Preparing a special summer maternity bag: the art of doing just enough - Élhée

Preparing a special summer maternity bag: the art of doing just enough

An inspiring summer list, to help you prepare for baby's arrival with peace of mind.

Giving birth is without doubt the greatest adventure of all. As your due date approaches, the room, baby's things and your luggage are all being prepared. But do you really need to pack everything for a summer birth? Today, Élhée invites you to discover an inspired list, designed to help you put together a useful, lightweight summer maternity bag - because really, 9 months pregnant in 35-degree weather, you don't want to be cluttered. Baby essentials, innovative accessories and tips for staying calm: follow the summer maternity guide. 

CONTENTS : 

First and foremost, how long do you stay in the maternity ward?

According to the recommendations of the French National Authority for Health (HAS), new mothers spend between 3 and 4 days in the maternity hospital after giving birth. In practice, this period can vary greatly depending on whether you give birth vaginally, by Caesarean section, whether your baby is premature, whether you are in good health...

Your maternity suitcase should therefore contain everything you need for your stay, without looking like a travel trunk.

pregnant in summer

Baby hygiene and care in summer: gentle and practical

Generally speaking, babies receive their first bath within 24 to 48 hours of birth, directly from the maternity hospital. It's a safe environment, perfectly equipped to guide you through this often-dreaded act for first-time parents. However, you can take your favorite products with you to use without waiting until you get home.

  • A gentle , natural liniment for diaper changes.
  • Extra-gentle cleansing care. Élhée 3-in-1 cleansing foam can be used from birth on baby's face, body and hair. Soap-free, sulfate-free, free from synthetic fragrances, colorants and endocrine disruptors, and enriched with organic aloe vera, it scores 100/100 on the Yuka app!
  • A suitable antiseptic to clean the umbilical cord.
  • A small hairbrush and nail clippers complete the equipment.
  • A toiletry bag to put everything in and discuss the best choices with the midwives around you.

The space-saving trick of compact formats

A maternity bag doesn't have to be big. It just has to be practical and easy to organize. So, to get it right, remember your last airplane trip; in the cabin as well as in the hold, compact formats, samples and refillable bottles for incredible space-saving. Your kit for a summer birth should follow the same regimen. Small, easy-to-carry packages that last just a few days.

And here, the Élhée x That's Mine multi-purpose bag ticks all the boxes: spacious without being bulky, it offers intuitive organization for your essentials and baby's. Ideal for the maternity ward, it will also accompany you long afterwards, for outings with baby.

You can also wait a few days before washing your baby. At birth, a newborn's epidermis is covered with vernix (or vernix caseosa), a substance that protects it from contact with amniotic fluid. Antimicrobial, antifungal and moisturizing, it creates a barrier that your child can still benefit from in the first days of life.

Feeding baby in the maternity ward: flexibility, comfort and safety

elhee birth bottle

In the first hour after birth, baby needs to eat. You can either breastfeed him to start breastfeeding, or prepare his first bottle for him (yourself, his dad or the maternity hospital). In this case, you'll need a few accessories.

  • A feeding bottle: even if the maternity hospital often provides one, take your own bottle with you to offer baby. BibRonds Élhée 150 ml can be used from birth, are compatible with breastfeeding and are made from 100% healthy medical silicone for sensorial feeding and a proven anti-colic effect. Fitted with a slow-flow (S) or extra-slow-flow (XS ) physiological teat, they are also suitable for premature babies.
  • A milk dispenser: in the delivery room, in the waiting room, in your bedroom... Wherever you need to prepare a bottle, the milk dispenser helps you not to forget any ingredient. So MiMi offers one of the largest capacities of its generation: its3 compartments can hold up to 11 doses each.
  • Bottle warmers: here again, maternity units are all equipped to prepare lukewarm bottles for newborns. But the TooGo nomad bottle warmer lets you warm your baby's milk in just a few minutes, in complete privacy, from the comfort of your bedroom, or even from your bed.
  • In addition, a cotton bib or diaper can be a great addition to your maternity bag for breast-feeding, bottle-feeding or for gently covering your baby.

Textiles & clothing: breathable and smart

Along with cuddly toys, bodysuits are perhaps the most popular gifts given to young parents. In birth or one-month sizes for those in a hurry, and in three-month sizes for those with more foresight. Dozens of bodysuits that you won't be able to carry in your maternity bag. So, just like the rest of your baby's trousseau, it's a good idea to learn how to choose them dexterously.

  • 6 bodysuits in cotton or cotton gauze, long-sleeved or short-sleeved for hot weather, with front opening for easy donning.
  • 3 lightweight pyjamas, also in cotton or velvet.
  • 1 light sleeping bag.
  • 1 pair of small socks and a birth cap (especially if the maternity ward is air-conditioned or in anticipation of discharge).
  • 1 layering vest.

And don't worry, if something's missing, Dad can always make a return trip to the house and bring it back to you.

Summer comfort for mom: we want lightness

If there's one time in your life when you want and need comfort, it's when you're in the womb. At first, you'll arrive with your belly in tow, then you'll leave more or less sore and with no desire to put on your tightest jeans.

For childbirth, take socks (your feet will be cold), a spray bottle (you'll be too hot from the exertion) and wipes to cool you down (you won't necessarily be able to move around as much as you'd like).

For your stay, imagine that you'll be lying down a lot. So pack several light, loose-fitting nightgowns, a large cardigan, slippers, flip-flops or flip-flops and an outfit for going out; for example, a long, flowing dress that you can slip on without a second thought.

In addition, add towels, plenty of sanitary towels, disposable panties, bras(nursing bras if you want to breastfeed) without underwiring, tissues and, of course, your toiletry bag.

You can also take along breast pads and your own nursing pillow, which is also very comfortable for bottle-feeding (but a little bulky, it's true).

Extra comfort 

And, because a birth is an upheaval shared by both mother and child, intimate, powerful, deeply troubling and moving, slip a small notebook into your bag to put your first impressions on paper before they fade away. Take along a piece of personal jewelry, a photo of your parents, a kind word from your lover... All the little grigris that make you feel good are welcome for a moment of comfort that's much more important than we can imagine.

Add a playlist that soothes or boosts you, depending on your mood, your headphones (wireless, it's more practical), some treats to nibble on afterwards and, if you like, a mini beauty kit: lip balm, hand cream, light mist... just for fun.

The heart of the maternity bag: between papers, charger and lucky charms

the maternity bag for mom and baby

These essentials may be the last things on your mind... but they make all the difference. Medical file, blood group card, family record book: slipped into an easily accessible pocket, they will be requested by the maternity hospital.

On the practical side, you'll need your phone, but don't forget its charger (with a long cable, much more useful than you might think, or an external battery). 

And then there's something that can't be measured, but which counts for so much: a Pacifier for example, if you've chosen to offer one to your baby. Élhée manufactures the first one-piece, extra-thin pacifiers in medical silicone. Physiological, they respect babies' oral morphology and can therefore be used from the very first days of life.

All in all, a light suitcase... but full of meaning

Preparing your maternity bag is a little more than a checklist: it's about planning ahead, reassuring yourself and creating a bond with your new baby. And in summer, because it's hot, too hot, we want softness, simplicity and practicality, so we can concentrate on what's best.

At Élhée, we believe that less really can be more, as long as you choose wisely. A 100% healthy feeding bottle, an endocrine-disruptor-free cleansing foam, a respectful and clever dosing box... Essentials designed for your everyday life and to wrap baby's first days in a shared sense of security.

So, whether your bag fits into a tote bag or takes the form of a small suitcase, whether it's ready a month in advance or the day before departure: do it your way, with confidence. And above all, put a lot of love into it. 🩷

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