Please Share Your Thoughts: Hospital Bag Essentials

I posted this list in one of my other groups. It's a combination of advice I've found throughout CafeMom and moms I know in real life.

LINK!
http://www.cafemom.com/group/42771/boards/read/6207788/Ultimate_Hospital_Bag_List

**jules**

dont forget little stuff like lotions, lip balm, shampoo and conditioner. i forgot and regreted it. dvd player is a great idea.  Most hospitals have them but not the smaller ones in smaller towns.  maybe extra pillows just in case u need more support (body pillow)  maybe an extra bag to carry the gifts people bring u while your in there.

Awesome, thank you! Can't wait to see other ideas, too!

pillow, sorry but i dont sleep on a plastic one at home. lol. camera, phone charger, batteries, maybe puzzle books if ur into doing them.

A blow up mattress! LOL, my DH can't stand sleeping in those hard chairs...and the delivery beds at the hospital we go to are like sleeping on cardboard after a while so I'll be joining him...I also agree with pillows. My husband  brings a deck of cards for us to play after the baby is born so I don't lose my mind being away from my other children!

CHAPSTICK AND HARD CANDY!!!! With my first they induced me and it didnt work the first day and they wouldnt let me eat... jolly ranchers were my savior!!! Also Warm socks and comfy undies!!!

Don't forget the tooth brush and tooth paste for both mom and dad.

Hair brush and hair ties are a must.

Also the phone list and favorite snacks since hospital are not known for their fabulous food.

Can I just add to pack early because my son was born 3 weeks early and I was completely unprepaired and did not even think to have a bag that early, I didn't even think I was in labor, so I didn't bring anything with me!  Bring at least one preemie outfit to go home in, just in case you have a smaller baby, even though my son was 6 lbs 11 oz he didn't fit in newborn clothes.

I just packed my bag today, and I used the list from hospitalbag.com but I also put some of my portable gaming systems and some games. I also packed my MP3 player.

I keep a journal, so I always bring my journal with me so that I can write down my experience while its still fresh in my mind. We think we'll never forget the day our baby was born, but eventually those little moments tend to slip away. Its fun to look back and see how I was feeling or what I was thinking. I also take the baby book so I can fill in as much as possible while I have time ( also so I can write down visitors who were there and gifts they may have brought.) Heaven knows how little time we have once we get home to do stuff like that.LOL!