A Hospital Bag List That Knows Your Hospital
72 essential items personalized by 7 smart questions. Researched hospital stay data for the 128 countries you can select as your own tells you what to pack and what your hospital provides.
7-Question Smart Personalization
Answer 7 quick questions and get a checklist tailored to your exact situation. Your country shapes it too — pick from the 128 the app supports and the recommendations follow local hospital stay lengths and what the hospital provides.
First Baby or Not
First-time or second-time parent — a second-time parent gets a shorter list and different comfort items
Delivery Type
Vaginal, cesarean, or undecided — C-section adds specific items like abdominal binder and high-waisted pants
Multiples Support
Singleton, twins, or triplets — automatically doubles or triples all baby items and adjusts quantities
Hospital Type
Public or private — changes what the hospital supplies and how much you need to bring yourself
Room Type
Shared or private room — a shared room upgrades sleep mask and ear plugs to must-have
Feeding Plan
Breastfeeding, formula, or combination — adjusts nursing bras, breast pads, and nipple cream recommendations
Budget Preference
Essentials only (26 items), comfort (56 items) or everything (all 72) — and the app shows you the live count, not a rounded promise
Hospital Stay Duration by Country
Know how long you'll stay so you can pack appropriately
| Stay Profile | Duration | Example Countries | Packing Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ultra-Short | Under 24h | United States | Minimal clothing, substantial snacks, entertainment for labor |
| Short | 24-48h | UK, Sweden, Canada, Ireland | 2-3 outfits, partner overnight items, personal toiletries |
| Standard | 2-4 days | Germany, Australia, Italy, Spain, Turkey | 3-4 outfits, entertainment, personal care items |
| Extended | 4-6 days | South Korea, France, Japan | Entertainment for long stay, minimal toiletries (hospital provides) |
72 Items Across 7 Categories
Everything you need, organized and prioritized for your situation
| Category | Items | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Mom — Clothing | 10 items | Nursing nightgowns, high-waisted underwear, going-home outfit, and more |
| Mom — Postpartum Care | 10 items | Maternity pads, nipple cream, peri bottle, stool softener, and recovery essentials |
| Mom — Comfort & Personal Care | 20 items | Toiletries, phone charger, pillow from home, entertainment, and comfort items |
| Baby — Clothing | 8 items | Going-home outfit, hats, socks, swaddle blankets, and onesies |
| Baby — Hygiene & Care | 7 items | Diapers, wipes, car seat (required by law), pacifiers, and diaper cream |
| Partner | 10 items | Snacks, phone charger, change of clothes, pillow, blanket, and entertainment |
| Documents & Important Items | 7 items | ID, insurance card, hospital paperwork, birth plan copies, and medical records |
Packing by Country
See how hospital stay data changes your packing recommendations
United States
Pack light — 1-2 outfits, substantial snacks for partner, entertainment for long labor. Hospital provides basics for baby.
Japan
Minimal packing — hospital provides everything including skincare and meals. Focus on going-home outfits and entertainment.
United Kingdom
Sleep mask and ear plugs are essential for shared NHS wards. Pack your own snacks. Partner usually can't stay overnight.
Smart Packing Features
Tools that make packing stress-free
Progress Tracking
Circular progress card with percentage, category mini-bars, and a celebration overlay with confetti at 100%
Dynamic Priorities
Three priority levels — must-have, important, and nice-to-have — that adjust based on your room type, delivery, and stay length
Synced Across Your Devices
Your bag syncs to your ProbaBaby account, so the same list and the same ticks show up on every device you sign in on.
Last-Minute Items
8 items to grab right before you leave for the hospital
- Phone charger (in use until labor)
- Glasses or contacts (if wearing)
- Prescription medications
- Wallet with ID and insurance card
- Keys (house and car)
- Fully charged phone
- Snacks from fridge (for partner)
- Water bottle (refillable)
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the Hospital Bag checklist
Short stays (US, 1-2 days) mean packing light with 1-2 outfits. Long stays (Japan, 5-7 days) mean packing more entertainment but fewer toiletries since hospitals provide them. Knowing your country's norms helps you pack exactly right.
The 7 questions do the filtering for you — they hide what doesn't apply and adjust quantities for twins or a C-section. You can tick items off, collapse categories and reset the whole bag, but the 72 items are a fixed researched set; you can't add your own yet.
Each country has different hospital stay durations, different items provided by the hospital, and different companion policies. For example, Japanese hospitals provide almost everything so you pack minimally, while US hospitals provide basics so you bring more.
Not yet. Today the hospital bag is personal to your account — it syncs across your own devices, but your partner keeps a separate list. The Birth Prep checklists (documents, home prep, first week) are the ones shared with your family.
Select the closest similar country with a comparable healthcare system. Hospital stay norms are often similar within regions.
Not through the app — the hospital bag list is personal to your account and your partner keeps their own. The checklists your family does share are the Birth Prep ones.
We recommend starting at 35-36 weeks. Pack most items early, then add the last-minute items (phone charger, wallet, medications) when labor begins.
Related Features
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