Hospital bag checklist for mum, baby and partner
Pack by 36 weeks. The essentials are your ID and insurance card, hospital file, comfortable clothes, maternity pads, nursing bras, snacks, a long phone charger, newborn nappies and clothes, and a car seat installed before labour. Partners need snacks, a change of clothes and cash.
Key facts
| Pack by | 36 weeks |
|---|---|
| Most forgotten | Phone charger, ID, maternity pads |
| Car seat | Install before labour; required by law for young children in many countries, including the UAE |
Documents first
Hospitals usually need your ID (Emirates ID, CNIC, Aadhaar or passport), insurance card, hospital file with scan reports and blood group, and any pre-registration forms. In the UAE, many private hospitals ask you to pre-register in the third trimester, and birth registration needs both parents' documents, so keep copies together.
For mum
- Loose nightdress or front-opening gown
- 2 nursing bras and big comfortable underwear
- 2 packs of maternity pads
- Toiletries, lip balm, hair ties
- Long phone charger
- Snacks and a water bottle
- Slippers, socks, going-home clothes
For baby
- Newborn nappies
- 3 bodysuits and 3 sleepsuits
- Hat, socks, mittens, muslins
- Swaddle or blanket
- Car seat, installed and checked before labour
For your partner
- Change of clothes, snacks and drinks
- Cash and parking change
- A list of people to message
Tick it off
Our hospital bag checklist saves your progress on your phone and shows your partner how much is packed. For when to leave for hospital, read signs of labour.
Frequently asked questions
How many bags should I pack?
Do I need my own nappies in hospital?
Sources
- NHS: Pack your bag for labour
- Hospital pre-registration guidance (check your hospital)
General information, not medical advice. Medical disclaimer · How we review content
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