Third Trimester Checklist Before Baby Arrives

Your hospital or birth center may provide more than you think, so check its list first. Then pack the things that make you feel like yourself: identification and paperwork, a long charging cable, lip balm, layers, slip-on shoes, toiletries, and clothes that make sense for a still-changing body.

For the baby, a going-home outfit in two possible sizes is usually more practical than a tiny wardrobe. The car seat matters, but StorkScout does not rank or recommend car seats; installation and fit deserve guidance specific to your vehicle and child.

Postpartum supplies belong within arm’s reach of the bathroom, bed, or feeding chair—not arranged beautifully in a distant nursery basket. Ask your care team what the hospital sends home and what is appropriate for your expected recovery.

A water bottle, easy snacks, washable layers, and enough underwear are not glamorous registry items. They are, however, the sort of things people text a friend to bring on day three.

Choose a firm, flat sleep surface that meets current safety standards and keep it bare except for a fitted sheet. Add diapers, wipes, a few burp cloths, simple clothes, and the feeding supplies that match your current plan. Plans can change. Leave room for that without treating change as failure.

Wash enough clothing and linens for the first week, not every gift through size 12 months. Once tags come off, the chance to exchange five identical swaddles disappears.