Bag for the Hospital

If you're planning to bottle feed, I would recommend bringing some bibs. The hospital my daughter was born in didn't provide them.

honestly the hospital has everything you'll "need" for the baby, but you might want to bring a pair of socks for her/him, I always felt like my babies feet were freezing, and maybe a blanket from home to cuddle him or her in, we brought a stuffed toy to put in his bed that was meaningful to us... my girlfriend brought actual clothing for her infants to wear, but I always kept mine in the gown they have a the hospital until it was time to bring them home. Bring a going home outfit, carseat.... they'll give you diapers and wipes and any creams and stuff you'll need to get you started when you leave and until then you use what they give you. Good luck! What an exciting wonderful time for you!

The boppy would have been NICE! Didn't think of that...

But, in this cold weather...I'd be ready with the carseat, with a head positioner and snuggler (JJ Cole)... Yes, a nice outfit for photos is good! Socks, an especially warm hat, 2 or 3 pacifiers (if you want baby to try them...mine didn't take to them until 10 months!) & the diaper bag. Here's what's in my diaper bag (it's a Skip Hop bag):
2 bottles, formula (I use similac ready-right-now bottles), pacifiers, pacifier wipes, regular wipes, diapers, an aspirator, a thermometer, a change of clothing, 1 pair of socks, 1 bottle of mylicon, face wipes (from mustella), and anti-bacterial foam for our hands (and now her hands, she's almost a year now)...as they get older, the bag adjusts in contents, obviously...but that's the basics to get you going in the beginning. I always had a stroller net (we lived in the south), but you might consider a rain cover for the carseat. Also, I have sun block with us always too... Even in the winter, baby skin can get burned. But, you can add later...since most pediatricians will tell you to avoid sun block until 4 months or older (since we were in the south, we had to use it earlier, so we bought wipes). OH! Almost forgot...burp rags. The BEST ones are either the plain white wash cloths or the ones with the towel-like feel, they soak up more goo!

Congratulations on the baby! I completely understand wondering what you should or shouldn't bring. The major things I can think of would be photo outfit, coming home outfit, if you want a special blanket for photos, if you have a dog or cat at home I would suggest bringing a hat or something for the baby to wear and then have someone bring that hat to your animal so that it can get used to the sent of the baby and I think my most useful thing that I had at the hospital was a boppy. If you are breast feeding it will truly come in handy. You have a ton of pillows there but just doesn't prop the baby up enough to truly get comfortable learning how to feed. I didn't have one at the hospital for my first child but made sure I had it there for my second and it made a world of difference. I hope that helps!

I agree on a boppy or nursing pillow if you are nursing. Also, a blanket for the baby. My daughter got very rashy at the hospital on her face etc...and she hasn't been rashy since and she's three, but we use Tide Free/All free and clear at home. You might want to have a receiving blanket and or cloth diapers to put under him or her in the bassinette that aren't just washed with all the other hospital stuff. Also, make sure the outfit for the pictures is newborn size. I only had 0 to 3 months since, I figured, she would start out zero months.....only one person had told me to have newborn sizes but I didn't believe her because her babies had been small and I knew mine wouldn't be (she was 8 lbs) but the outfit we brought was ridiculously large. Also, I went to St. Mary's and the nurse I had when I was leaving said we couldn't take anything with us that they could wash and reuse...I didn't have a blanket so she let us take one but wasn't happy about it, and i left the hospital tee shirt on her because we didn't have anything small enough. My friend delivered there two weeks later and her nurse kept stuffing blankets etc in the bag, but don't assume you'll get them. Good luck and congratulations :)

If you're having a girl, you may want to take in some kind of hair band/clip for her head/hair. I wished I had thought of that when I had my daughter. I am getting ready to have my 4th baby and I always take a full diaper bag- just so I have everything we need. The hospital will have everything you need- but they may only have one brand of formula- or a certain type of bottle or binky. I want specific formula, binkies and bottles- so I take those things. A soft blanket. I have never had my baby wrapped in soft blankets from the hospital- they're always rough feeling. I take 2 receiving blankets and then a soft fuzzy blanket for snuggling. Also- the hospital will put a hat on your baby- I take a cute hat- normally the hospital ones are not cute and they will make your baby wear it for a while. Then of course the things other people have said- outfits, carseat, fingernail clippers, boppy (great idea!), socks, onesies... Congratulations and Good luck!!

I took a couple outfits for my daughter, a blanket and hat to bring her home in. Also, don't forget to bring a camera. I took pictures of all the visitors when they came to see my daughter. A most important - don't forget the carseat. My daughter had to have a test ran with her in the carseat to make sure she was able to maintain her O2 levels while in the carseat. Congrats and enjoy!!!!

An installed infant car seat
You can't drive your baby home without one! Have the seat properly installed ahead of time and know how to buckle in your baby correctly.

A going-home outfit
Your baby will need an outfit to go home in, including socks or booties if the clothing doesn't have feet, and a soft cap if the air is likely to be cool. Make sure the legs on your baby's clothes are separate so the car seat strap can fit between them.

A receiving blanket
The hospital will provide blankets for swaddling your baby while you're there, but you may want to bring your own to tuck around your baby in the car seat for the ride home. Make it a heavy one if the weather's cold.

Diapers
The hospital will provide diapers for your baby while you're there. Leave your supply at home along with wipes and bottles...

Hi T., Congrats on the new baby! Most of the other respones covered what you'll need, but I've got one that few people think of - a piece of waxed paper. Put it in the baby book with the page where they do the feet prints. That stamper ink will smudge and the waxed paper keeps it from smudges up the feet prints and from getting on the other pages. I poked holes in mine and put it in the book. The nurses said that few people do that then the feet prints get smudges and the parents are upset. Good luck, God bless and enjoy every minute of it!!!!

The hospital will probably have everything the baby will need. I took a couple of outfits that the baby could come home in (we didn't know if it was a boy or girl) and a couple of diapers and blankets for the trip home. Be sure to take your car seat--the hospital will want to check it to make sure it is ok. Also, your camera! Mine were born before we had a digital camera, so I took lots of film. Also, be sure to take lots of batteries or the recharger--you'll need them! Mostly take stuff that makes you feel better/more at home. Enjoy this! It is truly a miracle everytime a baby is born.

Congratulations. I wish I would have had finger nail clippers when my first was born. His finger nails were really long and he scratched himself in the face. The hospital wouldn't cut them for me. Also, two outfits and socks, one for pictures and one to take baby home in. Blanket, carseat, nursing blanket or bobbie pillow. The baby book and camera and video camera. You don't need to bring a diaper bag. The hospital has all the supplies, like diapers, wipes, nose aspirator,and all the baby things you would need. (or at least my hospital did) They will also give you a diaper bag that is from Similac or infamil full of coupons, etc. You will have so much to carry out of the hospital when you go home with gifts, etc.
Hope this helps and good luck to you.

I brought along, the carseat in the car my husband would be driving...this way if he meets you at the hospital, you have the correct car with the carseat already installed! I thought if it was in my car and my water broke at work or out shopping, I would end up leaving my car behind and having some one else drive me to the hospital...

Packing a onzie LONG sleeve, being fall. The hospital gives you a buttoned shirt for the baby and the blankets to swadle the baby in. They also provide the newborn diapers, and little bulb. Don't really need anything for the baby.

The hosp. provides everything...take it all home too. Even the giant pads that they give you to use, and the moist round things that you place with them. Take those home for your self too.

an outfit or 2 for the baby to arrive home in, a onsie or 2, socks, hat, infant carrier, receiving blanket

You will need very little for the baby as the hospital will have everything she needs prior to discharge. Make sure you have a cute outfit for pictures and an outfit to come home in. Take socks to keep the babies feet warm, as the hospital doesn't have any. That's about it. Of course, if it's cold, you'll want blankets or a warm outfit/coat to cover her with. You'll also have to have your car seat properly installed, as they won't let you leave with her without one.

One thing I didn't know for my first baby. You have to have a pediatrician come check out your baby at the hospital. If you don't already have one in mind, you'll need to pick one. I just asked my hospital for a referral and have been very happy with the one they referred me to.

Good luck, and congratulations.

Hi T. you will need her outfit to go home in plus a tshirtand another outfit for her pictures, booties a warm blanket and a little hat. Its going to be cold just make sure the blanket is a warm one. You may or may not want to take a few diapers,wipes and fingernail clippers with you if you go show her off to people after leaving the hospital. Aunt D.. PS. Don't forget the carseat and the head bobbie thing.

warm hat, socks, blankets, installed car seat(the hospital will do a carseat check where they will put the baby in the carseat all strapped in for an hour with leads and monitors on to make sure he/she is okay) a going home outfit. just keep it small. Congrats, good luck and God Bless!!

well I wish I had brought several different outfits including a premie outfit. Since not all baby size clothes are alike they vary from brand to brand. My daughter was 6 lbs 5 oz and the newborn and 0-3 months stuff drowned her for a whole month. also mittens and clippers are a great idea. Lawernce memorial sent us home with a diaper bag full of stuff but not every hospital will. Blankets are a great idea espcially if it will be cold.

Make sure you bring some change or dollars if you want a snack or something specific after birth. also so your fiancee can get something to eat. If you are going to strictly breastfeed bring several peices of paper and a marker and tape to put signs on the bassinett that says breastfed only. since many hospitals will supplement them with sugar water in a bottle if they cry in the nursery.

finger nail clippers (or emery boards), mittens for their hands (so they don't scratch themselves until you can cut their nails), a pacifers (if you want baby to try one), and of course the going home outfit.

If you are breastfeeding: take your boppy and breastpump. Also ask for the Lactation consultant.

Good Morning T., Congrats on your new little one soon. For your little one get an outfit for pictures the Hospital takes,some thing to come home in. Usually the hospital provides just about everything you need for the baby while your there. So bring an outfit or two, some oneis, socks, your baby book for foot prints and Dr., Nurses signatures, first visitors, if you want them. A blanket, camera, your car seat to go home. You can't leave without one.

I am sure I have forgotten some things, just fill a diaper bag and bring it along. Should be set!!
Kiss the baby for all us Mama's and Gr. Mamas

God Bless you with a easy delivery and very healthy sweet little Angel
K. Nana of 5

I remember neeeding Blankets... and its cold now so can u get a baby snowsuit?? I had my baby in January. 13 years ago. it was a blzzard . I still have the cutest preemie snowsuit and clothes .You will need a infant carseat if the hospital dosen't provide them also. maybe some lil socks or booties for the feet and a hat.T-shirt,diaper and clothes of course.

You've gotten some great advice! I would recommend bringing at least 2 outfits for the baby. When we packed up our first in his car seat for the ride home, he immediately had a blowout and we needed to change him. Thankfully I had another option packed! Best of luck!

I'd recommend a onsie or two and a take home outfit. Really, the only reason to take clothes for the kiddo at the hospital is for the pictures you will take...otherwise the hospital will provide everything for the baby. If there is a particular pacifier that you want them to have, take it as the hospital one's usually aren't that great. I'd also take something you could put hin the bassinet with him/her (a stuffed animal or something...we had one of the womb bear's that make noises like when they were in the womb and our kiddo's LOVED them!). Other than that...just lots of batterieries/film/memory cards for the camera! ;)

Oh, and don't forget the carseat for coming home! They won't let you leave without putting baby in it!