Packing for labor and delivery is always a fun task. Sure, you see people in the throes of labor, madly throwing things into a bag at the last minute, and while that happens, my bet is that most people plan way ahead for this one. When I was packing my hospital bag for my first baby, I think I started it around week 36. As I dutifully ran down the check lists of everything I was supposed to bring to the hospital, I realized that the tooth brush would need to be a last minute addition. But what if I forgot it and had to use the nasty hospital fake tooth brushes?
So the obvious solution was to buy a new tooth brush. I'll admit it. I was being cheap. Who wants to shell out like $4 for a new tooth brush for the hospital bag, just in case you forget it? I mean seriously, it was $4 versus the nasty hospital fake tooth brush. I chanced it.
The other day when I was preparing to go on vacation, I was at the dollar store and it suddently hit me - that was the perfect solution! For about $5 you could stock up on every health and beauty product that you would need for the hospital. Seriously, you can buy like six tooth brushes for a dollar. One for you and dad, and a few guests. You could add tooth paste and a brush... We are up to $3. Throw in a two pack of Chapstick and a bag of hair scrunchies and you're all set! Seriously, this is an inexpensive and worry free way to take care of getting that bag packed for the hospital.
What was your must have item for a labor bag?
Thrifty Thursday from About.com Parenting:
Oh good! Someone who thinks like I do.
When I was pregnant, I went to the dollar store and bought one of those travel kits. It was $1 for a brush, comb, pouffe, toothbrush holder, three empty travel size bottles and a carrying pouch. I poured my own shampoo and body wash in the travel bottles and bought travel size hair spray and toothpaste. That tiny stuff goes everywhere with me when I travel now!
A toothbrush is important, but lip balm is more important. Your lips get so dry!
I didn’t have a hospital bag ready and it turns out I really didn’t need one!