May 29, 2016 by Drafts & Crafts
Prepping overnight bags for your maternity stay in the hospital or birth center is a big task to check off the never ending parents-to-be list! Luckily, I have done my research and have talked to several mama’s who helped me put together a checklist on what to pack. I used Lo & Sons Catalina Weekender, the is the ultimate weekender bag to make packing simple, organized, and stylish!
THE CATALINA WEEKENDER BAG BY LO & SONS c/o
There is SO MUCH to do when preparing for your bundle of joy! Between getting the nursery in order and making sure you have all of the appropriate supplies for baby’s arrival home, packing your hospital bag could be overwhelming if you are unsure what to bring. I am very fortunate to have many wonderful mama friends who gave me some pointers. My recommendation is to have your hospital bag “roughly packed” by 36 weeks. You never know if baby may come early, like my 37 week surprise!! It is understandable that you will likely have to throw some last minute items in the bag that you use on a daily basis. It is beneficial to have the items that you do not use daily already packed. For instance, if you plan on breast feeding, go ahead and order some nursing bras by 30 weeks that way you can have them ready to go!
Choosing what to pack in your bag is just as important as choosing a bag! Whether you are headed to the hospital for delivery or going away for the weekend, convenience is KEY! I hate digging through a huge duffle bag or putting my shoes in the same space as my clean clothes. I was thrilled to receive this Lo & Son’s Catalina Weekender because it makes packing easy and practical. I just love the story behind Lo & Sons as well. Helen Lo was making frequent trips to the doctors when her two sons kept noticing that she often had a different bag because she could not find one bag that she liked. Helen’s sons convinced her to create a functional bag to pack her belongings in and eventually developed their family company, Lo & Sons!! The Catalina Weekender is such a versatile bag. The canvas material is light weight, strong, and can be folded up for easy storage. There are several pockets for all of your small belongings, like chargers and chap stick. Here is my hospital bag checklist:
Mommy’s Bag
- pajamas
- robe
- slippers
- comfortable underwear for post delivery
- absorbent pads
- loose clothes to go home in
- toiletries
- camera
- camera charger
- cell phone charger
- photo ID
- insurance card
- head band & hair ties
- socks (a pair with grips)
- chap stick
Baby’s Bag
- two change of clothes (one of these being the going home outfit)
- blanket
- pacifier
- socks
- nail grooming kit for baby
- diapers
- wipes
If you plan to breastfeed..
- nursing pads
- nipple cream
- nursing cover
- nursing pillow
- nursing bra
- your preferred bottles
- your preferred breast pumping equipment (the hospital will have this as well)
Daddy’s bag
- 2 change of clothes
- pajamas
- toiletries
- snacks
- money for vending machines
- I pad or computer
- cell phone charger
I found it extremely helpful to print out this checklist so that I could cross items off as I packed my bag. Creating a checklist ahead of time will ensure that you do not forget anything and hopefully put your mind at ease. Any other items that you found essential during your maternity stay? Please leave a comment below, I would love to hear!! A HUGE thank you to Lo & Sons for making this post possible, I can not wait to use my weekender again!
Keep in touch,
Dani