Hospital bag for baby?

[DaleyBump]

Done to death, I know! I've packed my bag, now onto baby's bag but I've never done this before and I have no idea what I actually need in it. I'm due on the 30th of November so it'll probably be freezing but I can't think what clothes to bring for the wee one. Any tips would be massively appreciated :)

Vest babygro cardi hat and either all in one coat or blanket

I always find blankets easier because they can go over car seat harness and can be folded to create extra layers and when the car gets hot they are not so much of a faff to remove.

Obviously you will need a few of the clothing type items because for some odd reason even if your only kept in 6 hours after delivery its fun to piss arse about changing them lots just because you can.

Forgot to add you need other stuff as well

Nappies,cotton wool (they tend to get odd about wipes for bum changes)

Nappies, cotton wool, at least 3 vests and baby grows and a couple of cardies. A hat for the way home and a blanket. On baby grows - for the first few times you're dressing then I would recommend one that had poppers down the middle - I remember really struggling trying to get an over the head one on in the hospital and getting all flustered in front of the midwife!

I think it's muddling to have "my bag" and "baby's bag" tbh. I found it much simpler to have "labour stuff", "ward stuff" and "going home stuff" because you have very little space. It's easier to pack, and easier for harassed partners to sort out later on.

But yes, nappies, wipes/cotton wool, sacks, vests, babygros, a couple of hats, a nice blanket as hospital ones can be ugly

Oh and please don't use a coat or snowsuit in a car seat. They stop the harness from fitting properly, to the extent that you might as well not bother strapping them in

X3 baby grows
X3 baby vests
X2 cardigans ( one thicker to wear out when leaving)
X2 hats
X2 mittens
X1 booties incase cold feet and for on way home

Blanket to use inside and to wrap/ cover when leaving

Don't bother with a baby coat. Newborn size lasts very little size and the hood will annoy baby if inside. Plus overheat. And should wear coat in car seat anyway as mentioned above as car seat straps won't go tight enough with.

This should last you at least 2 days if not 3 so any longer you can get someone to bring in more/ you will prob be home and can bring more if needed

You're very organised Daley

I've learned something from this, I automatically assumed I'd put baby in a snowsuit over a babygro to go home, I didn't realise that it would affect the safety of the carseat So just to check I've got this right, it would be better to have baby in vest ,babygro, cardi, hat and possibly socks/bootees, then put baby into the car seat and layer blanket over the top?

That's why I use blankets a nurse told me eons ago (back in The polystyrene car seat that you could buy from the hospital days) so its now I've always done it, but I'm always a bit nervous about pointing it out as on a thread in chat once I got flamed for saying it- think it much have been a day when the baby over heaters were hanging around.

Yes, put baby in car seat in indoor clothing, then buckle up, then tuck blankets round.

When they get older, fleece jackets are ok - thin but cosy. It's the more padded/puffa style that can be really dangerous in a harness, though toasty warm for general life.

Yes indoor clothes with hat/ booties/ mittens/ blanket

It's far easier too as means if they are asleep or fall asleep in car seat you can just lift them out when home at let them carry on sleep

Oops- let them carry on sleeping without worrying about them being too hot and taking suit off leaving them waking up

I have packed in mine:

• 3 x vests and sleep suits
• small pack of nappies
• pack of wipes (never bothered with all that cotton wool malarkey with DS and don't intend to with this one!)
• nappy bags
• present from baby for DS (assuming DS will visit us in hospital, but hopefully we'll be coming straight home)
• blanket
• hat
• muslin (DS was a puker so I want to be prepared!)

Oh and I would say x2 hats as they will often take first one and put on baby when they are still unwashed and just wrapped in blanket and hat. So after baby is washed and clean you don't really want to be putting the first hat back on

I added to my bag a couple of baby nighties, some vests, nappies, cotton wool and a blanket.
Then in the car was another bag full of baby clothes and a pack of nappies.
I was really lucky to be able to go to a maternity unit for three nights after each of mine. If you do stay in hospital then you can always ask friends, DH, DM to bring you more supplies.

Thanks for all the tips :) are there any products I need? Planning on using cotton wool and water but apart from cotton wool, nappies and clothes I'm stuck can you tell I don't have much experience with babies?

No products for baby (i recall being told not to wash DS for at least a few days) but if you plan to bf it's worth having some lansinoh cream as it can be sore at first.

Sorry, that wasn't very clear. I meant products like nappies and cotton wool, not actually producty products. I've already packed lansinoh, thanks :)

I'm wandering do we need sudocreme or something? Do you put that on from day 1 as a prevention?

No, you don't need cream until they're actually red. They used to in the Olden Days because nappies weren't as absorbent so the skin needed protection from the urine, but nowadays even cloth nappies wick it away so fast it isn't an issue.

I've heard that a layer of vaseline on their bums makes meconium easier to get off, is that right or should I not use it?

Sorry, I just have no idea about babies. If I was having a cat, that would be different

Meconium is ... quite something. I can't see that Vaseline would hinder.

Don't bother with Vaseline.

It's funny how things change. In 1999 I had DS1 and they were religious about bathing babies on the postnatal ward. There was an auxiliary who showed us how. Now you are not meant to give them a bath for a week? We were given a pack of Johnson's baby wipes in the bounty pack- so I assumed they were ok to use on a newborn!

I've packed 3 x vests/babygros, 3 x sleep suits, socks, booties, 2x indoor hats, 1 xoutdoor hat, cardigan, mittens, blankets, nappies, cotton wool, Vaseline, bottle and carton of aptamil (just in case) and teddy...

Re car seat warmth-this time I've had a cosy toes for the maxi Cosi and it's been brilliant.

www.mothercare.com/Maxi-Cosi-Cabriofix-Footmuff---Black-Jacquard/299690,default,pd.html

This is such a huge help, thanks everyone