Looking for the perfect gift for someone who’s expecting? Take care of her (or yourself!) with these 11 hospital essentials for mom! She will LOVE (and use!) them!
It’s been a while since we’ve done a DIY gift idea post so as I was putting this together for Malissa (and one for my SIL who’s expecting too!) I decided to photograph it to share. This is my favorite gift to give to the women close to me who are about to have babies, its full of my hospital essentials for mom! Now, I’ve only had 2 babies, I’m not a pro (and basically nothing compared to most Utah moms lol) but I was careful to pay attention to the things I thought I just couldn’t have done it without. (Don’t worry, I don’t think an iPad is essential, or even pragmatic as a gift, but I was able to give one to them so I included it in the pictures :D).
Usually, mom is left out of the gifts, its all baby clothes and blankets. Which are definitely essential! But, I think it’s always nice to include the expectant mother with a gift that’s full of things that are just for her. After all, she IS the most important person in the whole process!
I was able to give these gifts for Mother’s Day, which was perfect, but it’s truly my favorite shower gift to give! Its always a huge hit with the mom and all the guests. I like to include little notes on each item about why I love it, so I whipped some up that are pretty, along with a matching card, and are available as a free download at the end of this post!
So what’s in it?
It always varies a little depending on who I am giving it to (and whether or not they will be nursing) but my hospital essentials for mom are some combination of the following 11 items:
Hospital Essentials for Mom:
- Lansinoh Gel Soothie Pads
Oh. My. Goodness. These little babies are LIFESAVERS if you are planning to nurse! They give you a wonderful little cooling sensation that’s value cannot be overstated in those first new days of nursing. Bring these to the hospital. If you only pack one thing THIS IS IT. - Camelbak Eddy Bottle
I adore these bottles (they rock for working out cus you don’t have to stop walking/biking to take a drink!) And for labor, they’re the best! Every delivery room is different, but where I had Stella there was no side table or anything near me to keep a drink on. So I loved this bottle that I could just keep right next to me on the bed because it’s spill-proof! - Self Care Items
Lip balm and lotion are something every woman loves! And almost definitely something she’ll need in the few days at the hospital. Spring for something that is good quality, but also mild smelling as during labor/when she’s still pregnant she may not like anything too strong! - Nuring Pads
Mom only needs to bring a handful of these with her to the hospital, not the whole box and she may not even need them there. But a day or two after she gets home, while her body is still trying to figure out this whole milk thing, she’ll be grateful she has a big box to go through. - See #3!
- Device for Watching Apps/Reading
This is the one on the list that is technically not a hospital essential for mom. It’s a luxury item for sure. My husband was able to score a couple of these Samsung Galaxy Tablets for a great deal from a friend so I was happy to include them this time around! I love android in this instance because you can download digital movies (or torrents) right to them. I added a few files right to these and downloaded all the entertainment must-have apps (Netflix, Hulu, Kindle, etc) so it was ready to go for the mom! Personally, I didn’t find much time at the hospital for things like that. But every experience is different and my SIL is having a c-section so her stay will be longer. - Gum/Mints
One of the few things she’ll definitely be allowed to have while waiting for active labor and can really take her mind off her possible hunger! - Some Cash for the Vending Machine
Most of mom’s meals should be covered at the hospital but there may just be something that catches her eye in the vending machine. Give her a couple of bucks so her (or her partner) can have a treat! - Nursing Tank or Bra
Nursing bras are the greatest invention for new moms maybe ever. If they didn’t exist, you can bet I’d have gone completely bra-less for all the time I nursed. Which does sound nice..but maybe isn’t the best option..So if you know mom’s size (size up…cus milk!) and grab her one of these must-haves. And just do the right post-partum thing and make it loose fitting. - Phone Charger
Oft forgotten and always needed! Whether you included #6 or not, no one is going to be mad you gave them an extra charger. - Most-Missed Caffeinated Drink
Some moms are really really good and don’t drink their fave caffeinated drinks during pregnancy. Some don’t have the choice because they have gestational diabetes. Either way, your expectant friend will love this thoughtful addition to their hospital bag.
So there you have it! The best gift ever for moms-to-be! These hospital essentials for mom will ease her mind as she prepares for the big day and give her soothing comfort before, during, and after labor. And here is a picture of my daughter being a silly-pants while I was trying to photograph Malissa with this gift (who definitely IS pregnant but still doesn’t really look it even 26 weeks in haha!) It’s hard to blog with kids guys…
Grab the free printable card and tags here (I used Avery Design and Print for the Card)
