Vests, sleepsuits etc - hospital bag question...

[Skiptonlass]

Just starting to think about starting to pack a hospital bag and I'm seeing recommendations for 'vests' baby gro and sleepsuits. I'm not 100% sure I know what the difference is :)

A vest - short sleeved or sleeveless, no legs, poppers under bum?
Sleepsuits - all in one, long sleeves and legs, inbuilt feet?
Baby gro - how is this different to a Sleepsuit?

Do I need a vest under a babygro?


Ah...the cluelessness of the first time mother :)

[fishcake84]

You are right about what vests and sleepsuits are, and babygros are the same as sleepsuits.

Whether you need vest under sleepsuit depends on the weather but is probably a yes. Remember the advice often is to put baby in one more layer than you are wearing. So a vest under their suit or babygro is fairly usual (in my opinion) unless it is scorching.

[AbbeyRoadCrossing]

Yes, vests are like t shirts but with poppers under the bum (mainly short sleeves but you can get long and no sleeve too) - very good for under sleepsuits or clothes as a nappy leak usually only messes up the vest!
I think sleepsuits and babygros are the same thing - some sort of all in one is good. Ones with feet and mits included are good for the early months, then you don't have to faff about with mitts and socks.

[NeedSpeed]

Sleepsuit and baby grow is the same

Yes you always need a best underneath a sleep suit or any other outfit, unless it's 30 degrees

[mrsnec]

It was 26 degrees when dd was born and they insisted on both.

I second the sleepsuits with the mits. I couldn't get her to keep mitts on. I got some sleepsuits with mitts from JL. They weren't brilliant quality but lovely design.

I made a mistake packing three different sizes just in case because my scans were all over the place so this time I'm just going to pack 3 sleepsuits and 3 vests all in the newborn size.

dd was 3kg at birth but I'd been told she was both tiny and huge at different stages so I had tiny baby clothes and the size up ones too. She grew into the bigger ones but I had no need to take them to hospital with me.

[Skiptonlass]

How many of each would you take for a. Normal birth and b. Planned c section (not sure which I'm having yet!!)

[MyNameIsSuz]

I took three of each but it wasn't enough, I'd probably take five. All you really need is enough to get you through a day, you can always ask someone to bring you more. My mum arrived via asda with a new packet!

[mrsnec]

Mine was an elcs sort of. I think I'd take that many in no matter what because if you're in longer people can bring you more but definitely 3 in the bag to start with. I was in for 5 days (not UK) and Dh and dm bought in clean stuff. We also didn't worry too much with mothercare and m and s being very close to the hospital so I could easily get everything I needed. I know in the UK at the moment people going home the same day after a straightforward birth so you wouldn't need much.

[TitusAndromedon]

Can I piggyback on this question, please? I'm expecting twins in November. So far I've bought short-sleeved vests to go under their sleepsuits, and I'm going to get them each a cardigan in case they need an additional layer. Plus, I'll obviously have blankets and things if necessary. Is that okay, or do they need to be in long-sleeved vests since it might be cold in November?

[TeamBacon]

Take 3 of each, but have another bag you can throw in the car with plenty of spare ones, nappies, towels, pads etc so your other half cab easily grab it. Saves taking a mahoosive bag to the labour ward

[Sparrowlegs248]

I had a planned c section and was in 2 days. I took 3 vests & 3 sleepsuits in newborn size from mothercare. DS was 9lb 1 and they were plenty big enough. He hasntvreally worn a vest andva sleepsuit yet though 24 days on but I think the weather is set to be cooler at night.

[AbbeyRoadCrossing]

Hospitals are baking hot and they provide blankets, so I'd just bring cardigan and blanket for going home in, if cold weather outside. If someone is driving you can usually park in a drop-off bay quite near anyway so they aren't outside for long.
If you end up having a c section they like a hat as it's cold in the theatre.

[applecore0317]

You need a vest under the babygrow for the first 24 hours as baby's cannot regulate their body temperature initially so the midwives wrap them up. I was boiling in hospital but they wrapped my DD up like it was winter :)

[applecore0317]

I was in overnight and only ended up needing two babygrow, two vests, a Cardigan and a cellular blanket for going home

[iknowimcoming]

OP - now you know what's what with sleep suits and vests, make sure you pass this knowledge on to your dp! If necessary leave post it notes on relevant items in the drawers so as when you say can you bring me another couple of vests up later they know what they are looking for! (You can tell my dh was clueless can't you?!). I would also suggest a small notepad and pen in your bag for lists of stuff for dp or dm etc to get/bring for you and some empty carrier bags for people to take dirty clothes etc home for you, good luck!

[CarrotPuff]

DS was born in the morning and we went home in the evening the same day. He was on third, and last change of clothes by that time. So if you think you might stay in a bit longer I would take at least 5 of each. But as pps said, you'll have your OH to bring you clean stuff if needed.

I wouldn't buy long sleeve vests just yet as they are a bit of a pain when you are trying to put baby into long sleeve babygro too. They can be useful later though under dresses/dungarees. But you can buy them later once you think you need them. I would use short sleeve vest and long sleeve babygro and if it's chilly put a cardi on as well.

[Skiptonlass]

Thanks everyone! I will be leaving little piles of labelled things behind for dh to pick up if needed.

we don't live in the UK and supermarkets here don't sell baby stuff, most of mine has been bought back in the UK, so it's not simple to just send him out for things. It took me several different chemists and a dictionary to locate maternity pads, for example!

[Boosiehs]

I had to send DH to Marks & Sparks when DS was born as he didn't fit into any ofthe newborn things I had bought - he was unexpectedly ginormous (4.13kg, or 9lb11).

In early September he wore nappy, vest, babygrow, hat and blanket home. We were in for a while so went through a lot of stuff!

[annatha]

Skiptonlass for extra piece of mind you could pack your hospital bag assuming for say, a 2 night stay, and then pack a bag of extras to be left in the car/at home that dp could bring in if you need to stay longer? That way you know he'll bring the right stuff in but won't have loads of luggage on the ward as he can take dirty clothes home with him.

[DorotheaHomeAlone]

Side note but if you struggled to locate pads can I suggest really stocking up. I needed way more than I thought and if you have a c section it would prob be up to your DH to locate them next time.

[mrsatkinson]

Titus, im having twins by elcs on friday and am taking 4 vests and 2 sleepsuits each in tiny baby. If I need anything else I will ask people to bring it in.
I would probably opt for a mix of long and short sleeved, I understand hospitals can get quite stuffy

[Skiptonlass]

Good idea annatha! I will do that!

Dorothea, I only have 3x20 pads... I'm assuming I'll need loads more?

[Superexcited]

I plan to take 3 vests, 3 sleep suits, 2 hats, a cardigan and a blanket for coming home (and a fair few nappies). I am hoping to just stay in for a few hours after the birth as I did with my last baby but I want to have enough to last at least one overnight.

[ALongTimeComing]

If you are struggling to locate pads..when you do find them a mix of thick and thin is good. I bled for 5 weeks but heavily for about 4 days which surprised me. Once you stop bleeding heavily then thinner pads feel better.

Just make sure your first lot of baby clothes are washed and in an easily accessible place at home. We went through my overpacked hospital bag and I had to get DH to empty the drawer of other clothes in to a bag and bring it in.

[Doublebubblebubble]

I concur with what others have said in that it's always a good idea to pack as if you are going to be in for two days. So im taking 3 (vests and sleepsuits) per day as DD leaked a lot.... (Mainly because the first time I put a nappy on her I put it the wrong way round and didn't pull the flappy bits of the nappy out...- very very naive first time mum here) Also, make sure to pack baby's first clothes at the top of the bag as more often then not daddy is the one the midwives will ask to get it ready and if your dh\dp is anything like mine it'll mean him throwing clothes all over the shop and saying that he cant find it and you having to find it yourself, haha mucking up your nice and tidy packing that you've spent weeks prepariing, I'm not bitter at all lol as for the bleeding - I bled (lochia and blood blood) for about 4 weeks so yeah, you're maybe going to need more. They do good and relatively cheap maternity stuff in wilkos and sainsburys. (I found disposable knickers in wilkos for £1!!!! Soooo handy and attractive! I've found that on my way to work to get my lunch like everyday I'll also pick up a pack of nappies, breast pads and may pads. I have a supply that would make an apocalypse nut jealous lol

[Doublebubblebubble]

Currently 33 weeks - so I know exactly what I won't be bringing and will be bringing - also if you haven't got it on your list already you will need to bring lip balm as hospitals are soooooooooooooo dry!