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Searching for the best hospital bag for mom? As a new mom, you shop like crazy to get everything you need.
Your baby registry has everything you could ever want on it, and you are prepared for your hospital stay. I’m here to tell you that you usually only need some of what you think you will need.
I gave birth at a birthing center. If you want to read about birthing center vs hospital birth experience, check that out. In addition, you will pack the same things for the hospital for a birth center, so I can tell you what you need and do not need.
Hospital Stay Expection
At the hospital, if you have insurance, many of the initial items will be provided for you.
Diapers, a baby going home outfit (with the hospital logo), and some adult diapers (for mom) are all provided to you in the hospital.
Of course, you can bring your items, but that is just an example of making sure you take what your insurance already paid.
It’s a bad idea to over-pack because you have to lug all that stuff plus your baby’s stuff back home.
It’s making sure to keep it light and only brings the essentials is best.
If you deliver at a hospital, they have different policies regarding what you can and can’t get.
Make sure to check that out as well because sometimes, if you have extra items, they will make you take them back home or ask a family member to take them when they leave.
This post is about the best hospital bag for mom.
Your Maternity Hospital Bag
Once you are told your due date, you will prepare for the baby as soon as possible. It is an exciting time, significantly depending on your delivery time.
If you are looking for a great bag, here is a list of some great options.
While some people like to have a duffel bag, a weekender bag, and others like a rolly.
It depends on whether you have a birth partner in the hospital room or now.
New moms don’t know that after they have the baby, they will be very sore and unable to move around much.
Picking a comfortable hospital bag will be the best way to start your birthing journey.
While this is not something you want to have in your bag, you want to ensure that you have an infant car seat.
If you are looking for great car options, you can read my post about the Chicco Fit4 or my Diono Radian 3r Review.
Once you hit the maternity ward, you won’t be able to leave if you are in active labor.
A good hospital bag will be essential in how you feel about your baby’s arrival and birth plan.
Something like this, which is your bag, is the start of how you still start the big day while laboring and delivering.
Hospital Bags Under $400
PrePacked4You Pre-packed Hospital Bag with Postpartum Care
Price: $400
Pros: Includes almost everything you will need in the hospital, so you aren’t over or under-packing.
Cons: No Refunds; it takes 6-8 weeks to arrive.
Storq Hospital Bag Essentials
Price: $321
Pros: Price starts the same regardless of size
Cons: Only includes their products and a few items. You will still need to add most items to the bag to get what you need for yourself and the baby.
Pre-Packed Hospital Maternity Bag – Large Mom+Baby Bundle
Price: $325
Pros: Includes 20 items of the most common things you will need in the hospital
Cons: It leaves little space to add other items, so you may have to pack another bag.
MamaleBirthBag Pre-Packed Maternity Hospital
Price: $305.82
Pros: Includes almost everything you will need in the hospital, so you aren’t over or under-packing.
Cons: It takes 6-8 weeks to arrive. Small, so you might need another bag if you want something more significant.
Hospital Bags Under $300
LilyandLlama Pre-Packed Hospital Maternity Bag – “Just for Mom” Bundle
Price: $275
Pros: It has most items you will need in the hospital. Arrives in 2-3 weeks from purchase.
Cons: Everything is one size fits all so some items might fit and others might not.
Duckworth – NYCMama Bundle Bag
Price: $275
Pros: Order ships and arrives within 2 weeks. Accepts returns and exchanges within 30 days of purchase.
Cons: Include six but not the most common items for your hospital bed and stay.
Dagne Dover Landon Carryall Bag
Price: $245
Pros: Comes in different sizes to find something within your budget. It also comes in many colors. It’s also gender natural, so you and your partner can wear it.
Cons: You must pack the bag yourself; it’s not pre-packed.
CanopyVerde CASSIA Weekender Bag
Price: $229
Pros: Arrives 2-4 weeks from purchase, has lots of space. More fashionable. Accepts returns and exchanges within 30 days of purchase.
Cons: It only has a few compartments to put your small items. Smaller bag compared to the other bags.
Hospital Bags Under $200
Dream Weekender™ Hospital & Travel Bag
Price: $199.99
Pros: You can get it from multiple retailers. The bottom has a hard shell, so you can add additional items that might spill there. FAA approved.
Cons: Only only purchase. Spot clean only.
Itzy Ritzy Convertible Diaper Bag
Price: $169.99
Pros: This features a convenient luggage attachment. Branded rubber base helps keep the bag stable and clean. Includes stroller straps and changing pad along with an adjustable shoulder strap. Multiple retailers have this bag.
Cons: Not a tote, more of a backpack. It needs more internal space to add oversized items to the bag. You will need to have another page along with this one.
Chelsea Weekender
Price: $139
Pros: Functional Tote. Not a large bag, and you will be able to carry it like a carry-on bag.
Cons: Final Sale. You can’t exchange or return items.
Herschel Strand Duffle Sprout
Price: $110
Pros: Comes in multiple colors and includes a changing pad. You can wear it cross-body.
Cons: Not as significant as other bags. Wipe clean only.
Hospital Bags Under $100
Ultimate Baby Bag Vera Bradley
Price: $91 sale $130 regular
Pros: Machine washable. Arrives in 3-5 business days. It comes in two different styles.
Cons: It only goes on sale sometimes.
PeraBella Mommy Bag for Hospital
Price: $54.95 sale $89.99 regular
Pros: Waterproof. It comes with additional bags to help with organization. Large capacity
Cons: Don’t know how long the sale price will be available.
Tancuzo Baby Diaper Bag
Price: $46.49
Pros: Comes in different colors. Machine washable.
Cons: WARNING – California Proposition 65
Hospital Bag for Labor and Delivery for New Moms
Price: $44.97
Pros: Separate shoe compartment, three front pockets.
Cons: Only come in one color.
Ultimate Hospital Bag Checklist
In light of getting a great hospital bag, the main thing to remember is that you want to ensure you have enough space to pack what you want and need.
You also want to ensure that you have an area that will serve as your “diaper bag” for you and the baby since you will not be wearing regular underwear when you leave the hospital.
For now, you don’t need to bring a separate bag for the baby just yet since you are just going home, and most of the time, the baby doesn’t have enough in their system for you to change them while going home.
It’s a good idea to shop around for the best hospital bags.
The perfect bag has space for you to include the following items:
- driver’s license
- Insurance card (if you have insurance). Make sure your partner/ friend/ family member knows where to find this information provided when asked.
- lip balm
- phone charger
- nipple cream
- nursing bra
- hair ties
- going-home outfit for you and your baby
- changes of clothes (just in case)
- Body wash (because you might have to spend multiple nights in the hospital due to c-section or other unexpected complications)
- Breast pads (but this will also be supplied to you by the hospital)
- portable fan
- cotton swabs
- face wipes / wet wipes
- Nursing pillow (even if you are not breastfeeding, it’s still a great item to have)
- space for important documents
- cell phone
- reusable water bottle
- Your own pillow (more for your partner/ friend/ family member). You will have the hospital pillow, but if you want something more comfortable, bring your own.
- Flip flops (again, you don’t know how long you’re going to be in the hospital)
- baby book
- cash/credit card (to get some snacks for the vending machine)
- Dry shampoo (optional since I know a lot of people don’t need to use it, but if you do, pack it)
The Hospital Bag Essentials
You want to make sure you have comfortable clothes for everything listed.
Going into the hospital with comfy clothes allows you to be agile and have peace of mind that if you have to change quickly, you won’t struggle to get into your hospital gown.
A pro tip from a mom who went the natural route, start packing that the beginning of your third trimester.
Waiting until you get closer to the 35-week mark will make it stressful, and you will likely forget things.
It is advised to wait until the last minute. Depending on your circumstances, you can go any time after the 27-week mark.
If you are planning on breastfeeding, bring a breast pump.
The hospital will have one you can use while you are there, but afterward, you will have to find your own.
Here is the breast pump I used in my son’s early weeks. It was comfortable (as much as you can with breastfeeding).
It had a powerful suction, so you weren’t spending all day expressing.
Many moms will eat the hospital food, but it’s always nice to have a few granola bars for your family members while they wait for the new arrival.
All things considered, if you can bring your ice packs after delivery, that will help.
You will be very swollen down there for a few days. The hospital will supply some, but having a few more doesn’t hurt.
Make sure to have extra space to take things home from the hospital.
Remember, the hospital will give you stuff for your new baby, so you want space for that in your own bag.
Were you interested in purchasing this diaper bag? Click here to get this diaper bag and shop for other items you will need in your motherhood journey.
My Top Hospital Bag for Mom Picks
My top picks for the best bags are Dagne Dover Landon Carryall Bag, PeraBella Mommy Bag for Hospital, and Itzy Ritzy Dream Weekender Bag.
These bags are the best option because they hold a lot of items. You won’t have to carry an extra suitcase or extra stuff because you can fit everything in these bags.
They are in the tote bag family, making them an excellent choice for everyday bags.
Often people don’t get certain items requested on the register because the items are too expensive. With these, they are right in the middle.
They are also affordable, so if you want to add them to the baby registry, you won’t have an issue with someone getting them for you.
I’ve curated a one-stop-shop way of putting all these bags together so you can shop for them in one place.
A good hospital bag will make or break your experience in the delivery room.
Whether you are in your first pregnancy, and this is your first baby, or an experienced mama, having the best hospital bag should be a part of the postpartum recovery kit that you can’t do without.
This post was about the best hospital bag for mom.
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