Practical packing tips from a mom of three, former labor & delivery nurse, and newborn photographer.

Packing your hospital bag can somehow turn into a bigger project than you expected. You start with pajamas and a going-home outfit, and before you know it, you’re wondering whether you need to bring half your house.

As a mom of three and former labor & delivery nurse at Brookwood, I’ve experienced those first days with a new baby from both sides of the hospital bed. Now, as a Birmingham-area newborn photographer, I get to help families remember them, too.

My approach to packing is simple: bring the things that help you feel comfortable, keep everyday essentials easy to find, and leave room for a few meaningful little extras. You don’t need a perfectly coordinated suitcase to be ready to meet your baby.

I put together this hospital bag checklist to give you a starting point for yourself, your baby, and the person staying with you.

What to pack for yourself

Think about what you would want within reach while resting, feeding your baby, and settling into those first days together.

• Comfortable pajamas. Pack a couple of pairs that feel soft and easy to wear. If you plan to breastfeed, consider how easily they open for feeding.
• A robe. Choose something you feel comfortable sitting, walking, and being photographed in. A light neutral is a lovely option if you’re planning hospital photographs.
• Slippers and socks. Something easy to slip on is helpful when you get out of bed.
• Your everyday toiletries. Toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, face wash, a hairbrush, hair ties, lip balm, and the familiar little things you’ll want for freshening up.
• Your phone and a long charging cable. Keep these somewhere easy to reach instead of buried at the bottom of your bag.
• Feeding-related comfort items. If you plan to nurse, you may want nursing bras, breast pads, and your preferred nipple cream. Ask your care team what they recommend and provide.
• A comfortable going-home outfit. Choose something roomy and forgiving that you’ll be happy wearing for the ride home.
• Glasses, if you use them, and any other daily personal essentials.

A favorite pillow or full-size bath towel can also be nice if you have room. I’d treat those as comfort extras rather than things every mom needs to pack.

Keep your identification, insurance information, and any paperwork your hospital requests together in an easy-to-find pocket. Ask your care team how to handle any medications you take rather than assuming you should pack and use them as you would at home.

What to pack for your baby

The tiny outfits are understandably the fun part. A few thoughtfully chosen pieces give you options without filling an entire separate suitcase.

• Two or three sleepers or bodysuits, if you’d like to use your own during the stay.
• A going-home outfit.
• A simple swaddle for photographs or holding your baby.
• A hat, bonnet, or bow, if there’s one you love and want photographed.
• Socks, if the outfits you’ve chosen need them.
• Burp cloths, if you prefer to bring your own.

If you plan to use bottles or pacifiers, ask your delivery hospital what it provides and what you should bring for your feeding plans. That is more useful than buying extras based on someone else’s hospital experience.

If you’re traveling home by car, add preparing your baby’s car seat to your before-baby list, too.

What Dad or your support person should bring

It’s easy to focus on Mom and baby and forget that someone else may be staying overnight, too. Give your partner or support person their own small bag with:

• A couple of changes of comfortable clothes.
• Pajamas, socks, and slippers.
• Toiletries and any personal essentials.
• A phone charger.
• A pillow or other small comfort item, if wanted.
• Snacks for themselves and for you when your care team says you may eat.
• A simple outfit for photographs, if you’ve planned a session.

Having their things packed separately also makes it easier to find what you need without sorting through everyone’s clothes.

Optional extras worth considering

This is where your own preferences matter. Choose the things that sound comforting to you, and skip the ones that would just take up space.

A favorite water cup, nursing pillow, portable fan, or sound machine might make your list. Check with your hospital about electrical items and anything you plan to bring into the room.

You may also want a baby book, name sign, or a small family keepsake. These can be lovely details to include in photographs, but there’s no need to buy something just to fill a spot on a checklist.

A note for moms delivering in the Birmingham area

Before you zip up your bag, check the current preparation information from your own delivery hospital. Supplies, room amenities, and visitor arrangements can vary, and my experience working at Brookwood doesn’t replace your hospital’s current guidance.

These are useful questions to keep handy for your hospital tour or a call to your maternity unit:

• What supplies are provided for Mom and baby?
• What should my support person bring for an overnight stay?
• Are there restrictions on personal electrical items?
• Where should we arrive, and what paperwork should we bring?
• If we’ve booked a photographer, what visitor arrangements should we confirm?

Knowing those answers helps you tailor a general hospital packing list to your actual stay.

What to pack for Fresh-48 photographs

A Fresh-48 session documents your baby and your family in the hospital before you head home. Those tiny fingers, the way your baby fits against your chest, and your first photographs together are the focus.

You only need a few things if you’d like to plan clothing ahead of time:

For Mom: A comfortable robe or pajama set you feel good wearing. Cream, oatmeal, or another soft neutral can keep the photographs simple, but your comfort comes first.

For baby: A light, simple swaddle and an outfit or meaningful accessory you’d like included. You don’t need several outfit changes.

For Dad or your support person: A simple shirt without a large logo or busy graphic. Soft, understated colors work well alongside baby’s swaddle and Mom’s clothing.

For siblings: If they’ll be joining the session, have their outfits ready and confirm the visit with your hospital and photographer beforehand.

There’s no need to have your hair professionally styled, put on a full face of makeup, or make your room look like a magazine. We can work with the comfortable pieces you’ve brought and keep the photographs centered on your family.

Click HERE to shoot us a message, so we can send over our Motherhood Experience Guide with all our fresh-48 details!

A few things to do before you leave home

Keep a short last-minute list with your bag for the items you’re still using: your phone, charger, glasses, toiletries, and paperwork. Show your support person where everything is so you don’t have to be the only one who knows.

If you’ve booked a Fresh-48 session with me, let me know when you’re admitted or when an induction or cesarean is scheduled so we can coordinate your photographs around your stay.

Most of all, give yourself permission to pack for your own comfort. Your bag doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s, and those first photographs don’t depend on having every little detail planned.

Want to shop my hospital bag favorites?

Because knowing what to pack is one thing… actually finding all of it is another. 😂 I pulled together some of my favorite hospital bag essentials in one place on my Amazon storefront — from comfy pajamas and postpartum must-haves to packing cubes, baby basics, and a few little things that just make those first days more comfortable.

These are the kinds of things I’d recommend to a friend after three babies of my own + years working as a Labor & Delivery nurse.

Click the image below to shop my 5U Fresh-48 | Hospital Packing Essentials. 🤍

Ask about a Fresh-48 session