Find out what to pack in your hospital bag ready for labour and birth, including essentials for you and baby, all listed in a useful printable hospital bag checklist together with links to recommended products.

As you enter the third trimester of pregnancy and get closer to the arrival of your new baby, it's good to start thinking about packing your hospital bag…

PREPARING FOR BABY’S ARRIVAL

When to pack your bag?

Aim to have this ready by week 36 of your pregnancy (34 weeks if you're pregnant with twins). We recommend leaving your hospital notes on-top and returning them to the top of the bag each time you’re finished with them.

How many bags?

We recommend two bags: one for you and another for baby.  Our new fabric suitcases are perfect for packing baby's items.  Although we’ve made some suggestions for dad, leave him to pack his own bag, you’ve got enough to be thinking about! We’ve split the checklist into useful headings to make it easier to gather the items but remember if you scroll down you can opt to have a printable version of the checklist emailed to you with handy tick boxes.

For mum:

• Labour outfit – we recommend choosing a style with access to your chest so you can have skin-to-skin contact when baby arrives. You’ll also want something super soft and comfy.
• Water bottle with straw – it’s important to stay hydrated. Henrietta recommends “a bottle with straw so you can keep drinking even at the most intense moments!”
• Eye mask – we love Slip silk eye masks, as Fleur says “remember to pack a silk eye mask to block out the outside world. It helped me to get in the zone when hypnobirthing."
• Pillow - Fleur recommends taking a pillow "with a freshly laundered pillowcase that will feel reassuringly of home".
• Slides | Flip Flops
• Comfy Slippers
• Leggings + top – something super soft and comfortable.
• Pyjamas | Nightdress – we’ve been fans of If Only If Nightwear since we met Emily’s mum, Issy, in 2015. Romantic, beautiful nightwear that will bring you endless joy and comfort and be perfect for the first photos of you and baby.
• Robe – the weight of this will depend on the season/ country. Opt for a style that is light and soft against your skin.
• Cashmere socks – this may be surprising but your feet can get cold and this can slow down labour, so worth having a pair of socks packed.
• Bra | Feeding bra
• Large knickers x 4 – we recommend sizing up so they’re super easy to put on and are soft against your skin.
• Maternity pads
• Nursing Pads + nipple cream (if breast feeding)
• Lansinoh cold + warm compress
• Postpartum spray
• Outfit for leaving – again think of comfort and don’t opt for anything tight or restrictive. We’d recommend something simple but stylish that will make you feel good about yourself.

 Beauty | Toiletries:

• Toothbrush + toothpaste – Henrietta loves her Suri toothbrush. They are super light, remain charged for ages “I’ve only had to charge it twice in five months!" 
• Deodorant
• Hairbrush + Hairbands | Clips - we love La Bonne Brosse hairbrushes, they look really chic and are perfect for sensitive scalps. 
• Treaty bodywash – we recommend the Gel Lavant from the Belle Enfant Beauté range. Carefully formulated for babies so gentle enough to use when you're feeling sensitive. Lightly scented with our signature scent, L’eau de Belle Enfant, you can start making scent memories right away.
• Make up | Cosmetics - you may want to pack these in our beautiful toiletry bags.
• Lip balm
• Large towel – we recommend a super soft towel which is delicate on your skin. You’re going to feel sensitive and you’ll want everything to be soft and gentle.

For Baby:

• Sleepsuits x 4 – we both love a classic white sleepsuit, John Lewis or M&S are great places to pick these up.
• Vests x 4
• Hats x 4
• Socks x 4
• Going home outfit - we recommend our best-selling pointelle wrap top, legging and bonnet set in snow white.  Luxuriously soft and beautifully constructed this is perfect for baby's first outfit.

• Wipes | Cotton wool
• Nappies x 10
• Nappy cream | Mini bottle of olive oil – we’re big fans of Weleda, Henrietta also recommends olive oil. “My midwife suggested applying a thin layer of olive oil to baby’s bottom. This will mean when baby has their first meconium poo it will easily wipe away with cotton wool.  I used this hack with all three of my girls.”
• Nappy sacks
• Dummies – sterilised (optional)
• Muslins – we love these muslins which are made from soft, comforting and absorbent 100% cotton.
• Jumbo muslin | Swaddle – these are one of our favourite products. Made from soft, comforting and absorbent 100% cotton and super generous in size, their size makes them super versatile and perfect for swaddling baby.

• Blanket – we recommend our merino cashmere pointelle blanket. Generously sized and luxuriously soft the perfect first baby blanket.

General | Other:

• Birth plan, notes + medical records
• Journal + pen
• Pillow
• Birthing ball
• TENS machine + spare batteries
• Paracetamol
• Snacks + drinks
• Chocolates for staff

"I scented the operating theatre with the Belle Enfant scent when my son was born.. such special memories now." 

Francesca O.

For ambience:

• Candles + lighter (or battery powered)
• Essential oils | room spray (L’eau de Belle Enfant) – formulated to capture the magical time of newborns, we recommend scenting the room to start your scent memories with baby. 
• Hypnobirthing music | Favourite playlist

Electronics:

• Phone + charger with extra-long cable
• Headphones | Speaker – Henrietta loves her in indestructible Ultimate Ears speaker, it been with her through thick and thin!  
• Plug
• Battery pack

For dad:

• Pillow | Travel pillow
• Change of clothes
• Toiletries
• Snacks

Good luck!