small duffel bag did not cut it.
