What to Pack in Your Hospital Bag (Without the Overwhelm)

You've probably seen the viral videos. The overflowing duffel bags. The monogrammed packing cubes. The 17 baby outfits. And let’s be real — it can be a lot.

But here’s the truth: you don’t need to pack your whole house. What you do need? A few intentional, comforting, and practical items that support you and baby through those early hospital hours and days.

We’ve got you. Here’s your stress-free, judgment-free guide to what actually matters when packing your hospital bag.

For You (the birthing person)

Let’s start with you — because your comfort and care matter most.

• ID + Health Card – You’ll need these at check-in.

• Birth Plan (optional) – If you have one, print a few copies.

• Robe or Open-Front Sweater – Something soft, cozy, and easy for skin-to-skin.

• Non-Slip Socks or Slippers – Hospital floors are cold!

• Comfy Postpartum Undies – The mesh ones are fine… but you might want your own.

• Pads (or Adult Diapers) – The hospital usually provides some, but having your preferred brand helps.

• Toiletries – Think toothbrush, dry shampoo, face wipes, lip balm, hair tie.

• Snacks + Water Bottle – Labour is work. Fuel is key.

• Phone Charger (extra long cord!) – Outlets are rarely bedside.

• Optional: Your own pillow, a calming playlist, or aromatherapy – Comfort is sacred.

For Baby

This part is so tempting to overpack. Remember: they’ll mostly be skin-to-skin, swaddled, and snuggling.

• 2–3 sleepers (newborn + 0-3m sizes) – In case baby is smaller/larger than expected

• A going-home outfit – Optional, but can be sweet for photos

• Hat + mitts – Hospitals often provide a hat, but bring your own if you'd like

• Blanket – For warmth in the car seat, not in the crib

• Diapers + wipes? – The hospital should supply these, but check in advance

• Car seat (installed) – Can’t leave without it!

For Your Support Person

If your partner or support person is staying with you, they’ll need a mini bag too:

• Change of clothes

• Snacks + drinks

• Phone charger

• Cash or coins for vending

• Headphones or book – There can be a lot of waiting

• Patience + presence – Their vibe matters more than their stuff

Tips to Keep It Simple

• Pack two bags: One for labour/delivery, one for postpartum. Leave the second in the car and grab it when needed.

• Don’t stress about being “ready”: Babies come on their own timeline. Your peace is more important than perfection.

• Add a list on top: Things to grab last-minute (like your phone or charger) so nothing’s forgotten.

A Gentle Reminder

No bag can fully prepare you for what birth will feel like. And that’s okay. What you bring with you — your strength, your heart, your community — matters more than any perfectly packed pouch.

You are not underprepared. You are already doing beautifully.

Want a Downloadable Checklist?

We created a Simple Smyles Hospital Bag Checklist to make this even easier.
Pop over to our Instagram or grab it inside The Journey workshop materials!

Let’s Chat!

What’s one “must-pack” item someone recommended to you? Drop it in the comments or DM us on IG! We’d love to hear what made you feel most supported.

Embracing — and Grieving — Your New Season of Life

When you imagine becoming a parent, you expect the love.
You expect the joy.
You expect the overwhelming emotions.

What we don’t always talk about is the grief that comes with it too —
the quiet mourning of the life you left behind.
The identity you are suddenly no longer sure how to find.

At Simple Smyles, we believe in honoring all parts of the journey — the beautiful, the messy, the surprising, and the heavy.
Because becoming a parent isn’t just about meeting your baby.
It’s about meeting a new version of yourself, too.

A Story from Our Founder

I can remember feeling so nervous about becoming a mom.
What if my kiddo didn’t like me?
What if it didn’t come naturally?
What if I didn’t even like being a mom?

I distinctly remember one day — sitting on the toilet, still trying to take my first poop after my C-section (the glamorous postpartum moments no one warns you about) —
struggling with breastfeeding, drowning in sleepless nights, and trying to navigate it all in the height of a global pandemic.

I sat there and thought:
"What the eff have I done with my life? I’ve ruined it."

It’s hard to admit.
Especially when everything we’re taught says that women are supposed to be naturally, effortlessly, joyfully maternal.
That wasn’t my immediate response — and that truth felt heavy to carry alone.

Later, when my girlfriends started having kids, they would admit the same thing to me, quietly and in secret:
"I love my baby so much... but sometimes I miss my old life too."
"Sometimes I wonder if I'm cut out for this."

And the truth is — even now, with my kiddo four years old,
there are still days where I catch myself thinking:
"Man... things used to be so fun and easy."

Grief and Joy Can Exist Together

You can love your child more than life itself —
and still miss the parts of yourself that felt freer, lighter, wilder.
You can feel profoundly grateful —
and still feel profoundly sad sometimes.

✨ Both can be true.
✨ Both are normal.
✨ Both are allowed.

Parenthood isn't about giving up who you were — it's about learning how to weave that old self into the new version of you that's emerging.
It’s about holding space for the "before" while bravely stepping into the "after."

It's Okay to Take Time to Find Yourself Again

The truth is, you won't "bounce back" — and you’re not supposed to.
You are evolving, not undoing.

It's okay if it takes time to feel like yourself again — or to discover that your "new self" is someone entirely different, and still deeply worthy.
You don't have to rush your healing.
You don't have to rush your becoming.

Every phase — the confusion, the grief, the stretching and growing — is part of the beautiful, messy masterpiece of who you are now.

Your Body is Not Broken — It’s a Testament to Your Story

Your body may look and feel different after birth.
That doesn’t make it defective — it makes it extraordinary.

Stretch marks, scars, softened curves — they are not imperfections; they are inscriptions of love, endurance, and creation.
You are not less. You are more.

More resilient.
More powerful.
More breathtaking in ways that have nothing to do with the mirror and everything to do with the life you carry, hold, and nurture.

How to Embrace Your New Season of Life

• Give yourself permission to grieve without guilt.

• Speak lovingly to your reflection — the same way you would speak to a friend.

• Let go of the pressure to "get back" to anything — forward is beautiful too.

• Celebrate small wins (a shower, a hot coffee, a deep breath of quiet) as sacred victories.

• Ask for help — and believe you deserve it.

Your life has changed — and yes, parts of it have been left behind.
But in their place, new parts are blooming.

Trust that joy can grow right alongside grief.
Trust that this season, even in its wildness, is shaping you in extraordinary ways.

Finding Community and Support Matters

You don't have to carry all of this alone.
There is real magic in finding people who say, “Me too.”

• Reach out to postpartum groups, community centers, parent meet-ups — even virtual ones if needed.

• Talk to other parents about the highs and the lows.

• Connect with doulas, lactation consultants, mental health professionals — people trained to hold space for the realness.

• Let your circle hold you, even when you feel messy, complicated, or unsure.

You were never meant to do this alone. 💛

If You’re Feeling This Too, Please Know:

🌿 You have not failed.
🌿 You are not ungrateful.
🌿 You are not alone.

You are allowed to feel everything — and still be an amazing parent, an amazing human, and an evolving work of art.

We see you.
We celebrate you.
We are walking right beside you.

Emotional Health Matters:

At Simple Smyles, we believe that your emotional well-being is just as important as your physical recovery.
If you're struggling with feelings of grief, sadness, or overwhelm after becoming a parent, please know that you are not alone — and help is always available.
Reaching out for support is a courageous, loving step for you and your family. 💛

The Truth About Breastfeeding: It's Beautiful — and It's Hard

When we picture breastfeeding, we often imagine peaceful, glowing moments: a soft newborn nestled against your chest, a serene bond forming quietly between mother and baby.
And yes — sometimes, it looks exactly like that.

But what we aren't always told is that breastfeeding can also be something else entirely:
Raw. Painful. Emotional. Exhausting. Lonely.

At Simple Smyles, we believe in celebrating all sides of the journey — not just the glossy ones. Because the truth is, breastfeeding can be one of the most beautiful and one of the most challenging experiences in those early days.

The Beginning is Often the Hardest

When I first had my kiddo, I wasn’t even sure if breastfeeding was something I really wanted to do.
In my mind, I thought, “Okay, maybe I’ll breastfeed for three to six months — and after that, too bad, you’re cut.”

Like so many things with parenting, that mindset shifted the second my baby was placed into my arms.
Everything changed. Suddenly, my entire world centered around his needs — first and foremost.

When I was rolled back into recovery after my C-section, the nurse gently asked, "Do you want to try breastfeeding?"
I said, “Sure.”

And at first, it seemed easy. I wasn’t in much pain.
I honestly thought, “Wow, maybe this will be simple after all.”

(What I didn’t realize at the time was that the pain medications from surgery were still in full effect.)
Because when we got home... everything changed.

I remember the first few days vividly:
The pain was so brutal that sometimes I found myself thinking, “Do they really need to eat again?”
“Maybe they don’t need to stay latched for so long?”

The sucking was excruciating.
I used to joke with my girlfriends that every time he latched, I would count to 10 — and slam my foot into the ground to brace myself for the pain.

But then one day — and I’ll never forget this — I realized something.
As he latched, I didn’t slam my foot down.
I didn’t flinch.
I didn’t feel that familiar, gut-wrenching pain.

I thought to myself, “…This doesn’t hurt anymore. In fact, I barely even notice it.”

That moment felt like a sunrise after a very long, dark night.

Breastfeeding is a Journey, Not a Moment

Breastfeeding isn’t a switch you flip — it’s a relationship that grows over time.
Sometimes it starts rocky and becomes strong.
Sometimes it evolves into pumping, combination feeding, or formula feeding — and that is just as valid, beautiful, and loving.

There’s no single way to define success when it comes to feeding your baby.
The real success is in showing up with love, over and over, no matter how imperfect or messy it feels.

If No One Has Told You Yet — Let Us Be the First:

🌿 It's okay if it hurts at first.
🌿 It's okay if it takes more time than you thought.
🌿 It's okay if you ask for help — you deserve help.
🌿 It's okay if your feeding journey looks different than you imagined.

You are doing an amazing job.
You and your baby are learning together — and every ounce of effort, every tear, every moment of perseverance is building a bond that runs deeper than words.

At Simple Smyles, we're here to walk beside you.
Through the beautiful moments, and the raw ones too.

You are enough.
You are strong.
You are not alone.

If you ever need support, guidance, or simply a space to be seen — we're here. Always. 💛

Disclaimer:

At Simple Smyles, we deeply honor and support all feeding journeys. While this post shares a personal story from the perspective of our founder — who identifies as female and describes her experience with breastfeeding — we fully recognize and celebrate that chestfeeding, bodyfeeding, and other forms of infant feeding are valid and beautiful paths, including for trans and non-gender identifying parents.

We also believe firmly that fed is best.
Whatever feeding method you choose — breastfeeding, chestfeeding, pumping, formula feeding, combination feeding — what matters most is that you and your baby are nourished, supported, and loved.
You are doing an incredible job. 💛