What to pack in a hospital bag
Ask what your hospital provides, then pack what is yours.
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Ask before you pack
Ask your hospital or birth center what it provides and what it allows. We cannot tell you what any hospital provides, allows, or asks you to bring.
What only you have
Some things only you can bring: your ID and insurance card, your glasses, your phone, and clothes to wear home. MedlinePlus suggests a case for your glasses, if you wear them.
Equipment you use
Ask your clinician and your hospital whether to bring any equipment you use, and how to label it.
Five groups
We sort a hospital bag into five groups: papers, clothes, toiletries, electronics, and things from home. Our packing order guide shows one way to arrange them.
Pack ahead
MedlinePlus suggests packing as many items beforehand as you can. Our timing guide has more.
Ask about what you take
Ask your clinician and your hospital how to handle any medicines you take.
FAQ
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.
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