What I Packed (& Didn't Need) in my Hospital Bag

There’s something so satisfying about packing your hospital bag when you’re nearing the end of your pregnancy. It’s like checking off a major to-do list item that makes everything feel more real. I watched all the YouTube videos, read the checklists, and felt super proud of my perfectly packed bag. But here’s the truth: I used maybe half of it.

So if you're pregnant and prepping your hospital bag right now, first of all—yay! You’re so close. Second, let me help you skip a little of the over-packing I did. And third, let me tell you about one small thing I actually needed that no list mentioned: the Ingy Bingy Band, a genius little pacifier wristband that saved me way more times than I expected.

What I Packed That I Didn’t Really Use

Let’s start with the fluff.

I packed:

• Two sets of cute pajamas with matching slippers. Just keep it simple! One nightgown or the hospital gown is plenty! Less is more!

• A full makeup bag (who was I kidding?)

• Snacks… like, enough to feed a small village

• Books (not sure why I thought I'd have time to read in between birthing and feeding a baby)

• 4 outfits for baby (they only need 1 ladies)

What did I actually use from all of that? A robe, maybe one swaddle, and a lip balm. Everything else just took up space.

What I Did Use (and Love)

Here’s what I ended up being super grateful to have:

• A long phone charger

• Nursing Pillow

• Comfortable clothes for going home

• Toiletries (unscented everything)
  

• And… the Ingy Bingy Band!

Let’s talk about that last one for a second.

Why the Ingy Bingy Band Came in Clutch

I had packed a newborn pacifier and even brought a pacifier clip, thinking I’d be prepared if the baby needed a little extra soothing. What I didn’t anticipate was how often the infant pacifier would keep falling out, especially during those first few hours when I was too exhausted to keep putting it back in.

The Ingy Bingy Band is a soft, comfy pacifier wristband that wraps around your baby’s wrist and keeps the pacifier close. It was the one thing that kept me from constantly fishing around in the bassinet trying to find where the pacifier had gone again.

Unlike a traditional clip that tugs at baby’s clothes or falls off, the Ingy Bingy Band stays with them. It’s perfect for the hospital when you’re short on sleep, your baby is fussy, and you just need something, anything, that helps soothe them (and lets you breathe for a second).

Final Thoughts

My advice? Keep it simple. You don’t need half the stuff you think you do. But one thing I really did need, and will pack again if I ever do this all over, is the Ingy Bingy Band. A small, smart solution to the age-old problem: the infant pacifier keeps falling out.

Trust me, your tired, post-birth self will thank you.

 

 

The Ingy Bingy Band is not your everyday pacifier clip! This game-changing pacifier wristband helps babies self-soothe at a younger age than ever before! Instinctively, babies gnaw on their hands in an attempt to soothe. The Ingy Bingy pacifier wristband keeps their pacifier right where they’ll find it, allowing your baby to comfort and calm themselves while you do whatever it is you need to do!

Our buttery soft wristband comes in two styles to accommodate every pacifier.

Our Pacific style should be used when your baby’s pacifier holes are near their nose and chin when in use. It is most commonly used with Avent, BIBS, Dr. Brown’s, MAM, Nuby, NUK, Medela, FRIGG, Nanobébé, Tommee Tippee, and Chicco pacifiers. 

Our Sequoia style should be used when your baby’s pacifier holes are near their nose and chin when in use. It is most commonly used with Itzy Ritzy, Ryan & Rose, and The Dearest Grey pacifiers.  

If you are still unsure which pacifier wristband style is right for you, check out our style guide or text the name and/or picture of your preferred paci & we’ll let you know which style is right for you!