Ready for the big day
Hospital bag checklist
What to pack for you, your baby, and your birth partner — tick things off as you pack, or print this page to take with you.
When to pack
Most midwives suggest having your bag ready by around 36 weeks — only about 5% of babies actually arrive on their due date, so labour can start earlier than planned and you don't want to be hunting for a going-home outfit between contractions. Pack it once, keep it by the door, and top up anything consumable (snacks, pads) closer to your due date.
Why it's worth doing properly
A well-packed bag means less stress in the moment for you and your birth partner — no last-minute dash home for a charger or a change of clothes. Where we review a product ourselves, we've linked straight to it so you're not left guessing which nappies or maternity pads to buy.
A few packing tips
- Use packing cubes or bags-within-the-bag to keep your things, baby's things, and your partner's things separate — much easier to find in a hurry.
- Pack a couple of days' worth of clothes, not a suitcase — most stays are one to two nights, and you can always ask someone to bring more.
- Keep the bag by the door (or in the car boot) from 36 weeks, so it's ready whenever labour starts.
- Split it into two bags if you can — one for labour, one for after the birth — so your birth partner isn't rummaging through everything mid-labour.
Printing this page
Press Cmd/Ctrl + P for a tidy, checklist-only version to take with you — shop links and buttons are hidden automatically.
For you
For labour
For your baby
For your birth partner
Our hospital bag picks
Maternity Bras
M&S
2pk Non Wired Nursing Bras A-D
A 2-pack of non-wired nursing bras with easy-access clips, replacing the discontinued Flexifit line at M&S.
£20.00 (pack of 2)
Bravado Designs
Body Silk Seamless Nursing & Maternity Bra
A stretch-to-fit seamless bra that moves with your changing shape through pregnancy and nursing.
£38.00
Cake Maternity
Croissant Nursing Bra
A soft flexi-wire t-shirt nursing bra with contour cups for support and comfort, replacing the discontinued Tutti Frutti line.
£64.90
Anita
Basic Microfibre Wireless Nursing Bra
A firm, wire-free nursing bra from German lingerie specialist Anita, built with moulded microfibre cups and sized up to an H cup for fuller busts.
About £42
Mamalicious
Seamless Nursing & Maternity Bra
A budget-friendly seamless nursing bra sold in multipacks, designed to flex through pregnancy and into breastfeeding.
Around £22 for a 2-pack
HOTMilk
Lunar Eclipse Full Cup Nursing Bra
A wirefree, full-coverage nursing bra in sleek microfiber with a natural lift, replacing the discontinued Eclipse Black line.
£27.99
Hospital Bag Essentials
NUK
Disposable Maternity Briefs, Pack of 5
High-waisted, stretchy mesh disposable briefs designed to be worn over maternity pads and thrown away after the heaviest postpartum days.
£5.49 (pack of 5)
Kit & Kin
Hypoallergenic Newborn Nappies Size 1
Plant-based, chlorine-free nappies with an umbilical cord cut-out, sized for newborns from birth.
£12.00 (38 pack)
Lansinoh
HPA Lanolin Nipple Cream
A purified lanolin cream that soothes sore, cracked nipples and is safe to leave on before feeding — a hospital bag staple.
£9.49 (40ml)
Medela
Ultra Breathable Nursing Pads, Pack of 50
Ultra-thin, individually wrapped disposable breast pads for catching leaks in the early days of establishing feeding.
£5.94
Weleda
Peri Prep Perineal Massage Oil 30ml
A midwife-developed oil for perineal massage in late pregnancy, helping prepare and soften the perineum before birth.
£12.00 (30ml)
Natracare
New Mother Maternity Pads, Pack of 10
High-absorbency, organic-cotton maternity pads designed for the heavier bleeding after birth, not standard period pads.
£7.68 (pack of 10)
Swaddles & Sleepsuits
ergoPouch
Cocoon Swaddle Bag, 1.0 Tog
A zip-up swaddle bag with a wing design that swaddles the arms while leaving the hips and legs free to move naturally.
£35.00
Tommee Tippee
The Original Grobag Baby Sleep Bag, 2.5 Tog
A cotton-rich sleep bag with a hip-healthy, roomy fit that removes the need for loose blankets in the cot.
£26.00
Purflo
Baby Sleep Bag, 2.5 Tog
A sleep bag with a wide, tapered base designed to keep a baby in a safe back-sleeping position and prevent them sliding down.
£40.00
Love To Dream
Swaddle UP Original, 1.0 Tog
An arms-up swaddle design that lets babies self-soothe with hands near their face while keeping hips loose and healthy.
£27.99
HALO
SleepSack Swaddle, 1.5 Tog
A zip-up swaddle sack with adjustable wings that let arms be swaddled in, out, or hands-to-face, without full re-swaddling.
£24.99
SwaddleMe (Summer Infant)
Original Swaddle, Pack of 2
An adjustable wrap swaddle with hook-and-loop wings, offering a lower-cost entry point than zip-up swaddle bags.
£24.99 (pack of 2)
Nappies & Wipes
Pampers
Pampers 99% Water Baby Wipes
Pampers' fragrance-free, 99% water wipe range, positioned between budget wipes and ultra-minimal options like WaterWipes.
About £6-12 depending on pack size
Pampers
Baby-Dry Nappies, Jumbo+ Pack
The UK's most-trusted nappy, with up to 12 hours of leak protection so nights stay dry and undisturbed.
£15.00 (Jumbo+ pack)
Naty
BioEmbrace Nappies
Plant-based, chlorine-free disposable nappies aimed at parents wanting a lower-plastic, eco-conscious option.
From about £10 per pack
Huggies
Pure Baby Wipes, 0% Plastic
99% pure water wipes with no added fragrance, designed to be gentle enough for newborn skin from day one.
£2.00 (56 wipes)
WaterWipes
Original Baby Wipes, 99.9% Water
Wipes made from 99.9% water and a drop of fruit extract, aimed at newborn and sensitive skin.
About £15 for a 9-pack (540 wipes)
Aldi Mamia
Mamia Nappies, Size 3, Jumbo Pack
Aldi's own-brand nappy, consistently rated one of the best budget options for leak protection.
About £7 for a Jumbo Pack (44-50 nappies)
Postpartum Recovery
Lansinoh
Cold & Warm Post-Birth Relief Pad
Single-use gel pads that chill in the fridge and slot into maternity pads for perineal cooling relief.
Around £6 for 4
Frida Mom
Upside Down Peri Bottle
An angled, upside-down squeeze bottle for rinsing the perineum after birth without having to lean or twist over the toilet.
About £11
Carriwell
Hot & Cold Pack Intimate
A reusable gel pack shaped to fit inside maternity underwear, used chilled for perineal swelling or warmed for cramping and engorgement.
£24.95
Frida Mom
Instant Ice Maxi Pads
Disposable, ready-to-use ice maxi pads that activate instantly without a freezer.
Around £13 for 24
Always
Discreet Post Partum Pants, Medium, Pack of 18
High-absorbency maternity pads designed for the heavier bleeding that follows birth.
Around £20.88 for 18
Abena
Net XL Disposable Underwear, Pack of 5
Disposable net pants for holding maternity pads securely in place after birth, breathable and stretchable for comfort.
Around £8.99 for 5
Muslins & Burp Cloths
Etta Loves
GOTS Organic Cotton Animal Print Sensory Muslin Squares, Pack of 3
Premium organic muslins with high-contrast sensory prints designed to catch a newborn's attention, priced well above standard multi-packs.
£26.00 for 3
Done by Deer
Muslins, Pack of 2, Playground Blue
A small, gift-friendly pack of double-layered cotton muslins with playful prints, priced per-cloth well above the bulk multi-packs in this category.
£9.95 for 2
bearmoss
Muslin Squares, 100% Cotton Burp Cloths, Pack of 12
Large, ultra-absorbent 100% cotton muslin squares for burping and general baby cleanup, pack of 12.
Around £12.99 for 12
aden + anais
Essentials Muslin Squares, Safari Babes, Pack of 5
100% cotton muslin squares, multi-use baby cloths ideal for burping, swaddling and nursing, pack of 5.
Around £22.99 for 5
Mothercare
Grey Print and Plain Muslins, Pack of 6
A 10-pack own-brand muslin set aimed squarely at everyday newborn mess, not luxury extras.
Around £15.99 for 6
aden + anais
Essentials Muslin Squares, Pack of 3
Large, 100% cotton muslin squares that soften with every wash and double as a light swaddle.
Around £15 for 3
Breastfeeding Accessories
Lansinoh
Breastmilk Storage Bags (50 Pack)
Pre-sterilised, self-standing freezer bags that each hold up to 180ml of expressed milk and write straight onto the label strip.
£9.99
Bébé au Lait
5-in-1 Multi Use Nursing Cover (Banana Leaf)
A boned, breathable cotton apron-style cover that keeps its shape away from the body so baby gets airflow, with a built-in pocket for extras like a burp cloth.
£30.50
Bravado Designs
Reusable Nursing Pads (2 Pack)
Washable, contoured breast pads with a leak-resistant backing that hold their shape better than flat disposable pads and pay for themselves within a couple of months.
£15.00
Weleda
Nipple Balm 25g
A lanolin-free organic calendula balm for sore or cracked nipples, safe to leave on for breastfeeding.
£8.25
Lansinoh
TheraPearl 3-in-1 Breast Therapy (2 Pack)
Reusable gel pads that go warm for engorgement and let-down or cold for swelling relief, contoured to sit inside a nursing bra.
£13.49
Haakaa
Ladybug Silicone Milk Collector (75ml)
A one-piece silicone shell that sits inside a nursing bra to catch letdown and leaks from the opposite breast during a feed, with no suction pumping needed.
£12.99
Frequently asked questions
When should I pack my hospital bag?+
Aim to have it ready by 36 weeks. Only around 5% of babies actually arrive on their due date, and plenty come earlier, so packing with a few weeks to spare means you're not caught out.
Do I need anything different if I'm having a C-section?+
Pack looser, high-waisted underwear and softer, non-restrictive clothing that won't rub against the incision, plus a couple more nights of everything since C-section recovery usually means a longer hospital stay.
Do I need to bring the car seat into the hospital?+
No — leave it fitted in the car. Hospital staff will usually check it's there (or ask your partner to bring it to the car) before you're discharged, but you won't need it on the ward.
What shouldn't I bother packing?+
Full-size toiletries, a going-home outfit for a newborn in one size only (pack a couple of sizes), and too many outfit changes for yourself — most people over-pack clothes and under-pack nappies and pads.