Hospital Bag Checklist UK: What to Pack for Mum, Partner and Baby

Packing your hospital bag is one of those jobs that feels huge until you have a list. Here is a simple, no-fluff checklist for you, your birth partner and your baby, based on NHS advice, plus the easy-to-forget extras that make a long stay much more comfortable.

In this guide

1. When to pack your hospital bag
2. Hospital bag checklist for mum
3. For your birth partner
4. For your baby
5. Easy-to-forget extras
6. If you are having a C-section
7. Hospital bag FAQs

When should I pack my hospital bag?

The NHS suggests having your bag ready at least 3 weeks before your due date, because only around 1 in 20 babies arrive on their due date. If you are expecting twins, or you have been told your baby may come early, it makes sense to pack even sooner.

Tip: pack two bags, one for you and one for your baby. It makes things much easier to find when you are tired.

Hospital bag checklist for mum

• ☐ Maternity notes and birth plan
• ☐ Loose, comfortable clothes to labour in
• ☐ Dressing gown and slippers or flip-flops
• ☐ Nightwear (front-opening if you plan to breastfeed)
• ☐ 3 changes of comfy clothes and socks
• ☐ 5 or 6 pairs of big, high-waisted knickers (disposable ones can help)
• ☐ 2 or 3 comfortable bras
• ☐ Breast pads
• ☐ 2 packs of super-absorbent maternity pads
• ☐ Wash bag: toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, hairbrush, hair bands, lip balm
• ☐ Your own towels (hospital ones tend to be small)
• ☐ Eye mask and earplugs (wards can be bright and noisy)
• ☐ Your own pillow
• ☐ Healthy snacks and a water bottle with a sports lid
• ☐ Small fan or water spray to cool down
• ☐ Any medicines you take
• ☐ TENS machine and spare batteries, if you are using one
• ☐ Phone, long charging cable and a power bank
• ☐ Spare glasses or contact lenses
• ☐ Something to pass the time: music, podcasts, a book
• ☐ A spare bag for dirty washing

For your birth partner

• ☐ Change of clothes and a toothbrush
• ☐ Phone and charger
• ☐ Snacks and drinks (labour can be long)
• ☐ Swimwear, if you are planning to use a birth pool
• ☐ Any medicines they take
• ☐ Change or a card for the car park and vending machines
• ☐ A pillow for sitting up in the chair

For your baby

• ☐ Vests and sleepsuits (5 or 6 is plenty)
• ☐ An outfit for going home
• ☐ Hat, scratch mittens and socks
• ☐ Snowsuit, if it is cold
• ☐ Nappies (more than you think) and nappy sacks
• ☐ Cotton wool or water wipes, and muslin squares
• ☐ A thin, close-knit blanket (tiny fingers can get caught in loose knits)
• ☐ A car seat for the trip home, fitted before the day

Easy-to-forget extras

• A long charging cable. Sockets are rarely right next to the bed.
• Your own pillow. Hospital pillows are often thin and flat. The NHS lists your own pillows as something worth packing.
• Hair bands and lip balm. Small things, but you will be glad of them.
• Dried fruit and fibre-rich snacks. Handy in the days after birth.
• A notebook. For feeding times, questions for the midwife and the moments you want to remember.

If you are having a C-section

• Big, high-waisted knickers that sit well above your scar
• Loose trousers or a nightie, so nothing presses on your tummy
• A cosy blanket or socks, as some mums feel cold after an epidural
• Wipes or a flannel, as you may need to wait before your first shower
• Music for the theatre, if your hospital allows it

Hospital bag FAQs

How big should my hospital bag be?

A medium holdall or small wheeled case is usually enough. Keep the things you need during labour (notes, snacks, charger) at the top.

Do hospitals provide nappies?

Do not count on it. You may get one or two, so bring a full pack.

What can I leave at home?

Valuables, lots of outfit choices and full-size toiletries. Space is limited, and your partner can always bring more.

Sources: NHS: Hospital bag checklist · Which?: Hospital bag essentials. Always check with your hospital or birth centre, as some have their own list.