Hospital Stay Packing List: What to Bring and What to Leave at Home

Short answer: For an inpatient hospital stay, pack an up-to-date list of every medicine and supplement you take, your photo ID and insurance card, copies of any advance directives, comfortable loose clothing, nonslip footwear, a phone with a long charging cord and a few things to pass the time. [S01] [S02] [S03] [S05] Leave jewelry, cash and other valuables at home. [S02] [S03] Some units, especially stem cell transplant units, have stricter rules on clothing, food and personal items, so ask your care team what your unit allows before you pack. [S04]

An inpatient stay means spending one or more nights in the hospital, for example after surgery, a stem cell transplant or other complex treatment. [S02] Packing well can make the stay more comfortable without crowding a small room. The checklist below pulls together advice from cancer center patient guides.

Before you pack: three questions for your care team

Every hospital and unit is different, so start with your care team.

• What does the hospital provide? The hospital may supply basics such as a toothbrush, toothpaste and nonslip socks. [S02] A transplant unit may provide gowns, pants, socks, towels, bed linens and toiletries. [S04]
• What isn't allowed on my unit? Units caring for people with weak immune systems may restrict items that are normally fine. [S04]
• Is there anything I should do before admission? Cancer centers advise reviewing your pre-admission instructions and checking with your insurer that treatment is authorized. [S01]

Our Appointment Logistics Planner can help you keep these answers in one place.

Documents and medical information

These items matter most, and they're easy to forget.

• A complete medication list. Include prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, supplements, patches and creams. [S02] [S03] MD Anderson suggests bringing it so you can check the medicines prescribed during your stay. [S01]
• An allergy list. Bring it with your medication list. [S05]
• Photo ID and insurance information. You may be asked for these, and to sign consent forms, at check-in. [S02] [S05]
• Advance directives. If you have a health care proxy form or other advance directive, bring copies. [S03] [S05] The National Institute on Aging also advises giving copies to your health care proxy and your providers. [S06]
• Medical devices you use at home. If you use a CPAP or other breathing device for sleep apnea, ask about bringing it. [S03]

Don't bring your own medicine supply unless your care team approves it. [S04] If you're traveling to a cancer center, our guide on how to pack medications for travel covers what to carry on the way.

Clothing and footwear

MD Anderson shares these ideas from other patients and caregivers: [S01]

• Pajamas, plus a bathrobe or cover-up for walking the halls
• Plenty of underwear and thick socks
• Comfortable slip-on shoes or slippers
• Loose clothing for when you feel up to getting dressed
• A loose, comfortable outfit to wear home

Northwestern Medicine's patient guide also recommends comfortable clothing. [S02] On a transplant unit, clothes may need to be freshly washed, packed in a wipeable bag or hard suitcase and changed daily, and the hospital may not do personal laundry, so a family member may need to wash clothes at home. [S04]

Toiletries and personal care

Bring what you prefer, after checking what the hospital supplies: [S01] [S02]

• Toothbrush, toothpaste and deodorant (if not provided)
• Hairbrush or comb
• Lip balm and hand cream
• Your own soap, skin care and hair care products, if you prefer them

Bring cases for glasses, contact lenses, hearing aids and dentures, plus cleaner and spare hearing aid batteries. [S01] [S03] Memorial Sloan Kettering also suggests a case for prosthetics, a wig or religious articles. [S03]

Transplant units may ban scented products, razors (electric razors are allowed) and nail clippers, and ask you not to bring your own toothbrush. [S04]

Comfort and passing the time

Hospital days can be long. Patients and caregivers suggest: [S01] [S02]

• Your own pillow and a throw blanket
• Earplugs if you're a light sleeper
• Phone and charger; long cords make it easier to use your device from the bed
• A tablet or laptop, if your hospital allows it (Northwestern's guide lists large electronics among things to leave at home, so ask)
• Earbuds or headphones
• Books, an e-reader, magazines, cards or knitting
• Family photos

Our guides on sleeping better away from home and sleep masks have more ideas for resting in an unfamiliar room.

A notebook for your care

MD Anderson patients recommend a journal or notebook and several pens to record decisions, medicines given and when, and instructions from the care team. [S01] Writing down questions for the doctor each day can help too. [S01] If a family member is helping, our guide to caregiver travel planning covers sharing tasks and information.

What to leave at home

Patient guides from Northwestern Medicine and Memorial Sloan Kettering say to leave these at home: [S02] [S03]

• Jewelry, including body piercings if you're having surgery (metal can cause burns from surgical tools)
• Cash
• Large electronics
• Other valuables

For surgery, also expect to remove dentures, hearing aids, glasses and contact lenses; leave them at home if you can, or bring cases. [S05] On the day of surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering asks patients not to wear lotion, deodorant, makeup or perfume. [S03]

Stem cell transplant units may also ban live plants and flowers, homemade food (prepackaged food may be fine), perfumes and vaping products. [S04]

If you're staying for a stem cell transplant

Transplant units protect patients whose immune systems are recovering, so their packing rules are stricter. Dana-Farber's transplant guide, for example, says: [S04]

• The hospital provides gowns, pants, socks, towels, bed linens and basic toiletries.
• Your own clothes must be freshly washed and packed in a clean, washable tote or a hard suitcase that can be wiped down.
• Clothes that touch your skin should be changed every day, and family may need to take laundry home.
• Anything brought to your room is wiped with cleaning wipes first.
• Many patients cut their hair short before admission, and washable turbans or caps are easier to keep clean than wigs.

Rules differ by hospital, so use your own transplant team's list when you pack. [S04]

Planning for going home

If you're having surgery, MD Anderson requires a responsible adult to take you home, and AHRQ notes you may not be allowed to have surgery without someone to drive you. [S01] [S05] MD Anderson says it helps if your caregiver can be there the morning of discharge to hear instructions and help you get ready to leave. [S01] Pack the outfit you'll wear home where it's easy to find. [S01]

Hospital bag checklist at a glance