What To Pack In Your Hospital Bag For Your Second Baby

Well, momma, it is officially time to start packing your hospital bag for your second baby!

This isn’t your first rodeo, so hopefully, you don’t pack your entire house like you did last time.

I know that is what I did with my daughter.

I didn’t know what to pack in my hospital bag as a new expecting mom so I just packed everything and really only used about half of what I brought.

Pillows. Blankets. Diapers. Wipes. You name it. I brought all of this with me not knowing the hospital provided most of this stuff.

As a first-time mom, there were a lot of things that I just did not know.

But as a second-time mom, I now know what I really need to take to the hospital and still feel prepared once my baby girl makes her arrival.

So with all this in mind and knowing that I would be delivering this baby at the same hospital that I delivered my daughter at, I am going to be more intentional and minimal with my packing this go-round.

I have already shared what I put on my registry for my second baby, so it’s only right that I share with you all what I will be packing in my hospital bag so that maybe it will be helpful for a new and expecting mom.

Here is what I’m packing in my hospital bag for my second baby.

*This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a commission for purchases made through links in this post. Please check out our Disclaimer Policy for more details.

When To Pack Your Hospital Bag For Your Second Baby

Before we dive into my hospital bag must-haves, let’s talk about when you should start packing your hospital bag.

And to be honest, you can pack your bag at any time during your pregnancy.

But is there such a thing as packing your bag too early?

If you pack your bag super early while you are still in the second trimester, your bag will just be taking up space in the corner.

But if you pack it too late, then you will be scrambling around trying to not forget anything that you might actually need (like underwear lol).

If I had to guess a sweet spot, you can start packing when you have hit 30 weeks.

And I’m only saying this for my ladies who are early packers and want to get started early.

For myself personally, I wait until a month before I’m due, so 36 weeks, to start packing mine.

And the reason that I like to wait until then is that pretty much after 37 weeks, the baby can come at any point after that and usually be fine.

I went over 40 weeks with my first, but I still had my bag packed and had it in my car for that entire last month of pregnancy.

Nina Spears, a birth doula and founder of Baby Chick, also recommends having your bags packed around week 35 and in the car by week 37 at the latest.

Obviously, can anything happen before 35 weeks? Absolutely.

Hopefully, your doctor is communicating with you about any complications and situations that arise so that you can have some time to prepare, but things do happen.

It’s not the end of the world if you don’t have everything you need in your hospital bag if the situation calls for your immediate admittance into the hospital.

But if you have the time and everything is looking good with your pregnancy, then consider getting your hospital bag ready at the beginning of that last month of your pregnancy.

What I Packed In My Hospital Bag For My Second Baby

As I packed my hospital bag, another thing that I had to consider was that I am pregnant during this COVID-19 pandemic.

So my labor and delivery experience will be a lot different from the one that I had with my daughter.

Starting with my husband being the only support person that will be allowed in the room while I’m giving birth and afterward while I’m in postpartum recovery.

With my daughter, I was able to have my husband, mom, and my sister in the room and they all could go and come as they please, so there wasn’t a need to pack anything for my husband.

Well, this time is different, because he may not be able to leave at all during this time which means he will need to have some items as well to stay a night or two.

I’m going to start with what I packed in my hospital bag for my baby and then move on to what I packed for myself.

Hospital Bag For Baby

So your baby won’t need much, but there are still a few things that you will want to bring.

• Diapers/Wipes

The hospital will likely provide diapers and wipes and I’m sure they will be one of the more well-known brands such as Pampers or Huggies. But if you don’t want to use those brands or you are choosing cloth diapers, then you may want to consider bringing your own diapers. I like using Pampers diapers on newborns so I will be using what the hospital has and bring a couple as a backup.

• Onesies/Going Home Outfit

Your baby obviously needs something to wear while they are in hospital. I’m bringing a couple of onesies as well as a cute outfit for her to take a picture in once we are more settled in.

• Swaddles/Blankets

The hospital will also provide blankets and will show you how to swaddle your baby with those blankets. Once again, you can use those blankets if you are not too particular about that. I packed these swaddles from the SwaddleMe because I like how easy they are to wrap the baby with velcro.

• Car Seat

And the last hospital bag essential that you will need for your baby is a car seat. If you don’t have anything else, you have to have your car seat installed in your car. They won’t let you leave the hospital without a proper infant car seat to put your newborn in.

Hospital Bag For Mom

Everything that I packed for the baby will be in my diaper bag and everything that I pack for myself and my husband will be in a small carry-on size suitcase so that way they are separated.

• Document Folder

Ashley Marcin from Healthline recommends having something to put your ID, insurance, and other important documents you need in which makes sense. You will also be getting other paperwork and other documents at the hospital while you are there, so having a folder will help you be a little more organized that way.

• Toiletries

Think of all the stuff you would need for a small staycation such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, body wash, deodorant, etc. I will be packing all these travel-sized essentials along with a little bit of makeup to look a little more put together if I’m up for taking pictures.

• Going Home Outfit

What I realized while I was at the hospital was that I stayed in my pajamas for the majority of my visit, so I didn’t wear any of the clothes that I packed. So this time, I’m just going to pack a couple of loose and comfortable outfits to go home in.

• Comfortable Nursing-Friendly Pajamas

You need nursing-friendly pajamas especially if you plan on breastfeeding like I am. You need to have your breast accessible without having to lift your entire shirt up to feed your baby.

• Nursing Bras

Another breastfeeding essential that you will need. And also most nursing bras are very comfortable which is what you want after you give birth.

• Nursing Pads & Nipple Cream

Your milk may come in while you are at the hospital if it has not already come in. As a second-time mom, my breasts have already started producing milk and have leaked a little during this pregnancy so I will make sure to have these packed as well.

• Postpartum Underwear

The hospital will provide the mesh underwear that you will find yourself wearing more so than underwear but I will still have my granny panties packed as well as backup. Don’t pack any panties that you don’t want to get messed up.

• Warm Socks/Slippers

Hospitals are often very cold and as I said above, I will be in my pajamas the majority of the time and I don’t want my feet to be cold, so I will be packing warm socks and slippers to move around in.

• Shower Flip Flops

When you get the strength to move around after delivering your baby, you are going to be ready to take a shower. And hospital showers remind me of locker room showers. I’m sure they are cleaned regularly, but I just personally feel more comfortable wearing shower flip-flops.

• Phone/Chargers

Since my husband and I will be in the hospital most of this time alone, we need to have our phones charged up and all the things that we need to communicate readily to go at all times because our families will want to talk to us since they will not be able to be with us at the hospital.

• Camera

Once again we want to capture these first few moments of our baby’s arrival so having our camera is a must. We will also be utilizing our phones to get pictures and videos.

• Nursing Pillow

And the last thing I will be bringing is my Boppy Nursing Pillow. I found this to be really helpful with my daughter when she was born so I know I will find it useful again with this baby.

Your Turn

Well, that is all that I will be packing in my hospital bag for my second baby. As far as my husband goes, he will just need a couple of comfortable outfits, his toiletries, and his phone and charger. It doesn’t take much for him. But now I want to hear from you. What are your hospital bag must-haves and essentials that you cannot go without? Let me know in the comments below and while you are still here, check out my previous post below. Until next time!

• Read More: Maintaining Healthy Habits During Pregnancy

Love,

Just Jass