Hey, fellow momma! I’m so glad you stopped by today! Are you wondering what you’ll need to have in Daddy’s Hospital Bag? Look no further, I’ve got you covered!
First, CONGRATULATIONS! New babies are THE BEST and I am so happy for you! Motherhood is absolutely amazing; this is going to be the best roller coaster ride of your life!
There is a lot to prepare for during pregnancy. As much as it can stink, it’s a good thing pregnancy lasts nine months! You need that time to do all the prep work! I know it can be overwhelming. I’ve been there!
But, I’m going to help you! We’ll check at least one of those many things to do off your list.
You’ll be prepared when the day comes, whether it’s today, tomorrow or in a few weeks.
You’ll be confident that you have what you need when you head to the hospital to welcome your little one into your life.
Today, let’s take a closer look at the hospital bag. That’s what brought you here, after all. There are lots of lists of things for mom and baby to take to the hospital
But what about DADDY?
Do you want the best hospital stay possible? That’s exactly what you’ll get by following this list.
My biggest mistake happened with my second baby. And that’s why this list is different than the other packing lists out there. This list is made from experience! From BAD experience.
There was a secret that no one told me when I went to have my second baby and it could’ve saved me. Do you want to know this secret? You don’t have to learn the hard way, because I’m going to tell you the secret. Ready?
Not all hospitals are created equally.
Obviously, hospitals have different layouts and available facilities, but the differences go deeper. Between our first and second babies, we moved to a new state… and a new hospital. Our second hospital was less… accommodating than our first. In fact, these small differences made us miserable while we were there.
If you have never delivered at the hospital you will be delivering your baby at this time, take a hospital tour! Find out what is provided and what you’ll need to provide yourself.
We were so under-prepared and we were the ones that suffered. There were things I regretted not having, but my poor husband got the short stick on that hospital stay. So, help Daddy out and pack him a bag too!
I’ve done all the work for you and even given you links to each product. The links in this post will take you to Amazon, where you can easily purchase these items and have them delivered right to your doorstep. No end-of-pregnancy waddling around the store for you! Just sit on the couch, eat chocolate truffles and wait for the mail to be delivered! I will get a small portion of any purchase you decide to make, but it in no way affects your cost. These links are one way I help support this site. Thanks! Here’s the list!
DADDY’S HOSPITAL BAG MUST-HAVE #1:
Pillow. Daddy should have a decent pillow, even if it’s just a travel size one. He’ll probably be trying to catch his zzz’s whenever he can, just like you. Skip the super flat or too-poofy hospital pillows and get him a pillow filled to his liking. Besides, if he has a good pillow, he’s less likely to snore and keep you up. Hospital rooms can echo… the pillow is worth it. This travel pillow is great because it’s small, but effective and if it gets ruined or left behind it’s not a big loss.
DADDY’S HOSPITAL BAG MUST-HAVE #2:
Snacks. We’re talking man snacks here. Things like:
- Jerky
- cheese
- breads or even simple sandwiches
- hearty granola bars or protein bars
- nuts and pretzels
- dried fruit
- crackers and canned tuna
- fruit leather
- fruits and veggies cut up with hummus dip
- bagels or muffins
Taking your own snacks will save you money and Daddy won’t have to hunt down vending machines or the cafeteria. He (and you!) can get into his stash any time his little heart desires, whether the cafeteria is open or not. We usually take a small soft-sided lunch bag for things that need to be kept cool with an ice pack or two wrapped in aluminium foil. By the time the ice melts, the food is gone.
Make sure there are some low-aroma snacks Daddy can munch on while you’re in labor. You probably won’t be allowed to eat and labor makes my oversensitive nose go into overdrive! Any kind of food smells make me nauseous. But I always raid his snacks after I’ve had a baby. Child birth is a lot of hard work and I’m always famished afterward! Want a quick and easy way to get those snacks? This snack basket will come right to your door and it doubles great as a “New Daddy” gift!
DADDY’S HOSPITAL BAG MUST-HAVE #3:
Extra shirts. No one wants to wear “the badge of fatherhood” all day. Take a couple extra shirts for daddy. He will probably end up wearing some kind of bodily secretion by the end of the day. It’s a great time to get him a fun “Dad” shirt and he’ll appreciate not smelling like curdled breast milk or formula… or worse. You can click any image below to see that specific shirt. These shirts are fun and Daddy can wear them long after you leave the hospital.
DADDY’S HOSPITAL BAG MUST-HAVE #4:
Sweats, athletic shorts or other PJ’s. Nurses, lab technicians and a whole slew of people will come and go from your room at all hours of the day and night. Unless Dad plans to spend 24/7 in his clothes, he’ll want something comfy to sleep in, but also something he feels sufficiently covered up while wearing. Your body will be on display to just about every medical professional that comes into your room, but Daddy will probably prefer a little more privacy. These options are great, can be used after your hospital stay, would go great in a “New Dad” gift basket and will come right to your doorstep! You can click each image for more details. If you get Daddy in that first one, be sure to take photos. 😉
DADDY’S HOSPITAL BAG MUST-HAVE #5:
Towel. My epidurals tend to take longer than most people’s to wear off and I was numb for HOURS after they took it out. Because I was still a little numb, my husband was not about to let me stand up by myself in a slippery shower.
The towels our first hospital did provide were not great and almost too small to thoroughly dry off and our second hospital only provided one, which we’d used to mop up a spilled pitcher of water. These towels are nice and big though!
I’m just gonna be blunt here and suggest a dark color to help hide stains. You can use this towel for the next few weeks until you stop bleeding. Whether you toss it after that or hang on to it for your next childbirth adventure is up to you.
DADDY’S HOSPITAL BAG MUST-HAVE #6:
Swim trunks. These are to wear in the shower if Daddy isn’t keen on the possibility of doctors or nurses catching him in his birthday suit. We didn’t bother and just jumped in the shower in our typical attire – or lack thereof – but my husband was in the military and not a stranger to public showers. If Daddy is a little more conservative and worried about modesty, swim trunks might help ease the discomfort and allow him to help you more. These basic trunks are great and not a big loss if you need to throw them out afterward.
DADDY’S HOSPITAL BAG MUST-HAVE #7:
Laptop, tablet or other things to do. While I wouldn’t want my husband anywhere but the delivery room while I deliver, I don’t really want him to smother me either.
I am a silent sufferer and prefer to be left alone than have my hair stroked or shoulders rubbed. I want him there, but not in my face. If you want Daddy right there, breathing through the contractions with you, then have him do that. But, if you’d rather be left alone to deal with your stuff, giving Daddy a little distraction can be good for everyone. Something kind of mindless that can be dropped at a moments notice, should the need arise, is perfect. A gift card for some new apps might be fun too.
DADDY’S HOSPITAL BAG MUST-HAVE #8:
The phone numbers list. It’s pretty easy to get word out about Baby’s birth with all the social media options these days. Even my grandma is on Facebook. Heck, both of my grandmas are, and my grandpa! But, some people deserve an actual phone call or picture message at least. Make sure all those extra special people (and the ones not on social media – like my dad) are included on the list so no one gets forgotten or missed.
You can get the one below when you sign up for The ULTIMATE Hospital Packing List.
DADDY’S HOSPITAL BAG MUST-HAVE #9:
Any other checklists or special instructions you want Daddy to know. Discuss certain medical procedures and complications with your birth partner beforehand and in what ways you would like to handle them. Heaven forbid you hemorrhage or something; but, there is the chance you won’t be able to make decisions for yourself at some point during the childbirth process. Having someone else aware of your wants and wishes can help in difficult situations where life-altering decisions have to be made right now.
Of course, it’s not a bad idea to ask Daddy if there’s anything else he wants to take… After all, it is Daddy’s Hospital Bag. The Boy Scouts knew what they were doing when they chose the motto “Be Prepared!” If you are, it will make your first few days with baby more enjoyable for your entire family.
DADDY’S BAG SHOPPING LIST
- Pillow
- Man snacks
- Extra shirts
- Night wear
- Towel
- Swim trunks
- Tablet or laptop
- Gift card for new apps
- Contact list
- Other special instructions concerning your labor and delivery
Click on any of the pictures in image below to see more details.
Congratulations again on your little bundle of joy! Now, go pack those bags!
Feeling confident about what you’re packing for you and baby? Take a look at the things I wish I had packed the first two times I had a baby! You might be surprised by what WASN’T provided the second time.
Click the next button to find out if YOUR bags are REALLY ready!
