If you're already getting your home ready for the big change your family is about to experience—preparing the baby's room or setting up the changing table—then it may also be time to roll up your sleeves and start on the hospital bag preparation for the baby.

It is recommended to prepare this bag once you enter week 37 of pregnancy, since from that point on the pregnancy is considered full term and, therefore, your little adventurer could be born at any moment. Week 37 is only a guideline, though. Nothing happens if you're a cautious queen and prepare everything in advance. Even better for you! And if you're one of those who leave everything until the last minute, we still recommend not waiting too long: If you wait until the first contractions arrive to pack the hospital bag for the baby, you might forget something in the rush and nerves!

In any case, whether you prepare it sooner or later, there are some items that cannot be missing from that bag. We list them below. Ready to take notes?

The 5 essentials in the hospital bag for the baby

1. Hats and booties or socks: When they are newborns, babies lose most of their body heat through their head, so an item that cannot be missing from your hospital bag for the baby is cotton hats. A pair will be more than enough. Along with the hats, it’s also a good idea to pack booties or elastic socks, which, in addition to being comfortable and practical, will help keep your baby's feet warm. Your midwife or the obstetrics department at the hospital where you will give birth may also recommend packing some cotton mittens. If so, it’s worth adding them, although the truth is they are becoming increasingly obsolete. Not long ago, mittens were recommended to prevent babies from scratching their faces with their nails, which at birth tend to be uneven and can scratch easily. Today, however, the importance of the sense of touch in the first days of a newborn's life is prioritized, which has made these mittens less useful. In any case, if you want to be sure, don't hesitate to ask your midwife.

2. Pajamas and bodysuits: After birth and skin-to-skin contact with mom or dad, in the vast majority of hospitals, babies are usually dressed in a hat and clothing from the hospital itself to prevent heat loss, as we mentioned earlier. You can keep your little adventurer in that clothing until the first bath, which usually takes place the day after birth. For after the bath, don't forget to pack two or three cotton bodysuits and two or three pajamas in the hospital bag for the baby, so you can keep your baby dressed and warm until you are discharged. Packing two or three sets of each is not a trivial matter: as you will soon find out, babies' poop tends to escape from the diaper, so it won't be surprising if you have to change their clothes more than once. It’s also not a whim that we recommend bringing bodysuits and pajamas, as these garments are the most comfortable for newborns and also the easiest for you when changing the diaper. And although you'll do it with your eyes closed later, the art of changing a diaper is something you learn!

3. Wet wipes and diapers: In the vast majority of hospitals, parents are usually given diapers to change their newborns. This is something you can confirm during your visits to the maternity area, but in any case, as the saying goes, prevention is better than cure, so it's worth adding a good handful of diapers (15-20) to the hospital bag for the baby. They may seem like a lot, but you'll see they don't take up much space (and you'll probably use all of them and more!). Another thing is baby wipes, which are not usually provided by the hospital itself. A baby's first baths are usually done with a wet wipe or a sponge, never with soap. The wet wipes will also be useful for cleaning your newborn after their first bowel movements. It is recommended that these, if possible and to the extent feasible, be specific wipes for newborns, as their composition is gentler on the skin.

4. Outerwear (swaddles or muslin cloths): Whether your baby is born in summer or winter—especially in the latter—it’s advisable to include some warm layers in the hospital bag for the baby. Watch out, it doesn't have to be fleece!
In principle, with Spain’s mild climate, a cotton swaddle or muslin will be enough to protect your baby, but in colder areas, you might be advised to add a small blanket as well.
In this regard, two fundamental tips: first of all, listen to the advice of healthcare staff , because it is not uncommon to go overboard in the effort to keep the baby warm, which is also not advisable. Secondly, don’t assume you won’t need it if you give birth in summer—add a muslin or swaddle anyway. In hospital rooms, the temperature is usually much lower than it can be outside on a July or August day. Fortunately… 😉

5. “First installation”: This is not a must in capital letters. In fact, it may simply be a Spanish tradition that other countries view with astonishment. However, we’re not the ones to question such a deeply rooted custom. In Spain, when preparing the hospital bag for the baby, what is known as a “first outfit” is usually included. And what is this “first outfit”?, you might ask if you are new to this topic. The answer is simple: a beautiful and special set of clothing designed for the moment when the baby leaves the hospital and goes out into the street for the first time. Whether you want to follow the tradition or not is your decision. However, if you add a first outfit to the hospital bag for the baby, follow the approach we discussed in the section about pajamas and bodysuits: make sure the outfit is comfortable for the baby and practical for you when changing the diaper.