It’s almost that time. You’ve been waiting months to meet the newest addition to your family and no doubt in the process of preparing for baby, you’ve decorated the nursery, stocked up on supplies, and installed the infant car sear. But now it’s time to pack your hospital bag and many new moms don’t know where to start.
Of course you’ll want the obvious — your photo ID, hospital papers, make-up, toiletries, and a couple days worth of clothes. You’ll want you cell phone and it’s charger to make sure you won’t run out of juice with all the photos and videos you’ll be taking and don’t forget that you need a bag, baby needs a bag, and so will your husband. Plus if you already have kids, they will need a bag if you plan to have them spend the night (or a few days) at relatives.
With this being my second pregnancy (we have the most amazing three-year-old son), and a different gender (hello girl world of lace and tutus), I compiled a list of hospital bag must-haves with a girly twist.
Perfect Diaper Bag for Your New Bundle of Joy
Picking out the perfect diaper bag and getting it all ready for the new baby. I had Ju-Ju-Be with my son, and naturally I turned to Ju-Ju-Be once again for baby girl. The brand has literally thought of everything a parent needs from the diaper bag being machine washable, to all the pockets for organization, to crumb drains (or in San Diego sand drains from the beach too!) to the versatility of having a shoulder strap, or converting into a back pack style. Plus it’s very lightweight and includes a lifetime guarantee. They have a variety of colors, styles and patterns. I picked the B.F.F. style titled “The First Lady” because this will be the first girl welcomed into our family! As an added bonus for working moms or those that pump frequently Ju-Ju-Be also has a line of bags designed specifically for breast pumps which even includes a mini bottle cooler, a wet bag for pumping parts, and other pockets for accessories.
Practical and Pretty? Not Your Typical Hospital Gown
Baby Be Mine Maternity was founded by two moms who teamed up as business partners to provide options for moms and babies during their hospital stay and beyond. Having six kids between them, the duo knows a thing or two about revealing hospital gowns during baby delivery stays. What caught my eye about the brand was the ability for mom and baby to match! They have several colors, florals and patterns of labor gowns and robes or mom that match swaddle sets for baby.
Plus, you probably didn’t think about walking around your hospital room – barefoot. Uh, no thank you. Baby Be Mine Maternity also makes Labor Socks that grip so you don’t slip holding new baby or on weary legs after hours of pushing or a c-section. And they have fun phrases on the bottom like “Ready Set Push!” or “I’m Going to be a Mommy Today.”
Accessorizing Your Little Princess
We love having a little boy. He has brought us so much joy and the past three years with just the three of us have been amazing. So when we found out we were having a girl, my mind needed to transition from trains and cars, to tutus and found New York based baby boutique Liore’e. They source the most extensive range of handmade baby Swarovski crystal products globally. I fell in love with a pair of crown babydoll crystal shoes and matching headed. Is it a must-have for a hospital bag? Most would say no, but for this first-time girl mom, a little bling was an absolutely needed.
Equally, I had seen all these photos online that families had taken of their newborns in bloomers and bows and I just couldn’t resist getting in on the trend. Which brought me to The Girly Baby, a boutique for the “girliest of girls.” From their handcrafted headbands to lace bloomers, monogrammed onesies and chic clothing, you can find the perfect ensemble for your newborn to make her big debut.
Making Siblings Feel Special (Can’t Forget Big Brother)
When your family is expanding it can be difficult for your child, or children, to understand what is going on. Depending on their ages, they may totally get it or have no clue what is about to happen. Our son is three and we have been preparing him for the arrival of baby through conversation, books, and even engaging him when it comes to helping set up the nursery and shop for his little sister.
I’m so curious to see how it will go when they first meet. I’m anticipating love and big brother being very helpful. However, with him having our full attention the past three years, I’m sure it will be an adjustment having to share the spotlight so to speak.
I wanted to get our son a gift, that was from little sister, that would make him feel special and he could get excited about but would also keep him stimulated and busy at the hospital or home. My brother has twin boys the same age and they had these awesome tiles that were magnetic and I thought this is perfect!
So we got our son the Magna-Tiles® Clear Colors 100 Piece Set. These translucent and brightly colored tiles have magnetized edges so kids can connect them to build anything they can imagine. Not only are Magna-Tiles® fun, but they also help develop fine motor skills as kids stack, build, count, match and “click” together their creations. The were invented by Valtech to fuse math, science and creativity together holding a child’s interest and attention, while building critical developmental skills and promoting imaginative play.
I also found out they have a new 3D building set called Magna-Qubix®. These are similar but they are magnetic building cubes, prisms and pyramids. The 3D magnetic building shapes can be stacked to build but now not only can you make symmetrical shapes, animals and towers, you can learn geometry too! Each translucent and colorful shape measures about one-inch by one-inch and can be used with the original Magna-Tiles® sets too.
Stylish Storing Solutions
From diapers to potty training, swim clothes to shoes, snacks to an extra outfit, we use the collection of wet bags and snack bags from Itzy Ritzy on a daily basis. So as we prep for the hospital I grabbed my Travel Happens Sealed Wet Bags to keep, and separate, everything from my makeup and brushes to baby’s headbands and bows. The bags are all machine washable and the mini reusable snack bags are made with food safe, FDA approved, BPA-free lining too.
Snacks to Increase Milk Supply
One thing no one really mentioned to me with my first child was just how much breastfeeding would hurt at the beginning. I found it extremely painful, but I kept my eye on the benefits and waited for the breakthrough when the latching finally got into a routine and the sharp pain turned into a light tug. Fortunately I didn’t have any trouble with my milk production, but many moms do. I know every experience is different so this time around I want to be prepared for any outcome.
I found this company created by a Registered Nurse, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, and breastfeeding mommy of two named Milky Mama. After having her second child and returning to work, Krystal struggled with her milk supply and realized that there were very few resources for breastfeeding mothers in the same predicament. She knew then that she had to come up with a solution that would help to increase her milk supply. She developed a milk-making cookie recipe and those lactation cookies dramatically increased her supply. She branched out into lattes and smoothies, brownies and teas…. all made with natural ingredients and healthy for both mommy and baby. I’m excited to try the lattes and cookies and see what it does to my milk supply!
