The complete NHS Check List
The NHS provide a complete check list of products you should think about taking with you for the birth of your child or have to hand if you have opted for a home birth.
Please click on read more to see the full list.
Our Complete hospital labour bag includes almost all the items on the NHS hospital bag “what to pack?” list. Once purchased you can sit back and relax knowing that you have everything you need for your labour and hospital stay…..and/or you could go and enjoy spending the money we have saved you on that special purchase for your new bundle of joy!
Our Essential hospital labour bag includes most of the items in the Complete bag, including the NHS recommended 3 x new born baby clothes items, however we have left out items that you might like to take from home. Items such as your dressing gown, toiletries, towel, slippers etc.
Our Lite bag is a baby starter pack with all you need to dress baby after his/her first bath.
All the items in the Complete and Essential Bags are ready packed in a fantastic floral bag on wheels. Making it easy to transport…to and from and within the hospital; and the items in the pack will arrive to you packed in tissue paper and a box.
Whatever hospital labour bag you choose you will be assured that buying from us means that all these great baby and mum products have been sourced from quality suppliers and in bulk – saving you money without skimping on quality!
Below is a table showing the full NHS list compared to our three products.
| The NHS list | Complete Buy now £139.00 | Essential Buy now £89.00 | Lite Buy now £49.00 | Reason for omission |
| A comfortable t-shirt or nightdress | YES a simple XXL cotton T-shirt for labour. | NO | NO | |
| A pair of socks, in case your feet get cold | YES – a pair of fleecy bed socks | NO | NO | |
| A flannel or facial sponge for cooling your face | YES – a 100% cotton flannel | NO | NO | |
| Your birthing plan | YES – a blank plan is included to get you started | YES – a blank plan is included to get you started | NO | |
| A tens machine for pain relief | NO | NO | NO | These are available to hire or buy or are sometimes available from your hospital |
| A birthing ball | NO | NO | NO | Your hospital is likely to have birthing balls available for your labour |
| Magazines and CDs to help you relax | NO | NO | NO | Personal taste items |
| A battery-operated CD player of MP3 player | NO | NO | NO | Most people have their own iPods or MP3 player. Also your hospital is likely to have a bedside entertainment unit |
| A hairband | YES – a to keep hair out of your face | NO | NO | |
| A lip balm | YES – an enriched balm to keep your lips hydrated | NO | NO | |
| Boiled or glucose sweets | YES – some boiled sweets to suck on, to keep your energy levels up | NO | NO | |
| Massage lotion or oil | YES – 100ml muscle soothing, aromatherapy massage oil. | NO | NO | |
| A hot water bottle | YES – a furry covered hot water bottle. | NO | NO | |
| A water spray | YES – a combined water spray with face fan | NO | NO | |
| A face fan | YES (see above) | NO | NO | |
| Some bendy straws | YES – a few bendy straws for sipping water in different birthing positions | NO | NO | |
| Any medication that you usually take – enough for several days | NO | NO | NO | |
| Pyjamas or front opening night dress | NO | NO | NO | A personal choice item |
| Dressing gown | YES – large, white, towelling dressing gown | NO | NO | |
| Slippers | YES – white slip-on simple slipper | NO | NO | |
| Clothes to wear home – you’ll be most comfortable in stretchy clothes | NO | NO | NO | A personal choice item |
| Several pairs of disposable knickers (or old ones you don’t mind throwing away) | YES – a few pairs of disposable knickers | YES | NO | |
| A nursing bra | NO | NO | NO | You will need to be measured for this |
| Maternity pads (even if you have a caesarean) | YES – a pack of 12 ‘night time’ sanitary towels | YES | NO | |
| A breastfeeding/support pillow | NO | NO | NO | You may find that you do not need one of these |
| Breast pads | YES – a number of breast pads to keep you fresh and dry | YES | NO | |
| Nipple cream | YES – a 100ml tube of nipple cream to prevent and treat cracked/sore nipples | YES | NO | |
| A wash bag and your usual toiletries | YES – we have included some shower/bath gel, some deodorant, some facial moisturiser and a travel toothbrush and paste. | NO | NO | |
| Towels (dark colours if possible) | YES – a 100% burgundy bath towel is included | NO | NO | |
| Snacks, in case you get hungry between mealtimes or during the night | NO | NO | NO | Personal choice item |
| Your favourite teabags | NO | NO | NO | Personal choice item |
| Some money for the phone | NO | NO | NO | |
| Any phone numbers you might need | NO | NO | NO | |
| 3 babygrows | YES – 3 newborn baby grows made from 100% cotton | YES – 3 newborn baby grows made from 100% cotton | 1 newborn baby grows made from 100% cotton | |
| 3 vests | YES – 3 newborn short sleeve body suits made from 100% cotton (We found body suits to be easier to use than a vest as you are able to popper the suit on preventing it from riding up) | YES – 3 newborn baby grows made from 100% cotton | 1 newborn baby grows made from 100% cotton | |
| A pair of scratch mitts | YES – 1 pair made from 100% cotton | YES – 1 pair made from 100% cotton | YES – 1 pair made from 100% cotton | |
| A pair of socks | YES – 1 pair made from 100% cotton | YES – 1 pair made from 100% cotton | YES – 1 pair made from 100% cotton | |
| A coat and warm hat if its cold or a sunhat if its hot | NO | NO | NO | We found that a cardigan and a simple cotton hat along with the shawl was much easier to use; and would be great for whatever time of year baby arrives |
| A blanket | YES – a shawl, which we believe can be used more flexibly. | YES – a shawl, which we believe can be used more flexibly. | YES – a shawl, which we believe can be used more flexibly. | |
| A pack of new born –size nappies | YES – multi pack of newborn nappies | YES – multi pack of newborn nappies | NO | |
| Cotton wool | YES – sealed in useful packs of 4 (10 packs included) | YES – sealed in useful packs of 4 (10 packs included) | NO | |
| Nappy bags | YES – one pack of 50 sacks included | YES – one pack of 50 sacks included | NO | |
| Muslin squares | YES – two are included | YES – two are included | NO | |
| A car seat | NO | NO | NO | This will need to be checked for compatibility with your car |
| Extra items that we have added. | ||||
| A normal 100% cotton hat | A normal 100% cotton hat | A normal 100% cotton hat | ||
| A cardigan | A cardigan | A cardigan | ||
| Sudocrem | Sudocrem | NO | ||
| 3 pony tails bands | No | NO |