Hospital Bag + Baby Essentials
Having a baby in Canada is daunting enough without having to worry about where to source the best baby items and what to pack in your hospital bag… Don’t worry, I’ve got you!
Check out all the essential products below that I couldn’t have lived without – and follow the links to shop on Amazon.ca to give me a little commission to help support the podcast ❤️ Any questions, as always, hit me up on Instagram @TheNewcomerCollective
Hospital Bag: Packing List
For you (giving birth)
CLOTHING:
- Loose clothing (for day + night): Choose sleeveless or buttoned items for easy breastfeeding – I loved this dress for hospital and at home, it’s stylish enough for visitors whilst still being comfy + accessible.
- Warm / grippy socks (for those cold/slippery hospital floors) – Click here
- Comfortable / waterproof shoes (in case you’d like to labour in the shower) – These ones are SO comfy!
- Warm robe
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TOILETRIES:
- Eye Mask
- Pre-Natal Vitamins (with folic acid – Click here)
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Hairbrush
- Deodorant
- Face moisturiser
- Dry shampoo
- Shampoo/Conditioner
- Face wash
- Intimate Body Wash – Click here
- Body moisturiser
- Sponge
- Scrunchies
- Refreshing Body + Face Wipes (to replace a shower if needed)
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FOR LABOUR:
- Big Water Bottle – this is my GO-TO emotional support water bottle post-partum!
- Lip Balm – your lips get soo dry
- Comb – grip this tightly in your palm to distract from the pain
- Portable Fan – essential to keep cool during contractions and can then double-up as a stroller fan for baby
- Roll-on Essential Oils – lavender is great for relaxation
- Heat Pad – this lavender-scented one was especially helpful during my induction cramps
- Portable Bluetooth speaker
- Ice Pack
- Stress Ball
- Pre-made Gatorade Ice Chips
- Sports Bra – for labouring in shower
- Waterproof Shoes – for labouring in shower
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LABOUR SNACKS:
- Salty (e.g. Pretzels) and Sweet (e.g. M&Ms)
- Trail mix
- Protein / energy bars
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POST-PARTUM:
- Nursing Bras – I LIVED in these for months!
- Nursing tanks – I got these ones from H&M
- Peri Bottle – for washing intimate area with warm water + helping with those stinging pees!
- Sitz Bath – to speed up healing, try a soak at least once per day for 5-10 mins
- Epsom Salt – for Sitz Bath
- Frozen Nipple Pads – GAME-CHANGERS for when your milk comes in (3-4 days post-partum)
- Silverette Nursing Cups – Pricey but these really helped heal my sore nipples when all else had failed
- Breast Pads – You’ll need a lot! Leak city…
- Nipple Cream
- Tucks and Anusol (for hemorrhoids)
Stage 1:
- Adult diapers (Depends)
- Frozen Maxi Pads
- Earth Mama Herbal Perineal Spray – Kept me feeling fresh and speeds healing
Stage 2:
Stage 3:
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MISCELLANEOUS:
- Printed Birth Plan (if applicable, several copies for different hospital staff)
- ID / Medical Insurance
- Pre-downloaded Movies/Shows
- Bluetooth Headphones
- Magazines
- Change for vending machines
- Phone charger
- Extension cord (the outlet could be far from your bed)
- Nursing pillow
- Plastic bags for dirty clothes
- Reusable bag to take home any hospital freebies!
For baby
- Installed Car Seat – the nurses may check this before you can be discharged
- Newborn hats
- Sleepers / Onesies – Size newborn and 0-3 months as you won’t know how big baby will be (ZIPS, not buttons, will change your life)
- “Going home” outfit of your choice(!)
- Newborn socks
- Bottles x 2
- Burp cloths
- Muslin blankets – can double-up as a car seat cover for transport to the car
For your partner / support person
- Snacks/Drinks
- Phone Charger
- Comfy clothes / toiletries
- Entertainment: Download shows, headphones
- Pillow from home
- Duvet / sleeping bag from home – you don’t know what type of bedding they’ll end up with(!)
If you’re feeling really fancy… Isaac brought our “pocket projector” (similar to this one) and set it up to display Netflix on your hospital window blinds 😆 The nurses said we were genius! The hospital TV wasn’t any good at all, and so this meant that we could watch movies together and not separately on our phones.
Baby Registry Must-Haves
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