What to put in your hospital bag

Most people pack too much and still forget the phone charger. This list is short on purpose. Pack the bag by about 36 weeks, keep it by the door, and add the last few things when labour starts.

For you

• Your maternity notes and any birth plan you have written
• Loose, comfortable clothes for labour, and something to wear home
• Nightwear that opens at the front if you plan to breastfeed
• Slippers or flip-flops, and a dressing gown
• Maternity pads and several pairs of old, comfortable underwear
• Toiletries, lip balm and hair ties
• A long phone charger cable, because the socket is never next to the bed
• Snacks and a large bottle with a straw

For the baby

• Four or five babygrows and vests in newborn size, plus a few in 0 to 3 months
• A hat and a pair of scratch mittens
• A small pack of newborn nappies, and cotton wool or fragrance-free wipes
• A blanket for the journey home
• A car seat, fitted and ready, if you are driving home

For your birth partner

• A change of clothes and a phone charger
• Snacks, and some cash or a card for parking and the vending machine
• A pen, to write down times and names

What you can leave at home

A huge stack of newborn clothes. Most babies wear a handful of outfits in the first week, and you will wash them again anyway. Leave the baby books and the large toys as well. Everyone you know is about to ask what you need, so write the list down for later.

One small thing worth packing

A coming-home outfit you actually like, because it ends up in every photo. A name bodysuit is easy to order ahead of time, and a slogan bodysuit works if you want something lighter. Order a size up from newborn if the baby might be big, since nobody knows the size until the day.