Our Top 4 Things to Take for Baby in Your Maternity Hospital Bag

Alright, ladies!  I have done my research and the verdict is in.  There are some things you really do need in your hospital bag, and some things you really don't need in your hospital bag.  Yes, you'll want things for mom, for dad, and for your new little bundle of joy.  But mom and dad aren't super hard.  Moms will need socks, nursing bras, comfy clothes, etc.  Dad will want his phone charger, a camera, maybe a change of clothes - the works.  But what does this new little one need?  Not a ton, to be honest.  The hospital will provide a lot of things that your newborn will need so that you won't have to worry about it!  Hospitals are great at providing diapers, wipes, pacifiers, and some will even provide onesies for your newborn.  So what do YOU need to bring?  I've narrowed it down to 5 essentials.

1. Swaddle Blankets

Aden + Anais – Cotton Muslin Swaddle Blanket

Newborns need to be swaddled!  After being all tucked up in mommy's tummy for 9 months, they come into this big free world and they want to feel safe and secure.  Here at The Baby Cubby we sell 2 different swaddle brands, Aden + Anais and Little Unicorn.  These brands are SUPER comparable.  Seriously, we haven't found any differences except the prints.  Both brands have the same amazing quality, both brands get softer after washing, and all of the swaddle blankets are the exact same size (47" x 47").  As a good rule of thumb, I full-heartedly believe that you can never have too many swaddle blankets.  You will use them as swaddle blankets, spit-up wipers, nursing covers, bibs, and probably a billion other things. So make sure to pack a Little Unicorn Cotton Muslin 3 Pack of swaddles or an Aden + Anais Bamboo Swaddle Blanket 3 Pack.  (Both Little Unicorn and Aden + Anais carry both cotton muslin swaddles and bamboo swaddles.)

2. Hat/Socks/Mittens

Goumkids – Hat and Mitts – Bubbles/Lime

I know, I know.  Totally cheating on this one.  This isn't 1 thing it's 3, but they go together so let's call it 1! Little ones are a lot more susceptible to the cold, so you need to make sure they stay bundled up and warm!  Socks and hats do wonders for keeping their little bodies warm, and the mittens help them not scratch themselves with their sharp little nails! Our Baby Cubby favorite for these sweet little accessories are from a brand called Goumikids.  You can buy a hat, mitts, or boots separately, or pick up a newborn set with all three!

3. Receiving Blanket

Saranoni – Minky Receiving Blanket – Lush/Lush – Light Blue/Gray

A more obvious way to keep your little one warm - a blanket!  My favorite blankets in the world are made by a company called Saranoni. (Really though, read my blog post where I obsessed a bit over them.) Saranoni carries a receiving blanket that measures 30" x 40" - the perfect size to wrap your newborn in!  Saranoni blankets are made of SUPER SOFT minky material and they come in all sorts of cute colors. (They make great photo backdrops!) Here at the Baby Cubby we carry the Saranoni Receiving Blanket in Lush/Lush, Swirl/Lush, and Lush with a Satin Border.

4. Coming Home outfit

Goumikids – GoumiJAMMS – Magical Woods (Poppy)

This is what everybody talks about, right?!  You have to have a special outfit for when you take them home for the 1st time.  You want something comfortable for baby to wear, but also cute enough for pictures.  Enter:  Goumikids GoumiJAMMS.  I love these little things!  They are SOFT, have built-in scratch mittens and a built-in foot pocket.  They can also be worn as a gown, which is the way you'd want to go when you put baby in the car seat so that you can buckle them in correctly.  Just tuck a blanket around their legs and they're good to go!

A couple other things you might consider bringing...

An infant bottle - Just in case they don't latch, or of course if you're just planning on formula feeding!  Comotomo makes baby bottles that are great for newborns, especially if you're breastfeeding and pumping because they are designed to be as much like mom as possible, which helps avoid nipple confusion.  Want more info?  Check out this blog post, "Comotomo Bottles: The Best for Breastfed Babies," that I wrote a couple months ago that highlights all the cool things about Comotomo bottles!

Baby nail clippers - Scratch mittens are great and they help keep babies' hands warm, but nail clippers are always a good option to entirely remove the possibility of baby scratching himself/herself.

An infant car seat - This, of course, is actually a necessity.  The hospital won't let you leave without one!  Here at The Baby Cubby we carry Britax, Chicco, Maxi Cosi, and Uppababy brands.

Still need more ideas?  Click here to visit another awesome blog post about What You Really Need When Packing Your Hospital Bag.  But all things aside, try not to stress it too much!  If you forget something, just send the hubby on an errand run. ;) Having a baby is exciting and always somewhat stressful, but if we can take away any of the stress here at The Baby Cubby then we've done our job!  Stop into our store in Lindon, Utah to see all these products in person, and to talk to our knowledgeable Cubby Mom staff about their own experiences and ideas.