Here are some of the genuinely useful things they said they packed:
1. A stroller fan
2. Slippers or slides (like Cloudies)
3. An extra long charger cable / power bank
4. Toiletries from home / shower steamers for the first postpartum shower
5. Hydration packets
6. A bamboo robe for comfort, coverage with visitors & easy nursing access
7. A folder for all of the papers you take home
8. An eye mask for sleeping with bright hospital lights (nurses check on you a lot)
9. An egg light for night feeds
10. A tablet with pre-downloaded shows
11. Chapstick
12. A speaker for playlists
13. A diaper organizer caddy to hold personal items like snacks
14. Your own pillow & a cozy blanket from home
15. The Halo SleepSack swaddle for baby (which a parent called “so much easier for first-time parents”)
And here’s what they said they should’ve left at home:
1. Postpartum recovery extras (the hospital gives you loads of freebies: some examples!)
2. Makeup (aspirational yet unrealistic for most)
3. A book or other entertainment like playing cards: “it was impossible to focus”
4. Too much clothing for you (“I wore a hospital gown until I left.”)
5. Clothing for baby, other than a going home outfit (“they live in diapers & a swaddle until they come home”)
💜 Also, if you’re curious what products helped NICU parents, we have a list
