What should Dad pack in his hospital bag? In this weeks video, I'm going to share some recommendations for what a new dad should put in his hospital bag. A little thought and planning can go a long way, and keep you from having an "oh sh!t" moment when you forget something.

Here’s a quick video to show you what I’m packing in my hospital bag:

Clothing/Accessories: 

I’m bringing a few days worth of clothing. In general, labor and delivery will last anywhere between a few hours, and a few days. In the clothing department, I’m 100% focused on comfort so I’m mostly bringing training shorts, and clothing that’s not going to hold in sweat. For me, I know that I sweat a LOT when I’m stressed out, so cool, comfortable clothing is a must. In most cases, you’ll be in the hospital for at least 48 hours, but sometimes this can be longer depending on how the baby needs to be delivered, whether via a vaginal birth, or via a C-section. I’m packing about three days worth of clothes just in case. Hospitals also tend to get pretty cold at night so make sure to bring a sweatshirt or long sleeve, just something that you’ll be comfortable in. Also, don’t forget to bring in comfortable shoes. I’m going with a pair of running shoes for during the day, and a pair of slides at night for those late night snack runs for mom post-delivery. Labor can last for several hours, and during that time I plan on being by my wife’s side to help coach her through it, so comfort is key. 

Also, don’t forget that you’ll need to bring your grooming essentials. I personally have a great little Dopp kit that I got from the good folks at Bearded Crew. In there I’ll have all of my essentials like a toothbrush, toothpaste, wet wipes, beard products, etc. Don’t plan on having a ton of time to mess around with your grooming, so just focus on the essentials. 

Baby Clothes:

If you plan on taking the lead on this, there are a few things to consider. First of all, if you’re giving birth in a hospital you don’t need to worry about bringing diapers or wipes, as those will be provided to you in your room. It’s a good idea though  to put together a few little outfits for your new little one. We put some hats, socks, and onesies in our bag so that we could dress our baby for the ride home. Now there are some hospitals that may only allow you to put THEIR clothes on the baby. This is simply for sanitation and health reasons, so it’s nothing to be upset about if that turns out to be the case. You’ll have plenty of time to put them in those awesome onesies you picked out while awaiting their arrival. 

Food/Snacks:

As I mentioned before, labor can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days and during that time your partner will likely not be allowed to have anything except water and ice chips (and sometimes the occasional popsicle).  In my bag, I’m focusing on easy to eat snacks that’ll keep me fueled up through the labor and delivery process. I’m bringing a few protein rich snacks like jerky, as well as some crackers, oatmeal, and something sweet to keep me occupied when I’m nervous. The goal here is to have to leave the room as little as possible to go and find food. After delivery it’s likely that your partner will be fed regularly, as will you (depending on your hospital). The key here is that you want to have options. After delivery it’s possible that you and your partner will not have eaten for several hours (or even and entire day) and often times food services and cafeterias close after a certain time. So if it’s late at night, you’ll want to have something to snack on until you can get a more substantial meal. 

Other Stuff: 

Now on top of our hospital bag, I’ll also be brining a bag with all of our technology in it. This includes all of our phone chargers, iPads, camera for taking photos and video, and a bluetooth speaker to listen to some calming music during the labor process. Also, hospital rooms may not have very many plugs for your  to charge your electronics, so it’s always a good idea to bring a power strip just in case. 

A few other tips:

• Get familiar with your car seat and make sure it’s installed properly. You are required to have a properly installed car seat in your vehicle BEFORE you’ll be allowed to leave the hospital with your newborn. If you’re not sure if you have it installed correctly, the hospital staff will help you check it before you leave. If you want to be proactive though, you can find often find a NHSTA certified safety inspection station near you (I’ve included a link below). Often times these safety inspection technicians are located at car dealerships, fire stations, EMS stations, and more. For example, our local police department is certified to do car seat safety inspections. https://www.nhtsa.gov/equipment/car-seats-and-booster-seats#inspection-inspection

• Get familiar with how to swaddle and change a baby. Newborns sleep best and are most comfortable when swaddled. They’ve just gone through a huge change coming out into the world, and swaddling helps them (and you) be more comfortable and to feel more secure. If you’ve never changed a baby, it’s really not that hard. The nurses and hospital staff will be there to help you learn, but it’s always good to try and get some practice in before the big day. 

• Take everything! All of those extra items like diapers, wipes, brushes for the baby, etc. are all things that you’ve paid for as part of your (very expensive) hospital stay. Don’t be shy about packing that stuff up and taking it with you to use at home. 

• Some hospitals have specific policies about photos and video before, during, and after your hospital stay. So always check with them to understand their policy, and try your best to adhere to it. However, this is an incredible moment in your life and journey as a parent, so if you want to sneak some photos, do so at your own risk :-) 

Have something that you’d like to add? Leave a comment below!