Surgery Preparation What to Pack for the Hospital Make Your Stay Comfortable By Jennifer Whitlock, RN, MSN, FN Updated on April 24, 2024 Medically reviewed by David Hampton, MD Fact checked by Elaine Hinzey, RD Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents The Basics of Packing Your Hospital Stay Checklist Maternity Checklist When planning a stay in the hospital, whether it is for surgery, childbirth, or an inpatient procedure, it is important to be prepared. This involves packing everything you need not only to be comfortable, but to make up for some common shortcomings of the hospital (such as food or the lack of privacy). While modern hospitals are designed to be more people-friendly than ever, function, hygiene, and durability are more important than comfort. This article will help you think through what you may need to take with you so you're not stuck doing without during your hospital stay. Morsa Images / DigitalVision / Getty Images The Basics of Packing As you prepare for your stay, think about all of the things you'd take on a weekend trip. Then cut down. Especially omit valuables like jewelry or electronics. Hospitals won't take responsibility if personal belongings are stolen. It's ultimately your call as to whether you're willing to risk it or take out a short-term insurance policy to cover the loss. If you really must bring electronics, such as a laptop, ask the hospital in advance if they offer lockable storage in the rooms. If they do, check to see if your belongings will fit inside. If you're uncertain whether to bring a valuable, ask yourself if you're willing to lose it. If not, keep it at home. Once you've cut back to the basics, decide which things would: Help you sleep comfortably Maintain your daily hygiene Help with privacy Keep you healthy You should also bring entertainment and, if your treatment or procedure allows, maybe some snacks or drinks. Your Hospital Stay Checklist You won't have a lot of space to store things. Try to fit everything you need into a standard carry-on bag. Be sure it's well-labeled and lockable for security reasons. The clothing you may want to take includes: Comfortable pajamas (loose-fitting is best)A light robe for modesty, especially in a shared roomAn eye mask for sleeping, as the room may not be very darkEyeglasses, which may be simpler to deal with than contact lensesPlenty of socks and underwearSlippers with rubber soles (to prevent slipping)An outfit to wear home (something loose that won’t rub on your incision if possible) Personal care products to take are: A hairbrush or combA list of your current medications, including names, dosages, and dosing schedulePersonal medications, preferably in their original container so the nurse can help you with themSoap, skin-care products, and hair care products if you prefer your own (ideally travel size)Products like tampons, sanitary pads, or panty linersToothbrush, toothpaste, denture cream, and deodorantEarplugs if you're a light sleeperYour pillow(s) Electronic and entertainment items may include: Cellphone and chargerEarbuds or headphones for your phone or computerBooks, e-reader, tablet, portable DVD player, puzzles, magazinesA laptop and charger Important documents to bring include: A list of your medicationsYour government-issued IDYour health insurance cardA copy of your healthcare proxy, if you have one You may wonder if you can bring non-perishable snacks and drinks, especially if you have dietary needs with a condition like diabetes or need to take medicine with food. Remember to check with your healthcare team before eating any food brought from home to ensure it won't interfere with your care. Having a Baby? Don't Forget These When you're delivering a baby, you need to think about an additional list of things. For labor and delivery, you may need: A birth plan, if you have oneA camera, extra batteries, and plenty of storage devicesAny music that you've selected for labor and delivery For your stay after delivery, you may want to have: Nursing pajamasNursing braBreast padsMaxi pads For taking your baby home, you'll need: A fully equipped diaper bagBaby’s going-home outfitBlanketsCar seat Hospitals will not allow you to take a newborn home without an appropriate car seat. Be sure yours is properly installed before you go into labor. Remember that after giving birth, it takes a while for your uterus to shrink back to its pre-pregnancy size, so your clothes for going home should be comfortable maternity clothes. Summary Before you check into the hospital, make sure you've packed everything you'll need and want for your stay. Leave valuables at home. Consider what you'll want to wear, personal hygiene items you'll need, things to ensure your comfort, and how you'll entertain yourself. If you're having a baby, you'll need certain items for labor and delivery, the hospital stay, and taking your baby home. 2 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. van Herpen-Meeuwissen LJM, van den Bemt BJF, Derijks HJ, van den Bemt PMLA, Maat B, van Onzenoort HAW. The effect of Patient’s Own Medication use on patient’s self-reported medication knowledge during hospitalisation: a pre-post intervention study. BMC Health Serv Res. 2022;22:423. doi:10.1186/s12913-022-07752-6 Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Car seat safety: newborn to 2 years. By Jennifer Whitlock, RN, MSN, FN Jennifer Whitlock, RN, MSN, FNP-C, is a board-certified family nurse practitioner. She has experience in primary care and hospital medicine. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit