What to pack in a hospital bag for dad?
Women usually have an extensive list, and all the essentials are probably already in her bag. There are still some things you should take yourself though. You may even end up being her hero if she forgot that bottle of water or a phone charger.
I wrote this post soon after the birth of my son to memorize all the items that I had or wished I had (cash, for example). You can see my hospital bag checklist for dad by scrolling down.
If you find something missing, then please shoot me a letter. It may also be worthwhile to check with your hospital if they recommend something not mentioned here.
Hospital bag Checklist for Dads
1. Water (without gas) or juice
2. Energy-boosting snacks
3. Travel pillow (check the upgraded VISHNYA tavel pillow latest price on Amazon)
4. Tablet or a book
5. DSLR camera (Canon EOS 77D is sold on Amazon) or a video camera
6. Shirt (a cool T-shirt by Ann Arbor is sold on Amazon and it's just right)
7. Socks
8. Underwear
9. Toothbrush (or refreshing mints) and toothpaste
10. Deodorant stick
11. Phone charger
12. Power bank (check the Powercore II price on Amazon)
13. Medications
14. Flowers (or present for her)
15. Chocolate
Be mentally prepared for spending many hours in the hospital. In smaller hospitals cafeterias may be closed during the night. Not all places have vending machines.
Pack some energy-boosting snacks to the dad hospital bag. Your partner can usually eat small snacks to get some energy. Pack a sturdier sandwich for yourself.
It’s always a good idea to take 1-2 bottles of water (without gas) with you. Juice is a good option as it contains plenty of carbohydrates and vitamins.
Fight the Boredom With Books or Tablet
If active labor lasts over 8 hours, then you will get bored. Your partner may get some sleep, but you have nothing to do. Take a tablet or a good book with you.
If you think you'll be able to sleep in a chair then take a travel pillow with you. VISHNYA travel pillow (check the latest price on Amazon) is a popular choice.
Most of us have mobile phones capable of catching superb photos. DSLR cameras have a bigger sensor and offer a better quality though. If you are not a professional, then a DSLR is more forgiving. You can later crop images and still retain excellent image quality.
Most DSLR cameras let you record raw+jpeg file formats. If you have saved raw files, then you can later adjust all the settings.
Birth of a child is a momentous event in a man's life. I recommend buying or borrowing a DSLR camera so you can have a ton of good quality images and videos of that day.
There are many options out there. My personal choice at the moment is Canon EOS 77D (check the latest price on Amazon). It’s a bit more advanced camera, but you can also shoot Full HD videos with it. A separate video camera is also a good option.
Keep up the Appearances
Dads hospital bag should hold an extra shirt, socks, underwear, a toothbrush (or refreshing mints), toothpaste and a deodorant stick...because...well you know...
Be fully charged
Babies don’t send text messages to announce their time of arrival. As a result, it's best to keep an extra phone charger in the daddy hospital bag, so you have one less small thing to worry about. Your partner will thank you:)
A power bank in your dad hospital bag is also a good idea, so you don't have to sweat about finding a socket. Anker PowerCore 10000 (check the latest price on Amazon) is a lightweight device that works fast.
Your Health is Also Important
It’s generally not advisable to complain about your headache while she’s in labor. So pack pain relievers and use secretly when needed.
If you use any medications, then don’t forget to take them with you as you may end up spending a lot of time in the hospital.
If you use contact lenses, then put your glasses into the dad hospital bag. Your eyes may get tired even if you use lenses that you theoretically could keep for many days.
Loose Change
You usually need loose change to pay for coffee or refreshments. In some hospitals, you may have to pay for parking.
Flowers & Presents
Put a bar of chocolate to the dad hospital bag. She'll be exhausted, and this energy booster is something she'll need very very much.
And bring her flowers! Most hospitals sell them so no need to pack:)
But there's another small thing. Many women secretly hope for a "push present."
What's a Push Present?
In the U.S it's quite common to give "push presents" or at least over half of the pregnant women want one.
Do Women Really Expect a "Push Present"?
In September 2017 Serena Williams welcomed her baby girl to the world and asked a question in Instagram.
Ladies is a "push present" a thing?
Serena Williams - professional tennis player
You can read many answers in this article in Vogue. The truth is, even if it is just a marketing ploy, many women secretly hope for one.
It’s up to you to figure out if she expects a small present.
How Much Should Push Present Cost?
Supposedly art and jewelry are popular choices among celebrities.
That said, chocolate and flowers will raise you above average even if you are not planning to buy her that Monet.
Push Present Ideas
I'll give you three simple ideas just to get you started:)
To sum up
I hope this list helps you to be prepared for that beautiful day.
One more thing.
As I’ve mentioned earlier, it’s worth checking with your hospital if you should bring something not mentioned in this list.
Some hospitals want you to bring your pillow and bedsheets. They may not provide a balance ball. There may not be a radio, so you may want to bring your portable speaker with you. So give your hospital a call if you aren't sure about something:)
Good luck!
P.S If you wish to read about the importance of fatherhood, click here to read my guide.
Last Updated on May 11, 2020