Hospital bag checklist: what to pack for labor, birth and going home

By the Nestwell team · Last reviewed October 25, 2026

Quick answer: pack your hospital bag about a month before your due date. You'll need your ID and health or insurance cards, your prenatal records and birth plan, comfortable clothes for labor and for going home, toiletries and maternity pads, snacks and a phone charger, plus a going-home outfit for the baby and an installed car seat.

Below is a free hospital bag checklist you can tick off on screen or print. It brings together what US, Canadian and Australian hospital guides recommend. Hospitals differ, so check your own hospital's list too.

Documents

Photo ID
Health card or insurance information (Medicare card in Australia, provincial health card in Canada)
Prenatal records or maternity health record
Your birth plan, a few printed copies
Hospital pre-registration paperwork
A list of people to call or text after the birth

For labor

For after the birth

Two or three loose outfits and nightwear
Supportive or nursing bras
Plenty of comfortable, high-waisted underwear
Maternity pads (two packs)
Toiletries: toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo
Any medication you take regularly
Nursing pillow, if you plan to breastfeed
Robe and slippers
A comfortable, loose outfit to wear home

For the baby

Newborn diapers (nappies) and wipes
Two or three bodysuits and sleepsuits
Hat, socks or mittens
A going-home outfit and a blanket
Bottles and formula, if formula feeding
An infant car seat, already installed in your car

For your partner or support person

Change of clothes and toiletries
Snacks and drinks
Phone charger
Some cash or a card for parking, vending machines or the cafeteria
Any medication they need

What to leave at home

Valuables, jewelry and large amounts of cash.
Scented products: many hospitals are scent-free.
Candles and hot water bottles, which hospitals usually don't allow.

Don't forget the car seat

You'll need a rear-facing infant car seat to take your baby home by car. In the US this is required by law, Canadian hospitals ask for a seat that meets Canadian safety standards, and Australian hospitals expect the car capsule to be installed before discharge. Install it a few weeks early and have it checked if you can.

Want the full printable kit?

The Birth Plan & Hospital Bag Kit adds separate packing lists for you, your partner and the baby, a birth preferences worksheet, a one-page birth plan and a contraction log. $5.99, instant PDF download.

See the kit

Sources

This checklist is general information, not medical advice. Follow your hospital's and care team's instructions.