A short guide from an experienced mom on packing your maternity bag! According to my experience with what to take to the maternity ward, it’s very simple. But for first-time moms it can be a bit complicated. So I’ll list the main items, and you can adjust them according to your preferences.

Usually, you stay 2 to 3 days in the maternity ward if you have a C-section, and if you have a vaginal delivery it’s 1 to 2 days1. So, anticipating this timeframe, I put together a maternity bag checklist to help. But keep in mind the useful tip that each outfit change should be packed in its own little bag. Besides keeping things clean, it really helps when changing the baby or when asking a companion to find a specific outfit. It’s also a good idea to label the outfit changes as first, second, etc. Here we go:

Clothes and diapers

4 outfit changes for the baby, with:

  • 1 onesie, 1 bodysuit, 1 pair of pants or footed pants, 1 pair of socks, 1 diaper (organized by day in a bag)
  • 2 blankets if it’s summer, or if it’s winter, 1 blanket and 1 thicker cover
  • Mittens and a hat if it’s cold
  • 4 burp cloths
  • 2 cloth diapers
  • 2 towel diapers (those towels with a soft diaper lining inside that don’t hurt the baby’s skin)
  • If you think it’s necessary, also bring spare items—2 of each, for example, 2 bodysuits, 2 pairs of pants, and 1 extra onesie for emergencies.
  • Going home outfit with onesie and blanket

Hygiene items

Hygiene:

  • Head-to-toe liquid soap
  • Cotton swabs (separate some in those ziplock bags you find at the supermarket or put them in a small, clean box)
  • 70% alcohol
  • Wet wipes (preferably hypoallergenic ones)
  • 1 pack of newborn diapers
  • Pacifier. This is really optional, but I confess that it helped me a lot in the maternity ward!
  • 1 plastic bag for dirty clothes
  • 1 changing mat
  • 2 swaddle blankets

IMPORTANT: Usually, maternity wards provide a list of required items on the day of your visit. This list may vary from one ward to another, so be sure to ask. This will save you a headache figuring out what’s really necessary and avoid you bringing a huge number of bags.

Other items to take besides the maternity bag

Infant car seat in the car for the trip home, as well as souvenirs along with a maternity door sign, and for girls, maybe a headband if you like—but don’t get too excited. Remember, if you forget something, your husband, family, or friends can always get it for you, and there are always pharmacies near maternity wards.

Ladies, I’ve noticed that many moms have doubts about what to pack for the hospital, but my experience has taught me a lot about this topic. So, what to put in the maternity bag, how do you pack a maternity bag without overpacking or missing anything your baby or you might need for those days in the hospital?

Which season will your baby be born?

The first step is to know when your baby will be born2, whether it’ll be in cold weather or warm weather—that is, winter, summer, or mid-season. If it’s winter, invest in plush and woolen clothes that are warmer, but if it’s hot, go for lighter knit clothes, or cotton. The second step is to check with the hospital where the baby will be born. They’ll probably have a list giving you guidance on what to bring.

This is the basics, and believe me, adjust as needed, but remember, it’s only 2 or 3 days that go by in a flash. Unless you’re having your baby far from home, there’s no need to fill up the hospital room with things that will just take up space and you probably won’t even use, ok?

Readers’ questions:

How to organize the maternity bag?

Organization will depend on the season your baby is born, so separate the clothes needed to dress and assemble each kit. To make things easier for you and for the nurses (if that’s how the hospital does it), organize each outfit set with bodysuit, socks, pants, onesie, and diaper.

Depending on the temperature, you can swap out or remove pieces to suit your needs. To separate the kits, you can use clear plastic bags or even cute TNT bags. In the bag, organize things so the clothes don’t get wrinkled and put the hygiene items in the bag’s compartments so they don’t get mixed up. It’s always best to put liquids in a sealed bag to prevent spills and messes.

How to choose the maternity bag?

Usually moms go for famous characters, brands, or choose by how beautiful the bag looks and forget to check the main thing: how functional the bag is!

The maternity bag should have compartment dividers, plenty of space to organize clothes, and fit all necessary items for the hospital stay like diapers, ointment, 70% alcohol, and anything else the hospital requests. However, you don’t need a whole set of bags. Just one big bag and a toiletry case is enough. That way, you’ll carry fewer things later, more comfortably. Prefer backpacks—they’re great. Also, check the bag’s weight. I had this exact problem, my bag was too heavy! So I only used it in the hospital, what a shame.

When to pack the maternity bag?

Even if you’re really eager and anxious to get everything ready, there’s no need to rush. It’s best to have everything prepared from 32 weeks onwards. Generally, having it all set two months in advance is enough to be ready for the big day and not forget anything.

See also: What to Pack in the Mom’s Maternity Bag?