An open bag on an oak table with clothes, pouches, a charger, and slippers

Hospital bag checklist

One list for papers, clothes, toiletries, and your phone.

Disclosure: We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page. It does not change our guidance. Affiliate Disclosure

Start with your hospital's own list

Ask your hospital or birth center whether it has its own list of what to bring, and use it first. Ask your hospital or birth center what it provides and what it allows. The checklist below gathers items from MedlinePlus, the National Library of Medicine's health site.

Papers

For surgery, MedlinePlus includes your insurance card and a photo ID, like a driver's license. For a birth stay, it includes your insurance card and any admission papers. Bring any paperwork your hospital asks for.

Clothes

For a birth stay, MedlinePlus includes a roomy outfit for the trip home, a few pairs of socks, slippers, and something to sleep and lounge in.

Toiletries

For a birth stay, MedlinePlus includes basic toiletries: deodorant, lotion, lip balm, and things for your teeth and hair.

Phone and things from home

MedlinePlus also includes photos or other personal things from home, something to read, music, and your phone or tablet with its charger.

What to leave at home

MedlinePlus advises keeping valuables at home.

Ask about what you take

Ask your clinician and your hospital how to handle any medicines you take.

Hospital bag checklist. From MedlinePlus. Check with your hospital first.

Sources: MedlinePlus, What to bring to your labor and delivery; MedlinePlus, The day of your surgery, adult.

FAQ

Is there one list for every hospital?

No. Hospitals and birth centers set their own rules. Use this checklist alongside any list yours gives you.

Do you sell bags or kits?

No. We do not sell anything, and we do not name brands, products, or prices.

General information only, not medical advice. We are not a hospital, birth center, or health care provider, and we cannot tell you what your hospital provides, allows, or requires. Ask your clinician and your hospital or birth center what to bring and what to expect. For car seats, follow the seat maker's instructions and your vehicle owner's manual, and see NHTSA's car seat guidance. If you think you have a medical emergency, call 911.

Five small groups of packing items laid out on a white bedspread in daylight

What to pack in a hospital bag

Ask first, then pack.

A packed bag waiting by a closed front door below a coat on a hook

When to pack your hospital bag

Pack before you need it.

A zipped soft bag on a wooden dresser beside a small empty wooden dish

Hospital bag size, and what to leave at home

Carry less, leave valuables.

Next: what to pack