What should I pack in the hospital bag for my baby?
In shortFor the baby, pack 8 things for the hospital and the ride home, 10 if it's cold: a rear-facing car seat installed before the birth, the going-home outfit in sizes NB and 3M, a few spare bodysuits, socks and 8 size N diapers. The list is a Cotokim proposal: ask your hospital what it provides during the stay.
8 items for your baby and the ride home, in mild weather. 0 of 8 packed
Check with your hospital. Every hospital has its own list: ask yours what it provides during the stay. This baby list is a Cotokim proposal.
For the ride home
Under age 1, always rear-facing, in the back seat.
Source: NHTSA.
In the bag
Not on any list
Cotokim does not include pacifiers, bottles or nipples on any list.
Cotokim's list counts the clothes for each size by your city's climate and your due date.
Build my list for my cityWhat goes in the baby's bag
| Item | Mild weather | Cold weather |
|---|---|---|
| Rear-facing infant car seat, installed before the birth | 1 | 1 |
| Blanket to drape over the buckled harness | 0 | 1 |
| Going-home outfit in size NB | 1 | 1 |
| The same outfit in size 3M | 1 | 1 |
| Spare bodysuits, size NB | 2 | 2 |
| Pairs of socks | 2 | 2 |
| Knit hat for going out | 0 | 1 |
| Size N diapers | 8 | 8 |
| Small pack of fragrance-free wipes | 1 | 1 |
The amounts are a Cotokim proposal. The outfit goes in two sizes because a baby born bigger may not fit NB.
The car seat rules
- Rear-facing, in the back seat. A child under age 1 should always ride in a rear-facing car seat 1, and in the back seat at least through age 12 1.
- Nothing bulky under the harness. Bulky clothing or blankets can prevent a snug harness fit: buckle your baby in first, then place a blanket over the harness 2. In winter, pick thin, warm layers and add blankets around your baby after the harness is snug 3.
- The hat comes off indoors. A hat indoors can make your baby too hot, so take it off once you are inside 4.
What stays off the list
Cotokim does not put pacifiers, bottles or nipples on any list.
This baby list is a Cotokim proposal, built around the NHTSA car seat rules; the amounts are ours. Every hospital has its own list, so check what yours provides. Checked by the Cotokim team against the sources on this page. It does not replace advice from the health care team that looks after you and your baby.
Frequently asked questions
When should I pack the hospital bag?
Our suggestion: pack it a few weeks before your due date, and install the car seat early, because you need it for the ride home.
Does the hospital give diapers?
Every hospital has its own list: ask yours what it provides during the stay. The 8 diapers on our list cover the ride home and the first hours.
Do I need a coat or snowsuit for the ride home?
Not under the car seat harness. Dress your baby in thin, warm layers 3, buckle them in, and put a blanket over the harness 2.
Source credits
Courtesy: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Safe to Sleep® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
We link to pages of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in our own words; this does not mean that the NHTSA endorses Cotokim.
Written by the Cotokim teamChecked by the Cotokim team against the sources on this page, on October 14, 2026
Sources
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Car Seats and Booster Seats. Read on October 14, 2026.
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), How to Install Rear-Facing Car Seats. Read on October 14, 2026.
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Winter Weather Driving Tips. Read on October 14, 2026.
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), NIH, Ways to Reduce Baby's Risk (Safe to Sleep). Read on October 14, 2026.