It’s easy to get carried away when packing your hospital bag. After all, you may be more used to packing for two weeks by the beach, and so a bare minimal hospital bag can come as a bit of a surprise. Childbirth is one of the great unknowns, so you may find yourself packing for a whole host of different scenarios, just in case. What you really need to do, is pack light and pack sensibly. A huge hospital bag bursting at the seams can be a nuisance on the day. Not only will it be difficult to drag up to the ward, but it may also prove problematic when it comes to find particular items in the bag.

Make sure you can justify everything that goes in your bag, you’ll probably still end up taking more than you need, but at least this might keep things to a minimum. Here are five items you don’t need in your hospital bag:

1. Books, magazines and films – ‘in case you get bored’, anything in this category should be taken out of the hospital bag immediately. If you arrive at the hospital in the throes of labour, and leave carrying your newborn baby, you won’t have had time to be bored. The only exception to this, is if you are being induced or having an elective caesarean. Both of these could involve a bit of waiting around, so it’s wise to take your own entertainment.
2. Pre-pregnancy clothes – you may be missing those push up bras, and be desperate to slip back into those much loved skinny jeans, but unfortunately you won’t be leaving hospital in them. After you give birth, you will still have a bump for a short while as your body slowly shrinks back to your pre-pregnant size. You will also still be carrying the extra weight you put on during pregnancy. Take clothes that will allow you to be comfortable after the birth, ideally maternity or loose fitting clothes.
3. A selection of cute baby outfits – newborns sleep most of the time, so you should pack lots of onesies and sleepwear to keep your little one warm in hospital. Cute as the mini cowgirl outfit complete with hat is, your newborn probably won’t appreciate it just yet. Keep your newborn dressed for sleep, or naked so you can enjoy some skin to skin bonding. Bring an outfit for taking baby home, and plan outerwear according to the weather.
4. The baby book – much as you want to note down each treasured memory of the birth, you’re not going to have time at the hospital. Chances are, you’ll be exhausted after the birth and will then be busy adapting to your new role as a mother for the remainder of your stay. Leave the baby book at home, but take a pen and paper with you just in case you do feel the urge to write some quick notes down.
5. Your full make up kit – while you may like a bit of mascara or a touch of blusher, chances are you won’t have time to apply a full face of make up. By all means, take a few of your must-haves, but don’t pack your entire vanity cabinet. Newborn babies take up a lot of time, and you’re likely to be sleeping when not looking after your baby. Your appearance will be far from your mind.

What would you advise expectant parents to leave at home as they head to hospital for the birth?

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.

Don’t worry, you’re not the first mom to run out of things to say to your baby and you certainly won’t be the last. There are, after all, only so many times you can point out cows, explain the colors in the laundry basket and go through the parts of your baby. The more words babies are exposed to throughout the day, the more opportunity they have to develop their language skills. Investing in some decent baby books can help you keep talking without boring yourself. Here are some top tips for choosing a baby book:

1. Babies love pictures

I know, you’re totally ready to get your childhood copy of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland down from the loft and start reading, but you might be better letting it gather dust for a few more years. Your baby is likely to be fascinated by bright colors and decorative illustrations. He loves listening to the sound of your voice and seeing the pictures on each page, but he’s probably not ready to follow the complex and mind-boggling adventures of young Alice just yet.

2. Put yourself first

It’s a book for your baby, but your baby isn’t going to be the one forced to read it three times a day for the next two years. Nope, that’ll be you, so make sure you pick a book you love. Make sure you read before buying to make sure it’s a book you can read over and over again. Don’t worry, at some point it’s bound to get ‘lost’, all favorite books do.

3. Get recommendations

Don’t judge a book by the cover and don’t base your purchasing decisions on online reviews. When it comes to kids books, parents are the best people to ask for advice. After all, they’re knee deep in bedtime stories. Speak to your mom friends, find out what books they love reading – and which they don’t.

4. Don’t blow your budget

You can pick up secondhand books really cheaply at thrift stores and secondhand bookstores. There’s no need to splash out on the latest best seller, there are plenty of entertaining books that can be picked up for next to nothing. Instead of blowing your budget on one book, why not buy a few cheaper books? That way you’ll be able to mix it up each night and won’t tire quite so quickly of reading the same words over and over again.

5. Get other people to do the work for you

Books make great gifts. If your baby has new toys and adorable outfits as far as the eye can see, it might be time to ask friends and family for books instead. The next time someone asks you what your baby might like as a present, you could suggest they give a copy of their favorite childhood book. You’ll get some new reading material and your baby will inherit a very special and sentimental gift.

Which is your favorite book to read to your child?

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.