Dad’s Hospital Bag Checklist: Must-Have Items for Labor and Delivery

Hospital Bag for Dad 

As a new Mama, it can be a bit overwhelming when it comes to packing for the hospital…Especially when you’re packing for the whole family. That’s why I created the Hospital Bag for Dad Checklist, hopefully to relieve some of your load!

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Something I was not expecting during my labor and delivery experience was how tiring and demanding it would be on my husband. I was in labor for 26 hours, but so was my husband… standing with me through every contraction, doing hip compressions, holding my hair every time I threw up, and everything in between! If I could go back, there’s a few things I would add to my husband‘s hospital bag to better prepare him and sustain him through the process! So don’t make the same mistake, you’re not moving into the hospital, but there’s definitely some key essentials you’ll need to be comfortable and refreshed! 

The Hospital and nurses will serve Mama and Baby hand and foot, you two are the patients so it makes sense. Not only is it what you need but it’s what you desire. However, your sweet husband is right there in the thick of it with you. So, this list is simply a way I found to love and serve my husband on one of the most important days of his life.  

After trial & error, I think we have compiled the simplest yet essential Hospital Bag for Dads!! 

1.Comfy clothes!  

Something that he’s comfortable being in for quite a while, including shoes! My husband had three outfits packed and I think that was the perfect amount! The day of delivery, the day after, and a going home outfit! Being in soft comfy clothes can really make you feel right at home! 

2. Snacks & your fav drinks/electrolytes 

This is KEY, you’ll be hungry and need some comfort snacks! I suggest bringing a variety of sweet/salty and healthy/candy. You’ll never know what he’ll be in the mood for at 3am. Something I wish I would have remembered was electrolytes packets for me and my husband. We both felt so dehydrated and felt like we couldn’t drink enough water.  

3. Pillow and Blanket  

Ask any Dad, and he’ll tell you those hospital recliners or pull-out beds are some of the best nights of sleep they’ve ever had…. NOT! But seriously, bringing a blanket and pillow from home was a game changer for the both of us! We bought black pillowcases for like $5 from Walmart and that’s what we used to transport our blankets & protect our pillows! It was so nice to not have to worry about them getting ruined. This is a MUST! 

Black King Size Pillow Cases

4. Diffuser and essential oils 

Hospitals have a smell and there’s just no way around it. We went back-and-forth on bringing our diffuser because it just felt like such a hassle and probably wasn’t going to be worth it… Oh my word, we could not have made it without our diffuser, it made our room feel so peaceful and such a welcoming place for our new baby! & it was the perfect task to keep my husband busy! Every few hours he would refill it and choose a new scent! I would recommend citrus and fresh scents! 10000/10 do it again.  

5. Extension cord  

Just bring it, trust me! Plug-ins are hard to come by and very inconveniently placed in hospital rooms! Some people suggest bringing an extra-long phone charger, but that feels a little pointless. You may want to plug in your computer, iPad, or whatever electronics you may have! Extension cord was the way to go for our family! 

6. Toiletry bag 

This may seem obvious, but my husband almost forgot his… I would suggest buying a cheap pre-packed toiletry bag from amazon that you can just leave in your hospital bag leading up to your due-date! Trust me, this will make your life 10x easier!

Toiletry Bag Kit

7. Push present  

It doesn’t have to be anything fancy (or it could be) but just something simple and intentional after your sweet baby is born to remind your wife that her hard work is seen and appreciated… Housing and growing human life for almost 10 months is one of the greatest joys of being woman, but also one of the greatest sacrifices! Let your wife know that she is seen and loved! 

I hope this Hospital bag Dad Checklist was helpful and gave you some inspiration for your packing list! Packing for the hospital was something that really helped me in those last few weeks. It kept me busy and got me excited!  

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Leave a comment below of your must-have hospital bag dad checklist item!