Pregnancy Care

Hospital Bag Checklist for Singapore: What to Pack for Mum, Baby and Partner

by BMB Editorial Team

05 NOV 2026

A pregnant mum in a lavender maternity dress sits on a made bed packing a cream canvas bag from her hospital bag checklist for Singapore, with folded newborn clothes, a swaddle, a knitted hat, a top, a toiletry pouch and a steel water bottle laid out beside her

Pack your hospital bag by about 36 weeks. Singapore hospitals ask you to have it ready 2 to 4 weeks before your due date. Most maternity wards give you basic toiletries, so your bag is mainly for comfort, feeding and the trip home: front-opening nightwear, a cardigan for the cold wards, nursing bras and pads, your baby’s going-home clothes, an approved car seat, and your documents.

When should I pack my hospital bag?

KKH and Raffles Hospital say two weeks ahead. Gleneagles says 2 to 3 weeks, Mount Alvernia 2 to 4 weeks, and NUH “a few weeks in advance”. The NHS says at least 3 weeks, as only 1 in 20 babies arrives on the due date. Packing by 36 weeks covers them all.

Pack sooner if you are expecting twins. Cambridge University Hospitals, an NHS trust, suggests packing around 29 weeks, as about 5 in 10 sets of twins are born before 37 weeks. If your pregnancy is high-risk, ask your doctor when to have it ready.

KKH suggests your family brings the bag once you reach the ward, as the first hours are spent in the delivery suite. If back or leg pain makes bending hard (see sciatica in pregnancy), let someone else lift it.

What do Singapore hospitals provide, and what should I bring?

Check before you shop. This is what each hospital publishes, checked in October 2026. Packages change, so confirm with your ward.

KKH

Provides: a toiletry bag in Class A and B1 rooms, and hospital pyjamas.

Note: asks for a rear-facing car seat, and no valuables, personal electrical equipment or contact lenses. (KKH)

NUH

Provides: toiletries in A and B class wards.

Note: asks for your NRIC or passport, any Letter of Guarantee and an infant car seat. (NUH)

Mount Alvernia

Provides: a toiletry pouch with shampoo, shower gel, body lotion, toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, shower cap and face towel.

Note: suggests socks for the delivery suite. (Maternity Services Guide)

Mount Elizabeth

Provides: basic amenities in the maternity package, and a romper for your baby in the maternity bag.

Note: lists a cord blood kit, if you have one. (Mount Elizabeth)

Gleneagles

Provides: not stated on its page, so check with your hospital.

Note: asks for your referral letter and bed reservation form. (Gleneagles)

Raffles Hospital

Provides: a toiletries pack, disposable slippers in Single and Deluxe rooms and Suites, a breast pump on request (accessories charged), and a first pack of diapers and wipes, plus a baby vest during the stay. (Raffles Hospital)

Thomson Medical

Its checklist, listed under Preparing for Your Stay, would not load when we checked. Check with your hospital.

What should I pack for myself?

Plan for cold air-con, bleeding and feeding. KKH’s obstetric team calls the delivery suite “incredibly cold”, so pack a cardigan and socks. Front-opening nightwear makes breastfeeding easier. The NHS suggests nursing bras, breast pads, 2 packets of maternity pads and 5 or 6 pairs of knickers.

If your family follows confinement customs, pack long sleeves, long pants and socks for the trip home.

Add snacks, a water bottle with a straw (NHS) and your phone. KKH asks patients not to use personal electrical equipment that may not meet its safety code, so ask what you may plug in. Bring glasses, not contact lenses, and any medicines in their labelled packs (KKH). Collected colostrum before the birth? Ask your maternity team how to bring it in. Our Antenatal Class covers safe labelling, freezing and transport, and our breast milk storage guide explains cooler bags.

What should I pack for a caesarean?

Raffles Hospital plans about 3 days for a caesarean, against 2 for a normal delivery, so add a change of nightwear. While the wound heals, the NHS advises loose, comfortable clothes and cotton underwear. High-waisted knickers and a soft-waisted outfit keep pressure off the scar. You will not be able to drive for a few weeks, so arrange a lift home.

What does my baby need for going home?

Your baby’s list is short, as hospital lists mostly ask for clothes for going home. Pack an outfit, a wrap or swaddle, mittens, booties or socks and a cap, plus a few newborn nappies as a backup.

The car seat matters most. The Singapore Police Force says all drivers must properly secure a child below 1.35m with an approved child restraint, and failing to do so is an offence. Check for a sticker showing an approved standard, such as ECE R129. Taxis are exempt; private hire cars are not, and you can ask for a child seat when you book (Ministry of Health, 2021). KKH still asks for a rear-facing car seat even if you take a taxi or Grab, so install one before your due date. Our newborn checklist for Singapore covers the rest of the gear.

What documents do I need?

Put these in one folder: both parents’ NRIC or passports, your doctor’s admission letter or pre-admission papers, any insurance Letter of Guarantee, and a card for the deposit. Mount Alvernia also asks for your blood test results and pre-delivery receipts, for an extra MediSave claim of up to $900.

After the birth, register your baby on LifeSG within 42 days. It costs S$18, paid by credit or debit card, and you get a digital birth certificate. If you cannot pay by card, walk in to the ICA building with both parents’ identification and your marriage certificate, if applicable. LifeSG may also ask for the marriage certificate if one parent is not a citizen, PR or FIN holder, so keep it in the folder.

What should my partner bring?

KKH’s list for dads is a change of clothes, toiletries, a sweater, a charger and something to read while mum rests. Mount Elizabeth adds their IC or passport for birth registration. Mount Alvernia advises against driving yourself in labour, so your partner or a driver should be ready. The NHS suggests spare change for the car park; here, bring a parking card, an EZ-Link card and some cash.

For hands-on practice before the birth, our Care of Newborn Course covers bathing, cord and nappy care, feeding, and recovery after a vaginal or caesarean birth.

Have I packed everything?

Tick items as they go in. Your ticks are saved on this device.

Hospital bag checklist

Tick what is packed. Check your own hospital’s list too, as some items are provided.

0 of 34 packed

Mum (0 of 13)
Baby (0 of 8)
Partner (0 of 7)
Documents (0 of 6)

Booked cord blood banking? Add the consent form and kit. Expecting twins? Double the baby list.

When should I go to hospital, packed or not?

Do not wait to finish the bag. Mount Alvernia’s maternity guide and NUH list these reasons to come in:

  • your waters break, or fluid keeps leaking from your vagina
  • vaginal bleeding that is not the “show” (blood-stained mucus)
  • regular contractions; NUH gives 5 to 15 minutes apart
  • your baby is moving less than usual, or not at all

Call your delivery suite or doctor on the way, and do not drive yourself. Your partner can bring the bag later.

Frequently asked questions

When should I pack my hospital bag?

By about 36 weeks. Singapore hospitals advise 2 to 4 weeks before your due date: KKH and Raffles Hospital say two weeks, Gleneagles 2 to 3 weeks and Mount Alvernia 2 to 4 weeks. If you are expecting twins, an NHS twins guide suggests packing around 29 weeks.

What does the hospital provide in Singapore?

Most give you basic toiletries: KKH in Class A and B1 rooms, NUH in A and B class wards, and a toiletries pack at Mount Alvernia and Raffles Hospital. Mount Elizabeth says its maternity package includes basic amenities, and Raffles Hospital also lists a first pack of diapers, wipes and a baby vest. Check your own hospital and room type before you shop.

What should I pack for a caesarean?

The same bag, plus an extra change of nightwear, as the stay is longer: Raffles Hospital plans about 3 days instead of 2. The NHS advises loose clothes and cotton underwear while the wound heals, and you will need a lift home because you cannot drive for a few weeks.

What does the baby need for going home?

A going-home outfit, a wrap or swaddle, mittens, booties and a cap, plus an approved rear-facing car seat. In Singapore, drivers must secure a child below 1.35m with an approved child restraint. Taxis are exempt, but KKH still asks you to bring a car seat.

What documents do I need?

Both parents’ NRIC or passports, your doctor’s admission letter, any insurance Letter of Guarantee, a card for the deposit, and your test results and pre-delivery receipts. Keep your marriage certificate handy too. You then register the birth on LifeSG within 42 days.

What should my partner bring?

A change of clothes, a sweater for the cold delivery suite, toiletries, a phone charger, snacks, their NRIC or passport for birth registration, and a card or some cash for parking.

Sources

This article is general information, not medical advice. Hospital lists, packages and rules change, so check with your own hospital and doctor before you pack. Published 05/11/2026.