We asked our community one simple question: what did you pack that you absolutely swear by?
The answers came flooding in. Coconut water. A handheld fan. An extra-long phone charger.
We took everything, the advice, the hard-won lessons, the "wish someone had told me that" moments and built it into one complete checklist.
The structure we recommend: three bags, not one. One for mom, one for baby, one for your birth partner — packed by your birth partner, so they actually know where everything is when you need it.
Here's the full list.
Bag 1: For Mom 🩵
Mom's bag covers three distinct phases. Keeping them separate mentally makes packing a lot easier.
Pre & Labor
- Photo ID, insurance info, and hospital forms
- Birthing plan (if you have one)
- Medical records
- 2 x nightgowns, button-downs are ideal for skin-to-skin contact
- Bikini top (if you're planning to use a birth pool)
- Toiletries, unscented where possible
- Hair ties
- Littley Hand Cleanser (for your own hands, you probably don't need this for your newborn at this stage but you can ask visitors to spray their hands before holding the baby)
- Music speaker or headphones
- A handheld fan (a community favorite — labor rooms get warm)
- Water bottle with a straw
- Coconut water or rehydration drinks (consistently one of the top mom recommendations)
- Snacks
- Devices and extra-long charging cables
Post-Birth
- Relaxed-fit clothes
- 5 x comfy cotton or disposable underwear
- 2–3 nursing bras (if applicable)
- 2 x nightgowns or PJ sets
- Pack of postpartum pads
- Nipple balm
- Peri bottle
- Flip flops or grippy socks
- A blanket and pillow from home
- Hairbrush, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, body wash, washcloth, and a dark towel (trust the moms on the dark towel)
Heading Home
- A change of comfy clothes, whatever fit at around 5 months pregnant is a safe bet
- Comfortable shoes, feet swell more than most people expect
- Self-compassion
Bag 2: For Baby 🐘
- A pack of diapers and diaper sacks
- Changing pad, water wipes, and cotton pads
- 5 x sleepsuits/onesies (long sleeve and long leg)
- 5 x bodysuits or vests as an extra layer if it's cold
- A going-home outfit
- 3 x pairs of socks (if not built into the sleeper)
- 2 x hats and baby mittens
- 5 x muslin cloths or bibs
- Blanket or swaddles
- Littley Surface Cleaner, for wiping down the bassinet and any surfaces baby will be on
- 3 x bottles and ready-to-feed formula (the hospital will likely provide this if needed)
- Breast pump (if using)
- Car seat with rain cover
- Laundry bag for dirty clothes
Bag 3: For Your Birth Partner
This one your birth partner packs themselves. They need to know where everything is without asking you mid-contraction.
- Photo ID, insurance info, hospital forms, and pediatrician contact details
- A few changes of clothes, a button-down if they might do skin-to-skin
- Unscented toiletries
- Cash for parking and vending machines
- Devices and extra-long charging cables
- Car seat and rain cover
- Snacks
- Water bottle
- Anything mom needs for her birthing plan that the partner is responsible for
Why Littley Is in This List
When we put together this checklist, Littley Hand Cleanser and Surface Cleaner came up because clean hands and clean surfaces in a hospital environment genuinely matter when you're with a newborn.
Both products use hypochlorous acid (HOCl), a molecule your immune system naturally produces. Two ingredients: salt and water. No alcohol, no fragrance, nothing to worry about near a baby's skin. The Hand Cleanser (2oz, bag-friendly) goes in mom's labor bag, so adults can use it before holding the baby. The Surface Cleaner goes in baby's bag for wiping down the bassinet and changing area.
Both are completely odorless. In a small hospital room, that matters more than you'd think.