Hospital bag for Dec baby

[Amyyy1]

Hi all, FTM here!

I am due early December. How many vests, cardigans etc should I be packing in the hospital bag for baby?? And should I take a mixture of long sleeve and short sleeve vests as lots of people have said it's really hot in hospitals or just long sleeve? Do people take their own blankets for baby as well once they're born or do hospitals use their own??

Thank you!!

Hey, also due December, second baby.

Dd was October and we were told to use only hospital clothing. They couldn't cope with things getting mixed into the wrong wash and not being returned so was all their clothes until we left.

Dd worse short vest and sleep suit and all babies had to wear hats, except her because she had a huge mop of hair. Scratch mitts were popped on as well.

There was a trolley with all the clothes which came round at various points and the people in the hospital knit wee cardigans and coats for the babies.

I'm going to check if that's the same for me re covid but if not I will pack short sleeve and bodysuits, cardigans and hats. Can always get someone to send more if I run out but I would probably pack six of each to start if I need to take.

Blankets were also all provided so I just needed going home outfit and blanket etc.

@icedaisy are you in the U.K.? There are no hospital clothes here as far as I’m aware.

OP I had 2 winter babes and took short sleeved vests and sleepsuits, 3 of each plus a couple of hats and then a cardigan and blanket for going home. I also packed a bag with extras and left that at home for DH to being in if needed.

@icedaisy that sounds like a slightly unusual set up! Are you in the UK?

@Amyyy1 congrats. I’d take a mix of everything, short sleeve vests and sleepsuits will be fine but it’s good to have some back up things. I took an extra bag of back up stuff for both me and baby which we left in the car.

A few friends have ended up being kept in and their husbands had to go home and get extra pants for mum etc which hasn’t always gone well!

@Thesearmsofmine yes Scotland. I was surprised and arrived with a full bag and they sent it away with dh. May be area specific but big notice saying not to use your own clothes and if you do be prepared to lose them.

My friend works there and I donated a lot of Dd baby clothes afterwards.

Makes sense I suppose but appreciate won't be everywhere. Just thought I would suggest checking.

Dd was October and we were told to use only hospital clothing. They couldn't cope with things getting mixed into the wrong wash and not being returned so was all their clothes until we left huh? In the U.K. there are no hospital clothes and no one is doing your washing.

Take a mix- with newborns it’s a layering game. My LO was born in the month of August and she required a body suit under a baby gro. I kept a pack of nappies in the car and had a few in the bag. Scratch mittens and a hat. Tbh my husband went home and back so could bring things in and take things home, and I was in for 1 day. And yes I took in my own blanket.

@OnlyFoolsnMothers I've explained in my next post. I'm in Scotland and I can assure you that's what happened.

Of course it varies across area but I felt silly with my big bag being sent away.

They didn't do MY washing. They said they had instances of midwife changing a baby, clothes being put in hospital wash and not returned. So they used all their own stuff for all babies. I didn't make the rules up!!

Wow that’s really interesting @icedaisy I don’t think I would have liked that at all!

@Thesearmsofmine yes I wasn't sure at first. Dd was tiny and was out in a lovely little flower sleep suit. They let me keep that for her memory box and I donated loads in exchange.

I softened towards it when they said the patients in the dementia and elderly unit mainly spend time knitting and passing huge bundles up so there is a constant supply. Most ladies donated a few things after leaving as well.

Seems to be unusual so I'm sorry if I've confused matters. I didn't even realise my own hospital did this never mind that others didn't.

Congratulations and I hope all goes well OP.

Thank you all sm for your replies! I think the way forward from the sounds of it is to pack a few of each and then have a spare bag with more in the car incase it ends up being a slightly longer stay! I'm relieved to here that blankets are ok to take, my Nan has been super busy knitting and I'd love to use hers x

icedaisy apologies cross post!

An elf suit!

I had DC1 in Jan.
It was really warm in the hospital, and I'm usually a cold person.
I dressed DD in a long sleeved bodysuit and a sleep suit with built in scratch mittens.
We were given a knitted hat for her to wear by the midwife - colour coded for low risk/wanting help bf'ing/high risk/preemie etc.

I had a relatively straightforward delivery and established bf'ing quickly. I left 13hrs after birth.

I packed 3 bodysuits/3 sleepsuits/1 hat/3 pairs of mittens (not realising they had them built into the sleepsuits).

I only used one outfit.

I would advise packing light - the last thing you want to be doing is unpacking it all when you get home. Perhaps pack an extra bag to leave at home or make sure your DH knows where everything is if you need extra things.

Good luck!

I had a November baby and he was in a sleveless bodysuit, long sleeved sleepsuit, hospital provided hat. I was in for 2 nights and he was a bit sicky so we did use a good 8 or so outfits, but DH popped to Sainsbury's because I unexpectedly had a 5lb8oz baby who needed "tiny baby" size.

Our blanket and hat were knitted by volunteers and I cried when we were given them. This was in the South West.

I've had two Jan babies (well both due Jan, one rocked up in Feb)

I put them in a short sleeved vest under a onesie.

They wore a hat and thin jacket to leave hospital. We took lots of blankets to wrap them in.

We were going home in the car and they must not be in a thick coat in the car. Better to have lots of little layers