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What to Bring to the Hospital for Surrogacy Birth (as Gay Dad Intended Parents)
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items Preparing for your baby’s arrival through surrogacy is exciting, emotional, and a little different from the hospital experience for most parents. As two dads, you’ll want to pack with your unique situation in mind—what you’ll need for baby, and what ...
Sections
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What to Pack in Your Hospital Bag (Two Dads and Surrogacy Version)
Checklist for The Dads - You Need Stuff in the Hospital Bag Too!
The Best Baby Bag (a Hospital Bag, and Beyond)
Consider a Gift for Your Gestational Carrier
What to Pack in Your Hospital Bag (Two Dads and Surrogacy Version)
This first section of items includes what you should bring in your hospital bag that baby will need. In the following section, we'll discuss items you should consider for your own comfort and convenience.
We all love a good picture! You'll be so excited to tell your friends and family about your new addition. This is a simple, stylish way to announce your baby’s arrival and capture those first hospital photos with a personalized touch.
Birth Announcement Baby Name Sign / Hello My Name Is Wooden Sign
We learned while in the hospital, that babies go through a lot more clothes than we expected. Bring several (around 6) zipper onesie outfits like these, which are reasonably priced from the Carter's line at Target.
Carter's Just One You Baby Sleep N' Play Footed Pajamas (2 Pack)
Most hospitals do photography sessions right in your hospital room on discharge day. Even if your hospital doesn’t offer that, you’ll want to take your own pictures. Be sure to have a cute matching swaddle and hat set — for the perfect picture on you...
Swaddle & Hat Set from Little Sleepies
Standard pacifiers will probably be too big for your newborn. Our little guy loved these pacifiers, and they were the only ones he would take for the first several weeks. Plus, there are orthodontic and oral health benefits. Don’t forget to pack newb...
Newborn Pacifier from Chicco (PhysioForma Mini Orthodontic), 2 pack
Hospitals generally don’t provide many options when it comes to formula. We did our research and packed this sensitive formula in our hospital bag. Even if your surrogate is pumping breastmilk, it will be a few days before she has a substantial amoun...
Similac 360 Total Care Sensitive Ready-to-Feed Baby Formula
Like many parents, we had a gassy baby. A friend suggested that we pack these bottles in our hospital bag. At first, we used the disposable bottles that the hospital provided. But he was awfully gassy! We switched to these bottles which we had packed...
Dr. Brown’s Narrow Baby Bottle (fits the ready to feed formula bottles)
You’ll be feeding every 2 to 3 hours in the hospital room. Don’t forget to pack burp cloths in your hospital bag. These from Copper Pearl are our favorite - high quality, durable, soft, and so many options for colors and designs.
Copper Pearl Alta Burp Cloth - 3 pack
This car seat is part of the entire UPPAbaby system that we purchased (link to our full list, which includes all the different pieces, in the comments). But you’ll only need to bring the car seat and base with you to the hospital. Don’t crowd the roo...
UPPAbaby Mesa V2 Infant Car Seat
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Of course, you’ll need diapers at the hospital. Sure, the hospital will provide some, but in our experience, they were a pretty basic version. Huggies are reasonably priced, the best at preventing leaks and blowouts, and our little guy was very comfo...
Huggies Little Snugglers Newborn Diapers
Checklist for The Dads - You Need Stuff in the Hospital Bag Too!
Don’t forget to pack for yourselves. You’ll be spending a few days at the hospital, and having your own essentials makes a big difference. You may not be the one giving birth, but trust us—you’ll need your own bag of dad essentials.
This box contains a selection of 30 healthy snacks perfect to bring up to your hospital room when baby arrives. We really appreciated the snack box's variety of fresh bars, fruit snacks and other snacks, which were all good quality and nicely portion...
Healthy Snack Pack (30 count) – Hospital Bags
Have your hospital bag packed and ready to go starting at 35 weeks. That means having a travel toiletry set, like this one. My husband and I loved it! We would’ve forgotten to pack things like floss and nail clippers. My mom purchased this set for us...
Men’s Premium 20-Piece Toiletry Kit
The closest thing to a user manual when it comes to a newborn baby — this book is amazing! From burping, to swaddling, to sleep tips, and everything in between, this book has uncomplicated instructions (and pictures) for everything you’ll encounter i...
We're Parents! First-Time Dad's Guide to Baby's First Year - A perfect book for gay dads
Outlets seem sparse in hospital rooms. This two pack of universal charger cables, that fit all your modern devices, and have a long 10 foot cord, were very useful.
10ft 3-in-1 Multi Charging Cable (2 Pack)
You’ll want to be comfortable of course, but still look good when all those visitors start coming! These pants are a perfect dupe for the Lululemon alternative, at a fraction of the price. I packed them in my hospital bag, and brought a pair as a gif...
Comfortable Athletic Pants Men - Lulu Dupe
Hospital pillows are horrible! And I think we were only given one blanket. Not that you’ll be getting much sleep, but we wish we had this travel pillow and blanket set packed in our hospital bag, to make those short naps a little more comfortable.
Travel Blanket & Pillow for Hospital Overnights
I’d recommend a good pair of slippers go in your hospital bag when packing for baby’s birth. These from L.L. Bean are comfortable, have durable soles, and look great!
L.L.Bean Hand Sewn Slippers Flannel-Lined
Copies of the Surrogacy Agreement, Pre-Birth or Post-Birth Parentage Orders, Hospital Pre-Registration Forms, Insurance Information, Photo IDs and Copies of Birth Certificates or Passports, Pediatrician Contact Information, and Emergency Contact Shee...
Don't forget the paperwork!
The Best Baby Bag (a Hospital Bag, and Beyond)
You've got to pack all this stuff in something functional and stylish!
We love the Indi Diaper Bag because it looks nothing like a typical diaper bag. It has a clean, masculine design that dads can carry anywhere without it screaming “baby gear.” The multiple compartments keep everything organized—bottles, wipes, a lapt...
Dagne Dover Indi Diaper Backpack Large
Consider a Gift for Your Gestational Carrier
When a surrogate carries your baby, the bond and gratitude you feel are hard to put into words. A thoughtful gift is a small way to show appreciation and recognize the incredible role your gestational carrier has played in helping you become parents.
The perfect card for your gestational carrier. A must have in your hospital bag! There are no words that properly thank her for the gift you’ve been given, but this card is the closest attempt I’ve seen.
Surrogacy Thank You Card - Gestational Carrier Gift
What a great gift box to wrap up and gift to your surrogate on discharge day! This Etsy seller hand makes each box and contents vary, but ours included a candle, a succulent plant, a blanket, and more. The perfect comfort care package for her postpar...
Sending Healing Vibes Gift Box For Surrogate
Consider a bracelet with your child’s birthstone to gift your surrogate.
Birthstone Bracelet - 14k Gold Wilder from Gorjana
Don’t forget to take a picture before you leave the hospital of you, your husband, the baby, and the surrogate, all together in one shot. Gift her this frame, and then have that picture printed, and mail it to her. Such a thoughtful and meaningful gi...
Surrogate or Gestational Carrier Gift: Engraved Alder Wood Picture Frame
What better way for your surrogate to celebrate the end of her journey than to send her on vacation! Consider gifting your gestational carrier an Airbnb gift card.
An Airbnb Gift Card makes a great gift for a surrogate after birth