My husband and I are expecting a baby boy any week now, and we are in the process of packing “the hospital bag.”
I know the excitement, the anxiety, and the ever-present desire to be super prepared for one of the biggest events of your life. If you’re anything like Rob and me, you’ve probably scoured countless lists. You’ve looked at the momma Facebook groups. Maybe you’ve even conducted a mini-survey among your mom friends about what exactly you need to take to the hospital. And if you’re really like us, you’ve probably started packing a hospital bag big enough for a month-long European adventure! It’s natural to be excited about one of the biggest day of your life.
But here’s a piece of advice we got from the oh-so-wise nurses: Don’t over pack. Yep, that’s right! That was rule number one. At first, I was a little skeptical. “But what if I need my three different kinds of lip balm? Or those scented candles to set the mood in the delivery room?” Well, spoiler alert: I don’t.
Instead, here are the important things that mom’s and dads should bring to the hospital for the arrival of their little one. This is a list my husband and I have put together with the wisdom of the fantastic staff at South Shore Hospital. And we added some from other parents who have already gone through this wild birthing process.
Here’s a pared-down list for all the mommies and daddies-to-be: