A little note from us: This guide is based on our own experiences and research and is intended as a helpful starting point, rather than professional medical advice. Every birth and hospital stay is different, so always check with your hospital or maternity care provider about what you’ll need for your individual stay.
A practical hospital bag guide from one mum to another — sharing what I found helpful, along with a few little things I wish I’d thought about the first time around.
As a small Australian brand, we love helping parents prepare for this special milestone. While every birth journey is unique, we hope this guide helps you feel a little more organised, prepared and supported as you get ready to meet your little one.
A simple hospital bag checklist for Australian parents covering items you may need for labour, postpartum recovery, and your baby's precious first days.
There’s something about packing your hospital bag that makes everything suddenly feel very real. While it can feel overwhelming trying to figure out what to bring, the good news is you don't need to pack your entire house.
A few thoughtful essentials, comfortable clothing, and baby's first little outfits are often all you need. We’ve put together this straightforward checklist for Australian parents, covering what to pack for yourself, what your newborn will need, and those special little pieces you’ll want ready for baby's first moments.
When Should You Pack Your Hospital Bag?
Many Australian parents choose to have their hospital bag packed and ready by around 36 weeks of pregnancy.
Packing a little earlier means one less thing to worry about as your due date approaches — when the time comes, you can simply grab your bag and go.
Every pregnancy and birth is unique, so your midwife, obstetrician, or care provider may recommend packing earlier depending on your circumstances.
Before you start, check with your hospital or birth centre about what they supply. Essentials can vary widely between facilities; while some provide items like nappies or maternity pads, others expect you to bring your own.
A little preparation now can make those final weeks feel so much easier, leaving you free to focus on meeting your little one.
The Hospital Bag Checklist for Mum
Labour Essentials
- ☐ Hospital paperwork & Medicare card
- ☐ Birth plan, if you have one
- ☐ Comfortable labour clothes e.g. nightie or oversized T-shirt
- ☐ Comfortable socks
- ☐ Hair ties or headband
- ☐ Lip balm
- ☐ Water bottle with a straw and electrolytes
- ☐ Snacks
- ☐ Phone & long charging cable
- ☐ Portable charger
- ☐ Headphones
Labour Comfort & Coping - ☐ Birth comb / acupressure comb
- ☐ Stress ball or fidget toy
- ☐ TENS machine, if using one
- ☐ Massage ball
- ☐ Massage oil, if desired
- ☐ Small portable fan
- ☐ Favourite playlist
- ☐ Favourite pillow or comfort item
- ☐ Any other personal comfort items
Little tip: Keep your labour essentials in a separate, easy-to-reach section of your hospital bag so you or your support person can grab them quickly when you arrive.
Postpartum Essentials
- ☐ Maternity pads
- ☐ Disposable or comfortable high-waisted underwear
- ☐ Nursing bras or crop tops (if planning to breastfeed)
- ☐ Reusable or disposable breast pads
- ☐ Peri bottle
- ☐ Donut cushion or seat cushion
- ☐ Dark, loose-fitting clothes or pyjamas with easy button-down access
- ☐ Fibre supplements (e.g., Metamucil) if recommended by your midwife
Toiletries
Keep your toiletries simple and familiar — pack the products you already know and love.
- ☐ Toothbrush & toothpaste
- ☐ Shampoo & conditioner
- ☐ Body wash or soap
- ☐ Face wash
- ☐ Face washer
- ☐ Moisturiser
- ☐ Deodorant
- ☐ Hairbrush or comb
- ☐ Hair ties or clips
- ☐ Lip balm
- ☐ Hand cream
- ☐ Tissues
- ☐ Dry shampoo
- ☐ Thongs / shower sandals
- ☐ Towel
- ☐ Ice or cold packs, if recommended or permitted by your hospital
- ☐ Any personal toiletries or medications you normally use
If You’re Collecting Colostrum
If you’ve been advised by your midwife or maternity team to collect colostrum before your baby arrives, remember to pack it in your hospital bag and store it according to the instructions you’ve been given.
A little tip that can make things easier: keep your labelled colostrum syringes together in clearly labelled zip-lock bags in the fridge, so they're easy to grab when it’s time to head to hospital. When you’re leaving, simply take them with you and let your midwives know you have expressed colostrum with you.
And if you’re struggling to express much try not to panic.
I remember feeling like I should have more, but I only managed to express about 2 mls in 2 different syringes before having my baby. It felt like hardly anything at the time, but it was still something, and the midwives at the hospital were a huge help and support once baby arrived.
Everyone’s experience with expressing colostrum is different, and not being able to collect much (or any) before birth doesn't mean you've done anything wrong.
Pack what you've been able to collect, ask your midwives for help when you arrive, and try not to put too much pressure on yourself.
The Little Things You'll Be Glad You Packed
Some of the smallest items can make the biggest difference during your stay. These are the easy-to-forget extras that bring a little extra comfort, convenience, and joy to those first few days:
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- ☐ Extra-long phone charging cable (hospital power outlets are often far from the bed)
- ☐ Portable power bank
- ☐ Polaroid or disposable camera (for capturing raw, candid first moments)
- ☐ Water bottle with a straw
- ☐ Hydralyte or electrolytes
- ☐ Comfortable socks
- ☐ Small laundry bag (for keeping dirty clothes separate)
- ☐ High-energy, easy-to-eat snacks (pack a few extra for overnight feeds!)
- ☐ Lip balm & hand cream (hospital air conditioning can be super drying)
- ☐ Eye mask
- ☐ Small bedside bag for essentials
- ☐ Pillow from home
- ☐ Favourite blanket or comfort item
- ☐ Hand sanitiser
- ☐ Tissues
- ☐ Pen & small notebook (great for writing down feeding times, questions for midwives, or birth memories)
- ☐ Extra tote bag for taking things home (you'll always leave with more than you brought, like hospital paperwork)
- ☐ A little treat for yourself
What to Pack in Your Hospital Bag for Baby
Packing for the hospital can feel a little overwhelming, especially when you're preparing to meet your baby for the very first time.
The good news? Your newborn needs surprisingly little during those first few days. A few soft essentials, practical basics, and one special outfit for the journey home are often all you need.
While bringing the practical pieces matters, there is also something deeply meaningful about choosing the very first outfits your baby will wear and the sweet pieces they'll be wrapped in for those unforgettable first photographs.
The Hospital Bag Checklist for Baby
As a general guide, pack a few outfit changes for each day of your expected stay, plus 1–2 extras for spills, accidents or unexpected messes.
☐ Lightweight muslin wraps and blanket
☐ 2–3 bodysuits or singlets per day
☐ 2–3 onesies or sleepsuits per day
☐ A special knitted newborn first announcement outfit
☐ Soft newborn beanie
☐ Booties or socks
☐ Nappies (approximately 8–10 per day)
☐ Wipes or cotton wool
☐ Burp cloths
☐ Baby's special coming-home outfit
☐ 1–2 spare outfits for spills or accidents
Optional First-Moment Keepsakes
☐ Announcement plaque
☐ Pen or permanent marker (for recording baby's name, date, time, and weight details)
☐ A special soft toy or comforter, such as a Riff (for those precious first hospital photos)
For the Journey Home
☐ Correctly fitted car seat or capsule with baby mirror or baby car camera
A Little Packing Trick I Loved
One little thing I did when packing my hospital bag was to pack each baby outfit separately in a zip-lock bag or small packing pouch.
I popped everything baby would need for one outfit together (a singlet or bodysuit, onesie or outfit, socks and any other little extras) then labelled the outside of each bag with the size of the outfit inside.
This meant that when it was time to get baby dressed, I didn't have to pull apart the entire nappy bag searching for everything to get baby dressed. I could simply grab one bag and everything we needed was together and ready to go.
It also meant that if my partner or support person needed to find an outfit, they knew exactly where to look — which is especially helpful when you're tired, recovering and have a brand-new baby to care for!
A small bit of organisation before baby arrives can make those first few days just that little bit easier.
The Coming-Home Outfit - Baby's Very First Outfit
There is something incredibly special about choosing the outfit your baby will wear home from hospital.
After months of imagining what your baby might look like, you're finally choosing the little pieces they'll wear as you leave the hospital together.
It's the outfit that may appear in those very first photographs.
The one you carefully chose while waiting to finally meet them.
And perhaps one day, the tiny outfit you'll tuck away in a keepsake box, long after your baby has grown.
At Harper Clare, we believe baby's first outfit should be beautiful enough for those once-in-a-lifetime photographs, yet soft and comfortable enough for those everyday newborn cuddles.
Our newborn collection is designed especially for those precious first moments, featuring timeless knitwear in sizes 0–3 months, with a thoughtfully oversized fit for longer-lasting wear.
A beautiful knitted romper paired with a tiny beanie and booties, creates a timeless newborn coming-home outfit perfect for baby's first photographs, the journey home and those precious early days.
Beautiful enough for photographs. Comfortable enough for everyday cuddles. Made to be treasured.
What Should Baby Wear Home from Hospital?
Your baby’s first outfit home doesn’t need to be complicated. Think:
Soft. Simple. Comfortable. Weather appropriate.
Choose pieces that are easy to put on a sleepy newborn especially when you’re still getting used to those first delicate changes.
A beautiful coming-home outfit might include:
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A soft bodysuit or knitted romper
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A lightweight layer, depending on the weather
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A newborn organic cotton beanie, if needed for outdoor travel
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Soft organic cotton booties or socks
One important thing to remember
Your baby’s outfit needs to work safely with their car seat or capsule.
Avoid bulky layers underneath the harness, as these can affect how securely the harness fits. Always follow the instructions for your specific car restraint.
The sweetest outfit is one that keeps baby comfortable, cosy and safe on their very first journey home.
What Size Should I Pack for My Newborn?
Choosing what size to pack for your baby can feel surprisingly tricky before they arrive. After all, you won’t know exactly how tiny — or not-so-tiny — your little one will be until you meet them!
The good news? You don’t need to pack an entire wardrobe in every newborn size.
For your hospital bag, we recommend choosing 1–2 comfortable and versatile newborn outfits, plus an option in the next size up if it gives you peace of mind. Babies come in all different shapes and sizes, so having a little flexibility can make those first outfit changes much easier.
Our knitwear is made to be:
Worn. Photographed. Loved. And eventually treasured.
Because those tiny outfits you carefully choose for their first days often become some of the most meaningful keepsakes.
Why We Love a Relaxed 0–3 Month Fit
At Harper Clare, our newborn knitwear is designed in a relaxed 0–3 month fit.
We intentionally allow a little extra room, making our pieces comfortable for those precious first days while giving your baby room to grow. Our soft, flexible knitwear and rollable cuffs also make it easier to adjust the fit for your little one.
A relaxed fit can be particularly lovely for a coming-home-from-hospital outfit, newborn photographs or those first cuddly days at home when comfort is everything.
And because our pieces aren't designed to be worn for just a few days, you can continue enjoying them as your little one grows — before eventually packing them away as a keepsake of those fleeting newborn days.
So if you're wondering what size newborn clothes to pack, don't overthink it. A couple of versatile 0–3 month pieces can be a beautiful place to start
Don’t Forget the Little Things: The Special Pieces You’ll Treasure
Your hospital bag doesn’t have to be purely practical.
Among the nappies, muslin wraps and essentials, you might like to pack one or two special pieces to help capture those first precious moments. These are the little details that can turn an ordinary outfit into a beautiful memory.
A Special First Outfit
Choose something that feels special enough for those first photographs, while still being soft, comfortable and practical for your newborn.
A simple knitted romper, beanie or booties can make the sweetest coming-home outfit — and can become something you look back on for years to come.
A Birth Announcement
If you're planning to photograph your baby's first moments, a name announcement, birth announcement card or personalised detail can be a beautiful addition to your hospital bag.
You don't need anything elaborate. Sometimes the simplest photographs are the ones you'll treasure most.
A Tiny Keepsake
A newborn beanie, tiny pair of booties or baby's first outfit can become a treasured keepsake long after your little one has outgrown it.
There is something so special about packing away those first tiny pieces and finding them again years later.
Because one day, you'll look back at those photographs and wonder how your baby was ever that small.
The little things become the big memories.
What You Don’t Need to Pack
When you're preparing your hospital bag, it’s very easy to get carried away. There are so many newborn products available that it can feel like you need to bring everything just in case.
Before adding something to your bag, ask yourself:
“Will we actually need this during our hospital stay?”
If the answer is probably not, leave it at home for now.
Hospitals and birth centres often provide some of the basic essentials for both you and your baby, so it’s worth checking what your hospital supplies before packing duplicates.
You also don’t need to pack an entire newborn wardrobe. A few comfortable outfits, some extra layers and the essentials are usually a much better option than an overflowing bag.
And remember, you can always have your partner, family member or support person bring additional items later if you find you need them.
Pack what you'll need, leave room for the unexpected, and don't feel like you have to have everything perfectly organised.
Those first days are about meeting your baby — not having the perfect hospital bag.
A Little Extra Bag for the Unexpected
While you’re packing your main hospital bag, it can be a great idea to have a small extra bag packed and ready to go — just in case your hospital stay ends up being a little longer than expected.
Extra bag for Mum
- 2–3 extra pairs of underwear
- Comfortable clothes/pyjamas
- Extra toiletries
- Extra maternity essentials
Extra bag for Bub
- 2–3 extra outfits
- Extra nappies
- Extra wraps
- Another coming-home outfit if needed
Keep it somewhere easy to find and let your support person know exactly where it is.
Because if you do end up needing it, the last thing you want is your partner or support person wandering around the house trying to remember where you put everything while pulling apart the beautifully tidied, reorganised and nesting-approved home you've spent the last few weeks preparing! 😂
A little preparation now can save a lot of stress later.
You may never need the extra bag, but if you do, you'll be very glad you packed it.
Ready to choose baby's first outfit?
Explore our newborn collection of soft, timeless knitwear designed for baby's first moments, coming-home outfits and those precious first photographs.
Not sure what your newborn should wear home from hospital? Read our guide to choosing a newborn coming-home outfit.