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Welcome to SELF Checkout, a series in which we share the wellness-boosting products currently in our carts. In each installment, you can expect to find our staffers’ essentials as well as genuinely useful splurges and group-chat-worthy finds.
For many new parents, prepping for a baby means gathering lots of stuff: a crib, a car seat, diapers, and so many adorably tiny clothes. But, in the frenzy to get ready, don’t forget about the hospital bag essentials that’ll make your delivery experience (hopefully) a little easier. “I literally walked into the hospital in labor with my Stanley cup and an insurance card, and I joke to my husband that that’s all I needed,” one SELF staffer says—before quickly adding that, if she had to do it again, she’d bring a few more items along.
Comfort and convenience came up again and again when we asked parents on the SELF team about their delivery room must-haves. Tech to keep you occupied during downtime, cozy (and breastfeeding-friendly) pj’s, and satisfying snacks got major shoutouts, plus a few less-likely items made our staffers’ lists. To give you a head start on packing your own hospital bag, we’ve rounded up all our picks below.
Comfy must-haves
It’s probably a no-brainer that you should dress for comfort when you go into labor. But when you factor nursing and pumping into the equation, it’s important to make sure your clothes won’t get in the way. One mom on the team recommends button-up pj’s for easy access, while another loves Bodily’s maternity-to-postpartum bra. It was designed with the help of an international board-certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) and has five points of adjustment along its band. Even if breastfeeding isn’t part of the plan, these pieces are soft and snuggly enough to wear anyway.
Then there’s your choice of footwear: This is not the time to fiddle with laces or wrestle with tight boots. Instead, opt for easy slip-on styles like Rothy’s editor-approved clogs and Chaco’s Classic Flip (which, thanks to its quick-drying straps, makes a great shower shoe too).
To top it all off, a lightweight robe can make it feel like you’re wrapped in a blanket, even when you have to get out of bed. And you’ll probably want to pack a slightly larger bag than you’d expect—not just for the stuff you bring in, but also for postpartum items (like mesh underwear, pads, and Dermoplast) that the hospital will send you home with.
Necessary tech
Every parent we heard from said an extra-long phone charger is key—it should reach from the wall outlet to your bed without requiring that you lean off the side to update the family group chat. Headphones and Bluetooth speakers got multiple recommendations as well, for the sake of distraction and tuning out hospital background noise.
Speaking of distractions, a tablet for watching movies or shows will come in handy, especially if you’re being induced and need to pass the time. A Kindle is another nice option, but as one SELF parent put it, “I cannot imagine having the focus to read while in labor.” That’s more than fair.
One mom said to bring a portable fan, but we’ll do you one better: Evapolar’s Evachill air conditioner is compact, ultra-quiet, and easy to set up. “The lightest level feels like a refreshing whisper, while the most powerful of the three is like a strong, soothing breeze,” our writer said in her review.
Skin-care essentials
A good lip balm is so key that one SELF mother recommended it to us in all caps (“one more, LIP BALM”). Our top pick is La Roche-Posay’s SELF Healthy Beauty Award–winning Cicaplast Lips. It repairs cracked lips, calms chapping, and doesn’t turn your mouth into a grease slick. The same mom noted that nipple cream makes a great lip balm replacement in a pinch—Lanisoh’s Lanolin Nipple Cream is a longtime SELF Fave.
Sometimes the most refreshing thing you can do for yourself is washing your face. Pack cleansing wipes and a soothing cleanser to make that process quick and easy. Both items featured above are Healthy Beauty Award winners for how gently they remove dirt and oil.
Self-care saviors
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If you’re anything like us, you probably already have a security water bottle that comes with you everywhere. If not, here’s your chance to join the party: A big tumbler will help you stay hydrated without needing to get up for a refill as often. Stanley’s viral Quencher is the pick among our staffers.
Frida is a huge brand for parenting must-haves—and you can snag some of its biggest sellers in its Postpartum Recovery Essentials Kit, including the Peri Bottle, which one SELF mom mentioned by name. It also comes with disposable underwear, Perineal Cooling Pad Liners, Perineal Healing Foam, and instantly cooling Ice Maxi Pads, which are also available in standalone packs.
If nipple creams don’t give you the relief you need, consider Silverette’s nursing cups, which can help soothe inflamed nipples and help your skin heal. “My breastfeeding journey was a beast. No balms worked on my cracked, chapped nips; Silverettes were my only solace,” one SELF editor says. “I packed them in the go-bag for my second pregnancy.”
Family faves
You wouldn’t be the first parent to forget to bring clothes for your actual baby. Luckily, Old Navy’s cute-as-can-be infant onesies come in packs of three and five, so you can stock up and make sure your kid arrives in style.
If a partner is joining you in the delivery room, it can be helpful to bring along some items just for them: A travel-friendly pillow and light throw blanket will make it easier to get some rest in whatever sort of chair-couch hybrid the hospital has. And for when they’ll be running around (possibly for very long stretches of time), snag a good pair of sneakers, like Salomon’s SELF Sneaker Award–winning ACS Pro Gore-Tex.
“Celebratory snacks,” as she calls them, topped one of our staffer’s packing lists for both of her pregnancies. “I curated a bunch of sweets I wasn’t able to eat while pregnant (gestational diabetes),” she explains, naming Welch’s and Hu as especially craveable brands. You can even share some with your SO, if you’re so inclined.
Related:
- SELF Editors’ Favorite Travel Essentials for Truly Long Days
- The Best Compression Socks for Traveling, Recovery, and Being on Your Feet All Day
- The Gym Bag Essentials We Pack for Every Workout
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