thread: hospital bag - what should i pack for bub?

  1. #1
    BellyBelly Member

    Oct 2009
    219

    hospital bag - what should i pack for bub?

    Couldn't find a thread on this, though I bet there is one somewhere!

    My bub is due mid November, and I live in Brisbane. It's already pretty darn warm. But I know air con in hospitals tends not to match the outdoor temperature. So what should I pack for bub? Would a wondersuit be too hot for hospital? Should I just take singlets and wraps? I'm hoping to come home same or next day but must be prepared in case stay is longer!

  2. #2
    Registered User

    Oct 2007
    Middle Victoria
    8,924

    i'd pack wondersuits, singlets, wraps, nappies.

  3. #3
    2013 BellyBelly RAK Recipient.

    Oct 2012
    453

    I just used singlet/t-shirt type things while in hospital with my summer babes, and then wrapped. The wondersuit buttons can be a pain at the best of times While sleep deprived and recovering from labor/c-section, I went for the minimalist approach! Depending on your hospital you might need nappies & wipes. If you're planning on bathing bub in hospital some cotton balls and cotton buds come in handy too.

  4. #4
    Registered User

    Oct 2010
    Gold Coast
    2,638

    I just packed everything mainly because I couldn't decide which one was cutest just as well because I packed some the next size up also which was good cause dd was bigger than I expected and skipped half the clothes I packed

  5. #5
    Registered User

    Jan 2011
    Perth
    3,268

    DD was born during a February heatwave in Perth but the hospital wards were freezing! That plus the fact that newborns can't control their body temperature means they still need to be rugged up but in removable layers so they do not overheat. My hospital provided tiny tops and swaddles but you definitely need singlets, hats/beanies, socks, and a few all in ones (not all hospitals provide clothes). If you plan to use a zip up/modern swaddle like Ergo or Swaddle me up bring those in. We never mastered old fashioned swaddling and wished we had known about the modern swaddles from the get go.

    Our hospy also provided disposables, baby wipes and johnsons bath products but bring your own wipes if you prefer, and newborns don't need soap or shampoo when bathing. Olive oil is goid for cradle cap and getting rid of the birth muck from their heads.

    Ps how exciting! I loved packing for my hospy stay.

  6. #6
    Registered User

    Sep 2013
    Netherlands
    605

    All the above advice sounds good. I'd also recommend packing a couple of different sizes. We only had the equivalent of 0000 clothes with us at the hospital and our baby never fit into them. Or you could just take 000 and maybe they'll be a little big but that should be fine.

  7. #7
    BellyBelly Life Subscriber
    Add Beautiful Disaster on Facebook Follow Beautiful Disaster On Twitter

    Jun 2010
    Brisbane - where it is never like it should be.
    3,411

    Couldn't find a thread on this, though I bet there is one somewhere!

    My bub is due mid November, and I live in Brisbane. It's already pretty darn warm. But I know air con in hospitals tends not to match the outdoor temperature. So what should I pack for bub? Would a wondersuit be too hot for hospital? Should I just take singlets and wraps? I'm hoping to come home same or next day but must be prepared in case stay is longer!
    Which hospital? If your going to Mater take warm stuff that place is like an ice box

  8. #8
    Registered User

    Nov 2008
    Perth, WA
    2,315

    The beanies are a great idea as most heat is lost through the head. Hospitals are like ice boxes! Does the hospital tell you what they do/don't provide? When we had DS, they provided onesies, nappies, wipes (like thick paper towels that we had to wet ourselves), beanies and singlets - saved washing while we were in hossy. We just needed a going home outfit

  9. #9
    Registered User

    Oct 2011
    Sydney
    442

    Check with the hospital, we didn't need to take anything because it was all provided, nappies, wipes, clothes, bath gear, wraps. But I did take a few outfits because the hospital ones were kind of drab.

  10. #10
    Registered User

    Oct 2007
    Middle Victoria
    8,924

    Think about whether you want first few days (photos/visitors) in borrowed hospital clothes or in your own clothes for baby. Part of the fun bit for me was to have baby in clothes that i had picked for them. Also helps to see baby as yours, and not the hospitals.

  11. #11
    2013 BellyBelly RAK Recipient.

    Sep 2011
    630

    I'm the total opposite Hotl - if the hospital provides baby clothes I'd take advantage of it so it means less laundry when you get home!

    To answer the original question definitely take a couple of sizes. It's really personal preference whether you use wonder suits, singlets, etc. I avoided singlets at all cost with DD because she hated having things pulled over her head. Hospital aircon tends to be a bit chilly but you can always wrap bub in extra blankets/swaddles if needed. And you can always send someone home to get more stuff if you need.

  12. #12
    Registered User

    Sep 2008
    Adelaide
    3,201

    I took some clothes for mine, ended up using hospital baby clothes (singlets, nighties) both times as DS was tiny and DD was a chucker. Newborns are usually all swaddled most of the time anyway so you can't really see what they have on. Take a nice Blanket or wrap instead. Keep the clothes for the trip home!

  13. #13
    Registered User

    Oct 2006
    In a house, on a hill with a big fat welcome mat!
    6,772

    I took clothes for bub but she stayed in hospital clothes the whole time til be dressed to go home because she was too small for any outfits! She came home in a 00000 onesie that my mum ran out to buy

  14. #14
    Registered User

    May 2011
    61

    Re: hospital bag - what should i pack for bub?

    THe hospital might supply a list of things that they recommend too (such as whether nappies and wipes are required or not). I think most give you a starter pack at least, but you might need extras depending on how long your stay is.