Packing your hospital bag

Your hospital bag is your lifeline during labour and your stay on the postnatal ward, however long (or short!) that may be. It’s where you’ll keep everything you need for birth, recovery, and those precious first hours with your baby.

Personally, I knew I was going to be induced, so I came prepared! The midwife advised that an induction could take up to four days, so I had a full backup bag stashed in the car, and I’m so glad I did. Trust me, when it comes to hospital stays, it’s always better to be overprepared than caught short (especially utilising the car!)

At Listely, we’ve created a smart, interactive to-do list to help guide you through life’s biggest milestones – and having a baby definitely qualifies! Our dedicated baby checklist is split into five sections:

• The Pregnancy To-Do List
• The Shopping List
• The Hospital Bag List
• First 8 Weeks List
• The Glossary

But we don’t just throw a list at you and leave you to figure it out. Each item comes with helpful advice explaining why you might need it, plus product recommendations to take the guesswork out of decision-making. We're all about giving you real, practical support, not just ticking boxes.

Our hospital bag checklist is tailored to your birth plan and feeding preferences, making sure it’s as useful and personal as possible. And to help you get started, here are five top tips we’ve learned (sometimes the hard way!) when it comes to packing:

5 Top Tips for Packing Your Hospital Bag

Divide your packing into four separate bags:

• One for your birth partner (think snacks, water, charger, and their essentials)
• One for labour
• One for after birth
• One for baby

It keeps everything organised and easy to find when you’re in the thick of it.

Get your birth partner to repack the bags
That way, they’ll know exactly where everything is when you need it – no rummaging around in a panic.

Keep spares in the car
Delivery rooms and postnatal wards aren’t known for being spacious. Take just what you need into hospital, and leave the extra supplies in the boot for easy access later.

Pack a mini bottle of your favourite-smelling shower gel
Your first shower after birth will be next level – having something that smells amazing is a small touch that makes a big difference.

Charge all your devices in advance
You’ve made the perfect labour playlist... but don’t forget to charge your speaker! Same goes for phones, headphones, tablets – whatever you’re bringing.

Here’s a sneak peek of what’s on our hospital bag list… 

• Snacks and Essentials
• For Labour
• For Labour - Clothes
• For Labour - Other Things
• For You - Clothes
• For You - Toiletries
• For You - Shower Toiletries
• Feeding
• The Baby
• Heading to Hospital
• Car Spare
• Not hospital-needed but home-needed

We’ve included 110 carefully considered items, including things to pack and just as importantly, what not to pack. The "don’t bother" list is there to save you from lugging unnecessary extras – because the last thing you need is to be tripping over stuff you won’t use.

Packing your hospital bag doesn’t need to be overwhelming. With a bit of planning (and Listely on your side), you’ll feel calm, prepared and ready for whatever comes your way.

Want the full list? Check out Listely’s baby hub and start building your perfect checklist today