A month from my due date I started reading every article I could on what to pack for the hospital. I wanted to make sure I had everything I needed to make labor easier (HA!), and to feel comfortable afterwards. But the “simple living” girl inside me only wanted to pack a minimalist hospital bag – free from all unnecessary items and only full of what I really needed.

Initially, I thought I wanted to bring my sound machine to block out hospital machines during labor, my ceramic essential oil diffuser to release the lovely lavender scent to calm me down, and my favorite skin products to look fresh-faced afterwards. I even contemplated bringing a pretty nursing gown and robe because so many articles suggested so, along with my makeup and an extra pillow or two.

Let’s just say after I was done researching it I had a very long list of items to bring. But the minimalist inside of me wanted to only bring what was NECESSARY and not some item a blogger said to just because they had an affiliate link. (SIDE NOTE – affiliate links are totally cool and I will use them on occasion too but I just didn’t feel the need to buy a $200 robe for delivery, ya know?) But if you think the minimalist life is for you, you may want to read, “Are You Holding Onto Stuff Others Could Use?” to gain some more inspiration.

So I kept paring down my list until I had what was deemed only the essentials.

 What Was In My Minimalist Hospital Bag?

*this post contains affiliate links*

• Sound machine
• Phone + Phone charger
• Lavender Essential Oil
• Face wash
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Brush
• All Necessary Paperwork for the hospital (ID, Insurance, credit card)
• Cute labor socks that said “It’s a girl!”
• Tennis balls in a sock for back pain during labor
• Extra underwear
• Nursing bras
• Giant Coconut waters
• A going home outfit
• Flip-flops for the shower
• Makeup
• Newborn onesies
• Razor
• Newborn headband for cute photos
• Baby blanket
• Pacifiers
• My favorite shampoo + conditioner
• Deodorant
• A car seat

(Not too minimalistic, huh?)

And what did I end up actually using from my “minimalist hospital bag”?

My toothbrush, the car seat, the baby onesie, coconut water, my phone charger, deodorant, hair brush (barely) and the baby onesie.

That’s it.

Because of how things turned out I didn’t end up needing a lot of the things I thought I would.

Why? Well I got to the hospital pretty late. I was already 7cm dilated and things went quickly from there. Because of timing I didn’t really need my tennis balls for pain, sound machine or cute labor socks. (So sad!)

I didn’t need extra underwear or bras because I just lived in my hospital gown and mesh underwear. I also went home in the same outfit I went to the hospital in since I only wore it for the drive there.

Not everyone is the same.

You don’t have to be this extreme – it just worked for me. They hospital also had a whole snack room and would bring me meals whenever I wanted. Therefore for me snacks were unnecessary but because of your situation they may end up being very important.

I’m also glad I didn’t bring my essential oil diffuser or pillows because the first would have been a pain and the hospital would have brought me as many pillows as I wanted.

But, if you are one that wants to take a cute photo shoot after delivery this list may not be for you. You will want your hair products and your makeup (depending on if you feel up for it.) And depending on when you get to the hospital you may need more “comfort” items than I needed to make it through early labor.

That being said, I tried to find balance between what I felt was unnecessary and what YOU may need to come up with the list below. I hope you find it helpful.

BARE NECESSITIES (For the extreme minimalists):

• Car seat. Click here to see the exact car seat I bought.
• Something to wear (It is frowned upon being naked in public. In fact, it is illegal.)
• Phone + phone charger
• Toothbrush
• Deodorant
• Hospital Paperwork (ID, Insurance, Credit Card)

Otherwise, pick one or two items from each list below!

FOR LABOR:

FOR COMFORT:

• Sound Machine
• Essential Oils
• Face Wash
• Extra underwear
• Nursing bra
• Flip-Flops for the Shower
• Favorite Hair Products
• Extra Pillows
• Slippers

FOR HYGIENE:

• Hair Brush
• Shower Flip-flops
• Favorite hair products
• Deodorant
• Razor
• Dry Shampoo

FOR PHOTOS:

• Makeup
• Pretty Robe
• Cute onesies
• Cute baby headbands
• Good Camera

FOR THE BABY:

• Going Home Outfit
• Pacifiers
• Headbands
• Swaddle
• Blanket

FOR YOUR HUSBAND:

• Snacks
• Phone and Phone charger
• Outfit to sleep in if he stays at the hospital