Pregnancy Labor & Delivery The Best Postpartum Kits to Ease You Into That 4th Trimester Take the stress out of packing a hospital bag with these postpartum recovery kits. By Katrina Cossey and Dorian Smith-Garcia Updated on April 18, 2024 Medically reviewed by Lyndsey Garbi, MD Fact checked by Rich Scherr We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Parents / Kevin Liang Convenience, support, and comfort are all essential when you have a new baby, especially when it comes to your postpartum healing. Even though you can buy your own postpartum underwear, ice packs, and perineal spray separately, there are also ready-made recovery kits that include all these things and more. When you're dealing with bleeding, soreness, and overall discomfort following birth, you'll be glad for the extra help for less effort. The best postpartum kits can even be a thoughtful (if intimate!) gift for an expecting parent. To help birthing parents—and the people who love them!—find a postpartum recovery kit, we researched all the products on the market to find the best options. We also reviewed guidance from the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) on what to expect when recovering from vaginal and C-section deliveries. When reviewing products, we carefully considered skin type, ingredients, contents, delivery type, and overall value. Whether you’re pregnant or know someone who is, these are the best postpartum kits you can buy. Our Favorites Best Overall: Frida Mom Postpartum Recovery Essentials Kit Best Handmade: Sunflower Motherhood Deluxe Postpartum Recovery Box Best C-Section: Bodily Scheduled C-Section Box Best for Skin: Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula New Moms Skin Recovery Set Best Custom: LynnNicole Creations Custom Build Postpartum Care Package Best for Relief: Lansinoh Postpartum Essentials Recovery Bundle Best for Labor and Postpartum: Frida Mom Labor, Delivery & Postpartum Recovery Kit Best Overall: Frida Mom Postpartum Recovery Essentials Kit Amazon Buy on Amazon $50 $41 Buy on Target $50 $41 Buy on Walmart $50 $41 Why We Like It This kit from the parent-favored brand includes four pairs of disposable underwear, four ice maxi pads, cooling pad liners, perineal healing foam, and more in pretty pink packaging. Having everything together in one place makes the early days of your fourth trimester a little bit easier. But Take Note This postpartum recovery kit is missing one of FridaBaby's most popular postpartum tools—the Upside Down Peri Bottle. Especially for parents that delivery vaginally, this is considered a must-have. So, you'll still need to purchase that separately if you want it. The Details: Total pieces: 33Includes storage container: YesWhat's inside: Disposable underwear, ice maxi pads, cooling pad liners, perineal healing foam Best Splurge: Sunflower Motherhood Deluxe Postpartum Recovery Box Etsy Buy on Etsy $149 Why We Like It This luxurious kit is more comprehensive since it doesn't just cover perineal aftercare, but items to ease aches, pains, or irritation all over. It features 10 essentials to help soothe your body after you give birth, like herbal-infused maxi pads, stretch mark balm, and sitz bath spray. It also comes with an affirmation card to remind a new mother that she can do anything. (This Etsy brand sells a great C-section kit too!) But Take Note We can't ignore that this is one of the more expensive options for a postpartum recovery kit. Additionally, some people may find that included items like the belly balm would make more sense for a prenatal gift rather than for postpartum. The Details: Total pieces: 11Includes storage container: NoWhat's inside: Disposable underwear, perineal heat and cool pack, peri bottle, sitz bath spray, herbal infused postpartum pads, mini candle, witch hazel cooling pads, mama affirmations, belly balm, bath soak, and sitz bath pads Best for C-Section: Bodily Scheduled C-Section Box Bodily Buy on Itsbodily.com $139 Why We Like It The Bodily Scheduled C-Section Box prepares expecting parents for cesarean delivery with 12 products, including two guidebooks (one for you and one for your supporter). In addition to cozy socks, mesh undies, nipple-soothing products, and perineal spray, the postpartum recovery kit comes with a belly band to provide compression during the C-section healing process. It's all pre-packed in a pouch you can add to your hospital go bag. But Take Note It's one of the more expensive options on our list and may include more items than a person needs. The Details: Total pieces: 12Includes storage container: YesWhat's inside: Peri wash bottle, nip nourish, nip protect, nipple gel pads, non-slip breast pads, cozy socks, belly band, mesh underwear, maxi pads, guidebooks, stool softener The 8 Best Maternity Support Belts to Bump Up Your Comfort Best for Skin: Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula New Moms Skin Recovery Set Amazon Buy on Amazon $28 Why We Like It Your nether regions aren’t the only thing that needs special care after giving birth; your skin does too. This cocoa butter set includes nursing butter, skin therapy oil, skin tightening cream, and bust cream, each formulated with vitamin E and shea butter to help nourish your skin. Plus, this is a great affordable pick that will work for most budgets. But Take Note The Palmer's kit is great for soothing skin whether you're nursing or trying to fade stretch marks—but it won't assist with cleansing or support like some of the more comprehensive kits. This might be better as an affordable add-on option if you're buying a perineum-focused kit rather than a stand-alone solution. The Details: Total pieces: 4Includes storage container: NoWhat's inside: Nursing butter, bust cream, skin therapy oil, tightening body lotion Best Custom: LynnNicole Creations Custom Build Postpartum Care Package Etsy Buy on Etsy $53 Why We Like It Pick and choose how many items you want to include in this beautiful postpartum care package. Add anywhere from four to 14 products, so you can mix and match practical perineal cold packs with adorable candy jars and herbal bath bombs, depending on the new parent's tastes. But Take Note A DIY kit is a nice touch, but this can get pricy fast. The base kit starts at $53 for four items, but if you opt for the 14-piece kit be prepared to spend $101. The Details: Total pieces: 4-14Includes storage container: NoWhat's inside: Varies We Tested the Best Nursing Bras for Every Kind of Parent Best Budget: Lansinoh Postpartum Essentials Recovery Bundle Amazon Buy on Amazon $40 $28 Buy on Walmart $35 Why We Like It Give yourself ultimate postpartum relief with this Lansinoh recovery bundle. It includes the basic essentials: an upside-down perineal bottle, herbal postpartum spray, and hot and cold therapy packs. This is also a super affordable solution for those working with modest budgets. But Take Note Although this is an affordable solution, failing to offer mesh underwear seems like a major oversight. The Details: Total pieces: 3Includes storage container: NoWhat's inside: Peri bottle, ice pads, and herbal postpartum spray Best for Hospital: Frida Mom Labor and Delivery & Postpartum Recovery Kit Amazon Buy on Amazon $100 $80 Buy on Target $100 $80 Buy on Walmart $100 $80 Why We Like It This is a souped-up version of the first kit on this list. In addition to all the recovery items in our top pick, it also includes a peri bottle, a delivery gown that's nursing-friendly, socks, and a convenient travel bag for use during and just after labor. This makes it great for greeting guests or at least feeling more comfortable and presentable than you would in the hospital-issued gown. But Take Note Some people might balk at the obvious upcharge between the brand's Postpartum Essentials Recovery Kit and this upgraded version. The Details: Total pieces: 7Includes storage container: YesWhat's inside: Peri bottle, socks, delivery and nursing gown, cooling pad liners, perineal foam, maxi pads, disposable underwear Our Research Process We chose the best postpartum kits by studying the design and contents of dozens of kits on the market. We also researched reviews from customers and competitors, and monitored shopping trends to bring you the best and most up-to-date offerings for various postpartum needs. Moreover, we considered contents, display, skin type, ingredients, delivery type, and overall value when reviewing products. We also reviewed guidance from the AAFP on what to expect when recovering from vaginal and C-section deliveries, so we could determine what products would be useful to expecting parents. We chose postpartum recovery kits for vaginal and cesarean deliveries that fit into a variety of budgets. Factors to Consider When Shopping for Postpartum Recovery Kits Purpose: As seen in our guide, there are a variety of postpartum recovery kits intended to tackle specific issues. Depending on how you give birth or specific issues you face during your pregnancy, some kits may be more functional than others. Most postpartum recovery kits tend to focus on perineal care. C-section recovery will almost always include some type of balm to help reduce incision scarring and speed up healing. Still, vaginal births may require this as well if your labor and delivery required an episiotomy or you experienced vaginal tearing. Contents: Almost all postpartum recovery kits include perineal care products. This usually includes a peri bottle, disposable underwear, cooling maxi pads, and a foaming wash or cooling gel. However, some kits feature nice little extras to keep you comfortable (and looking presentable) immediately after giving birth. Storage and packaging: If you're taking your recovery kit with you to the hospital or need to move it around the house in the immediate days after giving birth, a travel-friendly solution is your best bet. However, not all postpartum recovery kits come with totes or even storage solutions that make them easy to move or offer quick access. Some of these kits also have packaging that makes them seem like a great gift, too. Price: Recovery kits can range from budget-friendly solutions that are $30 or less to more comprehensive or customized solutions that top $100. Whether buying for yourself or someone else, pay attention to the contents to be sure you're getting the best value for your money. Who We Are Katrina Cossey is a commerce writer, enthusiastic shopper, and devoted mom. She spent several years in broadcast journalism but found her true passion in writing about the best products for families, pregnant people, and kids of all ages. She’s researched thousands of baby products, toys, gifts, and more and personally tested many of them. In her spare time, you’ll likely find her in the beautiful outdoors of Oklahoma with her husband and 3-year-old son. Some of Katrina's favorite items in her postpartum recovery kit were perineal cold packs, an upside-down peri bottle, and sweet and salty snacks (Reese's peanut butter cups and pretzels, to be exact). Dorian Smith-Garcia is a commerce, health, and parenting writer at Parents, where she reviews and tests pregnancy and baby gear and wellness products, and provides insider tips on can't-miss deals. She also provides firsthand knowledge of conscious and present parenting as a Millennial mom. Dorian is a mom to one 6-year-old daughter that she delivered via C-section. Her favorite recovery products were disposable underwear, a comfy glider with an ottoman for those marathon nursing sessions, a heavy-duty charging bank for her phone, and nursing-friendly bras and tops. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources Parents uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Familydoctor.org. Recovering from delivery - postpartum recovery.