How to Pack a Minimalist Hospital Bag

Focusing on minimalism when packing your hospital bag is beneficial for this new chapter in your life, trust me.

It helps when everything can seem so overwhelming, to keep things simple and easy to navigate. With such big and wonderful changes to our lives, it’s great to leave as much space as possible for the universe to fill with marvelous and precious things!

I’ve been practicing minimalism for years. I’ve learned a great deal from it and it now stretches to every aspect of my life. It’s allowed me to let go of a ton of unneeded things and with it, a ton of weight, stress and excess “baggage”. Physically, mentally and spiritually.

When it came time to pack the hospital and diaper bags for the birth of my second child, I wanted to keep it simple and lite. Unfortunately, however, I’d forgotten what I packed/ needed/ used when I was in the hospital with my older son.

Research helps but honestly, what everyone needs and what is provided for you is relative upon the person and hospital in question.

So for our three day, two night stay, here’s what I packed in an effort to create a minimalist hospital bag:

My Minimalist Hospital bag

• 3 pairs of black pants
• 2 pairs of socks
• 2 pairs of black undies
• Flip flops for the shower
• 2 camis
• A robe
• 2 shirts
• 2 sports bras

What I actually used of my minimalist hospital bag

• 2 pairs of pants
• 2 camis
• 1 shirt
• 2 sports bras
• A robe
• 1 pair of undies

The weather was warm so I didn’t wear my socks. Instead, I used my sandals I came in with any time I got out of bed.

They give you mesh undies so I wore them for the first two days but once I switched to mine, I felt much better and wished I had switched to them earlier.

I took two showers while I was there. Once about an hour after my baby was born and another the next day. I didn’t use my flip flops I had brought for this because I simply didn’t care to. The shower was clean enough and they seemed like a hassle.

Since I chose to breastfeed, I didn’t use the shirts I brought. It was much more convenient to simply wear a cami and sports bra. I did wear one home though.

Toiletries

• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Toothpaste
• Toothbrush
• Deodorant
• Comb
• Eyeliner
• Wet proof toiletry bag to hold it all

I used all of this I believe. I may not have used the eyeliner. If I did, I only used it to go home. Like, literally put it on right before we were discharged. That one’s definitely a preference thing.

Misc

• Battery pack
• Essential oils
• Chap stick
• Lotion
• Hair clip
• Nursing cover
• Birth Plan
• 2 gallon sized Ziplock Bags (for the Placenta)

My husband packed his charger and I kept my battery pack charged with it. It was extra convenient since a standard charger didn’t reach the bed so I didn’t have to give up my phone to a low battery at any point. I highly recommend it.

I didn’t REALLY use the nursing cover. I tried to a couple of times but honestly those things are more trouble than they’re worth. I’ve since discovered that a blanket works much better if you need to cover up. And simply not worrying about it at all is very freeing.

Diaper bag

• 4 onsies (various sizes)
• 2 newborn size pants
• 2 blankets
• 2 burp cloths
• Nipple cream
• Green cheese cloth
• 2 Packs of socks
• Matching hats/ bows

What we used

• 1 onsie
• 1 pair of pants
• 1 pair of socks
• 1 bow
• 2 burp cloths

So basically all we used out of this was a going home outfit and the burp cloths. You obviously don’t need two whole packs of socks but they were two different sizes that I just threw  in there last minute.

It’s hard to pack a single going home outfit because you honestly don’t know how big your baby is going to be until they’re born.

The hospital provided nipple cream so I didn’t use the tube I had brought. They also provided blankets so we didn’t use ours.

I had brought the cheese cloth because generally a photographer comes around and takes pictures for you but they didn’t during our stay for some reason (they did when our son was born and I signed a release form for it this time. *shrug*). So I’d keep in mind something for photos if or in case yours does this for you.

What I sent my husband home for

• Pillow
• Door hanger
• Bandana
• More burp cloths

My aunt made us a beautiful wooden door hanger to record her birthday, weight, height, etc. We ran off and left it at home in the heat of the moment. He also left my bag. The one with all my clothes in it.

The pillows at the hospital were fine and all but there’s nothing like having your own pillow from home. The bandanna was to pull my hair up off of my neck and shoulders. I had PUPPPs and these fly aways were creating even more irritation to something that was already a whole new level of irritating on it’s own.

We also left my pillow and the door hanger at the hospital when we left and had to make two separate trips back up there (yes two) to get them. So double, triple and the recheck your room before leaving.

What the hospital provided

• Diapers
• Wipes
• Lanolin
• Hydrogel pads
• Nipple shield
• 2 shirts for baby
• Baby blankets that we could not take home (which means as many as you need)
• A baby comb and brush
• Johnson and Johnson baby toiletries
• A hand knitted baby blanket we got to keep
• A hand knitted baby hat we got to keep
• Tucks
• Pads
• Mesh undies
• A squirt bottle
• Pad like Ice packs
• Hemmoroid cream
• Snacks/ drinks/ food
• Formula
• Breast pump
• Pillows/ blanket

The hospital was wonderful and aside from clothes, pretty much provided everything my little family and I needed. We were lucky enough to live only 10-15 minutes away from the hospital so I could send my husband home if we needed anything else but he only made the one trip (for things. He went home daily to shower and feed the animals).

I’m a planner and I’d rather be safe than sorry with things but in this case, had I known what all would have been provided and what I wouldn’t use, we probably could have gotten away with packing everything we needed in a single carry on. 

I’d recommend trying to figure out what all your hospital provides. Ask those who have given birth there, ask your caregiver and/or maybe even call labor and delivery or take a tour of the facilities. The more you know, the better you can prepare.

What did you take to the hospital that you didn’t need or use? What do you wish you had taken or sent someone after? Tell us in the comments below!

Check out Prenatal Yoga which played a contributing factor in my super quick and easy birth that required almost no healing!

Best Vibes, S.S.Blake

Other Articles You May Like:

• Common Pregnancy Myths & Fear Mongering Misinformation as Told By a Midwife
• Birthing From Within; a book review for new parents
• Your Beliefs Around Birth Can Make Labor Easier or Harder
• Expecting Trouble; Prenatal Care in America (A Book Review)
• The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding; a book review for new parents

Author

S.S.Blake; Spiritual Life Coach, Yoga + Meditation Teacher and Founder of Earth and Water

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