Ready for Anything! Nurse’s All-in-One NICU Hospital Bag Checklist: From Normal Labor to a “Just in Case” NICU Stay (Plus DIY Fast Labor Kit!)

Pregnancy is such an exciting time. Your family is growing, and so much love and preparation go into getting ready to meet the new little one. In Isaiah 54, God beautifully tells His people to “enlarge their tents… and strengthen thy stakes” in preparation for children.

Having a NICU hospital bag checklist ready to go gives you total peace of mind—even if you’re planning for a standard delivery.

According to the CDC, “Nearly 1 in 10 infants (9.8%) was admitted to a NICU in 2023.” If you already know you are facing a high-risk pregnancy, packing with a possible NICU stay in mind is even more important. The same CDC report notes, “Preterm infants and low birthweight infants were at least seven times as likely to be admitted to a NICU than those born at later gestational ages and higher birthweights.”

I carefully designed this list to be the only one you’ll need, covering a standard labor and delivery stay, postpartum recovery, and the unexpected requirements of an extended stay in the NICU, plus a DIY fast labor kit to keep in your car – just in case.

It’s best to have everything packed by 36 weeks, or even sooner if you’re at risk for an early birth. As I learned when I recently had my second baby and failed to pack my hospital bag on time because I was overwhelmed by all the list options and wasn’t sure what to pack, even though I am a nurse and already had a baby before.

We ended up having to throw some things together just before going to the hospital, and then had to come home again and repack later because she ended up having to spend some time in the NICU. (You can read that story here.)

I wrote the first draft of this list on our way home from the NICU when everything was still fresh in my mind, so that I would know exactly what to pack next time. These are the things my husband and I were either glad got packed in the hospital bag or wished we had. To help you cut through the overwhelm, I’ve explained exactly why each item is on this list so you can easily customize your own bag (or bags) to fit your family’s unique needs.

Pro tip: Make a list of everyday use items you will have to grab when leaving, such as eyeglasses, and attach it to your bag, so you don’t have to try to remember last minute.

Hospital Check-in & Labor

Required Documents for the Hospital:

If you have lots of papers, a folder to store them in is helpful.

• Photo IDs & Insurance card
• Current medication/supplement list
• Birth plan, If you have one make several copies to give to your different nurses on different shifts/days.
• Any other paperwork your hospital requires.

Comfort & Labor Essentials

• Phone charger Pro Tip: All the conveniently placed plug-ins are reserved for medical devices, so the longer the cord, the better.
• Bible, Journal, and pens: Optional but nice, especially if you get bored or want to remember something.
• Earbuds for phones to listen to calming music or Bible readings during labor.
• Lip Balm/Chapstick (Breath-work and nerves can cause dry lips for Mom and Dad)
• Lotion/Massage oil optional, some women find massage really helps during labor
• Hairbrush & Hair ties: You’ll probably want your hair out of the way.

Postpartum Care & Comfort

• Vitamins & Supplements: Prenatal vitamins (I took the Rainbow Light Prenatal plus Nordic Natural’s plant-based DHA for both my pregnancies; they are not yummy, but they are very nutritious and vegan!) and any probiotics or other supplements you take.
• Toothbrush, Toothpaste & Mouthwash
• Hand cream (all the hand washing and sanitizing you do in the hospital really dries out hands fast).
• Shampoo & Conditioner plus a bar of soap if you’re picky like me; otherwise, the hospital should have some.
• A big, fluffy towel from home. I know hospitals have towels they can offer you, but in my experience, they are usually small and scratchy; they didn’t dry my long hair very well or wrap like a turban.
• Shower Shoes: Many hospitals have shared shower rooms, especially in the NICU. You will want, and honestly need, a shower at some point, after giving birth, and flip-flops protect your feet.
• A Sharpie or other permanent marker to put your name on your peri bottle! The hospital does supply you with a peri-bottle; you can also buy one. Either way, put your name on it! I ended up misplacing mine in a shared hospital bathroom, and even though I later found one in that bathroom, I never took it or used it because I wasn’t sure it was mine. Also, if you are ever in public without your peri bottle, a Propel bottle works great (I imagine Smart Water or other similar bottles would work as well).

Postpartum Clothing

As a patient, you could argue that you’ll just wear hospital gowns the whole time, but I know I feel like myself again once I can wear my own clothes after labor. Either way, you will need a going-home outfit; usually, the one you arrived in is dirty from water breaking and such.

• Shoes and/or slippers that are comfortable and easy to slip on and off. It’s best not to walk barefoot in a hospital. (I just used a pair of indoor/outdoor moccasin/slippers everywhere in all the chaos.)
• Socks, bring plenty because hospitals are notoriously cold
• Plenty of comfortable underwear that is roomy enough to accommodate large pads
• In case pads leak, black is a good color for bottoms. 
• Lightweight robe: Optional, if you get one, I recommend 3/4-length sleeves so you don’t get them wet while washing your hands or pump parts.
• Skin-to-Skin Outfits: Tops or bras that clasp in the front to make full skin-to-skin (and nursing) easier.
• Going-Home Outfit: Make sure it is nursing-friendly.

Pumping & Nursing Setup

• Personal Breast Pump: Bring your pump to help establish your milk supply as early as possible. I learned so much about how to pump more effectively from my lactation consultant that I highly recommend having your pump with you to practice so you already know your setup once you get home.
• Hands-Free Pumping Bra: I wished I had this! It’s the difference between reading on your phone while pumping vs. holding plastic flanges the whole time.
• Nursing bras, make sure to bring one or two that are a couple of cup sizes too big for when your milk comes in.

NICU Stay Kit

Often, when Baby requires a NICU stay, Mom is discharged sooner than Baby and has to make sure she has the essentials that the hospital provided while she was a patient.

• Pressure-Relieving Cushion: A high-density foam cushion or donut cushion. Oh, how I wanted one sitting on the hard NICU furniture for hours! Note: Clinical research on donut cushions is mixed (some say they cut off circulation). Look for high-density foam instead of a cheap inflatable one to ensure you’re getting actual support.
• Home Recovery Stash: Tucks pads, Dermaplast, or perineal pain relief spray and favorite large pads. The hospital provides these while you are a patient, but you will need a stash packed up and ready for home use. I had to pack mine up quickly when I was discharged to follow my baby when she was transferred to a bigger hospital’s NICU.
• Dirty Laundry Bags: To keep soiled clothing separate over an extended stay.
• Cafeteria-Ready Loungewear: A few extra outfits that are cozy enough to sleep in but presentable enough that you’d feel comfortable walking down to the hospital cafeteria or walking the halls.
• Hand Cream & Lotion: All the heavy handwashing and sanitizing required in the NICU dries out your hands fast.
• Cooler bag for taking home all that pumped breastmilk.

For Dad: Food, Clothing, & Skin-to-Skin Access

Dad won’t be fed by the hospital tray service, so he needs a dedicated stash to keep his stamina up.

• Snacks, Snacks, and More Snacks: Shelf-stable, easy-to-eat foods make sure to include some high-protein options. Labor can take a long time! Note for Mom: Don’t eat during labor unless your nurse says it’s alright, as vomiting is common, and doctors prefer an empty stomach in case an emergency C-section is needed. Some snack ideas:
  • Trail mix, granola bars, and mixed nuts
  • Beef jerky or beef sticks
  • Squeeze pouches of applesauce or fruit/veggie smoothies
  • Instant noodles or oatmeal packets (Most labor floors have a family break room with hot water or a microwave, giving Dad a warm meal option in the middle of the night!)
  • Pretzels, crackers, or chips
  • Electrolyte drink packets
• Cash for the cafeteria and vending machines
• Toiletries for Dad: Deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, and a comb.
• Comfortable Clothes: Clothes he feels okay sleeping in, extra socks, underwear, and easy slip-on shoes.
• Skin-to-Skin Clothes: Shirts that open or snap down the front so he can easily do skin-to-skin bonding with Baby.
• Phone charger: Between messaging family, listening to music, and taking baby pics, you’ll each want a charger, especially if you have phones with different charge ports!
• Mints or Gum: Optional, keeps breath fresh and can help with nerves. 

For Baby: NICU-Ready Clothing & Car Seat Safety

• Car seat: You can’t leave until someone from the hospital checks it out. Also, if your little one has any respiratory issues (like ours did), there is a 2-hour car seat test to pass in the car seat at the hospital, hooked to a monitor to ensure oxygen levels and other vitals remain stable before being cleared for the ride home.
• Monitor-Friendly Outfits: Baby clothes with open feet and snap or zip fronts. This makes skin-to-skin easy and leaves room for heel sticks and the pulse-ox reader on their feet (nice in the nursery but especially important in the NICU).
• Baby Socks: To keep tiny toes warm when wearing open-footed sleepers.
• Going-Home Outfit: Something special for their big exit!

Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes.

Isaiah 54:2