Your hospital bag isn't ready yet? The big day is approaching and it's time to get organized to be prepared when baby arrives. It's recommended to start gathering things little by little from the 6th month of pregnancy so that the hospital bag is ready 4 to 6 weeks before your due date. This will save you from rushing around and feeling stressed at the end of your pregnancy, a period during which you may be more tired and need to rest… But what should you pack? Worried about forgetting something? Don't panic! We've created a list of 5 essential items to pack.
It's not always easy to get organized, especially when there's very little time left before the baby arrives. Lists to help prepare the hospital bag are often long, and forgetting one thing or another happens so easily. Luckily, Ouatine & Cumulus is here!
We offer you a printable checklist so that neither mom nor baby will lack anything on the big day. The list is complete, but what are our top 5 essentials to pack in your suitcase ? Stéphanie, a pediatric nurse and founder of Ouatine & Cumulus, gives you the lowdown. ⤵️
Essential item for your hospital bag #5: bedside lamp or nightlight 💡
Why should you bring a bedside lamp or a small nightlight with you? Hospitals often have bright lights, which aren't really suitable for a nighttime routine. For your comfort , when you need to feed the baby in the middle of the night, it's best to avoid blinding lights and opt for softer lighting.
A soft, dim light for nighttime feedings or bottle-feeding is beneficial for everyone's comfort. First and foremost for the baby, whose eyes are still delicate, but also for the mother, who after giving birth will need rest and serenity. In the hospital, as well as at home, using a dim light at night helps develop and encourage your baby's circadian rhythm (day/night rhythm) and also allows you to fall back asleep more easily.
Therefore, the small lamp or nightlight is useful for helping mom and baby fall asleep after a nighttime snack. 😴
Essential item for your maternity bag #4: carefully selected products 👝
From birth, your baby will need care, even if he or she is healthy. This will of course include creams, liniment, saline solution, and a small brush if the baby is born with hair, all in a small care kit. In short, a set of supplies that you will have prepared in his or her maternity bag to provide daily and regular care. The most important thing is to bring quality products to help your baby's delicate skin. Check the composition of the products and favor natural care.
Also, consider a moisturizer cream or oil to help mom's skin recover, a leg cream to massage and promote blood circulation, dry shampoo to make it easier to wash her hair because after childbirth, it can be much more complicated (or even forbidden by the doctor) for mom to take a bath or shower, and a nail file to prevent scratching the baby.
Maternity bag essential #3: a small kettle 🛏️
This small seed-filled cushion, once heated, will have various uses for the baby. It will warm up their little bed before placing the baby in it, to avoid a large temperature change when moving from arms to bed, and it also relieves minor cramps...
The hot water bottle is also useful for mom, relieving the pain of contractions, but also that in the breasts during breast engorgement. It also relaxes her muscles, which can sometimes become tense after holding the baby in her arms for too long.
The essential item for your hospital bag #2: the nursing pillow ✨
Contrary to what its name suggests, it can be very useful even if you are not breastfeeding. At birth, a baby is so small and fragile that many parents worry about even the slightest clumsy movement. How to hold the baby properly? Where to place your hands? How to get comfortable with your baby? The solution is simple: the nursing pillow !
Using it allows you to evenly distribute your baby's weight, no matter where you are! It prevents arm and back pain and allows mom to rest while baby is being breastfed or sleeping. 👶 The role of a nursing pillow is to help you in your daily life:
- he supports the baby in his arms, during skin-to-skin contact, during meals,
- It becomes a little nest to settle your child in when they need to be supported.
The nursing pillow is ideal for adopting a comfortable position and giving the baby the feeling of being in a cocoon of softness . While it was designed to help your newborn, it also allows mom, the co-parent, siblings, grandparents... in short, anyone wanting to hold the little one in their arms in a comfortable position.
The essential item for your maternity bag #1: the cocoon 💤
An accessory entirely dedicated to baby's sleep , it's essential in your maternity bag. Simply put, the cocoon will create a padded space around your newborn , offering reassuring contact from head to toe that will remind them of the nine months spent in mom's belly.
The cocoon can become your child's go-to sleep aid from their very first moments of rest. In swaddling or a bodysuit, the baby is in a flexed position, keeping their little hands close to their face, which aids digestion, soothes, and also promotes symmetrical development. 📈
Equipped with a reversible hood, the cocoon allows parents to let their baby sleep alone in a room. Surrounded by familiar scents , your little one will find the same environment every time they fall asleep.
>> Discover the size 1 swaddles (up to about 6 months)
>> Discover the size 2 cocoons (from around 6 months)
The little extra from Ouatine & Cumulus
In your hospital bag, amongst the clothes, toiletries and future comfort items, you can include a small notebook. It will be very handy for noting feeding times, bottle feeds, first impressions and starting to write your baby's birth story. Record your first memories with your baby, the account of your delivery, and little messages you can show them later.
Your hospital bag will be packed with essential items and some optional ones. While it's best not to forget anything, know that you're not immune to distraction and that's okay. During these magical moments, you'll be surrounded by people ready to help; don't hesitate to delegate small tasks if needed.
