Hospital Bag Essentials for Baby's Arrival

The time has come! Nine months have passed and baby is ready to make their grand arrival, but are you ready? If you’re reading this as a first-time parent, we’ve got lots of awesome tips for you. If you’re reading this as a seasoned parent, you still might learn a thing or two.

Hospitals aren’t exactly known for comfort, so you’ll want to make sure your suitcase is packed with all the essentials to make your stay as easy and enjoyable as possible. We’ve put together a list according to a few mamas around the office:

• Baby going-home outfit
• Baby swaddling blanket
• Comfortable going-home outfit for you (soft-waistband sweats or dress) 
• Comfortable undies 
• Nursing bra 
• Hair ties and soft headbands
• Basic toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, face wash)
• Mouthwash (this one deserved its own bullet point)
• Lip balm + lotion
• Lanolin oil or nipple cream
• Breast pump
• Camera
• Cell phone and charging cord
• Favorite snacks or cash for vending machines (possibly the most important)
• Books or magazines
• PhoneSoap 3 UV-C sanitizer (bet you didn’t see that one coming)

It’s no secret that keeping germs at bay for the first few months of life is of the utmost importance for a new baby, which is where the PhoneSoap 3 comes into play. This phone sanitizer and the other PhoneSoap UV-C products kill 99.99% of bacteria and viruses.* If you haven’t read our last blog post yet, check it out here for statistics on the types of bacteria found in hospitals.

The reason it’s so important to protect newborns is because the only opportunity they’ve had to build an immune system came from whatever antibodies have been passed on from the mother during gestation. It’s especially important to protect NICU babies, as they are particularly susceptible to hospital-acquired infection.

According to a study on a NICU done by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, fecal coliform bacteria was detected “in a high proportion of the surface samples.” Don't let one of those surfaces be your cell phone.

While having a baby is exciting, it can also be incredibly stressful. Don’t let what should be the happiest time of your life be interrupted by something that could have been prevented. Keeping germs at bay is easier with PhoneSoap.

*Testing was conducted in a laboratory setting on actual phones, Apple watch, headphones, credit cards, and keys with a variety of pathogens, including Salmonella, Staphylococcus, and Coronavirus 229E. Real world results may vary depending on size, shape, and material of phone or phone case. For more information, click here.