Prepare
Hospital bag: the short list, and what people forget
Most lists run to three pages. Here is what actually gets used, and the two things always missing.
Paul · August 3, 2026 · 5 min read
Pack it around the start of the eighth month. Not because the baby will come early, but because a packed bag is one thing you stop thinking about for six weeks.
The hospital often provides more than you expect. Call and ask for their list: you will avoid carrying nappies and saline that are already there.
For you
·
Two or three comfortable outfits that open at the front
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Underwear you are willing to write off
·
Toiletries, and your usual things
·
A long phone charger, longer than you think
·
Something to do while waiting, which can take a while
For the baby
·
Five or six newborn bodysuits and sleepsuits, plus one size up
·
One going-home outfit, no more
·
A hat, socks, a light blanket
·
The car seat, fitted and tried empty before the day
The two things always forgotten
The documents. Insurance details, blood group card, maternity notes, your birth plan if you have one. Put them in one folder, separate from everything else. They are the first thing you will be asked for and the thing people hunt for in a panic.
The co-parent’s bag. They may spend a whole night in a chair. Food, water, a charger, a jumper. The vending machines are empty at 4am.
What people hunt for in a panic on the day is never the clothes. It is the paperwork.
Bulle helps you get organised, not treated. For any medical question, or at the slightest doubt, contact your midwife or your doctor.