When I was packing my own hospital bag, I read every "mega-list" on the internet. But once I was actually there, I realised that half of that stuff just takes up space. Having been through it, I know that when you’re in the thick of labor and those first blurry days of parenthood, you only want the things that offer real comfort and practical help. I’ve narrowed it down to the essentials that saved my sanity, including a few things I wish someone had told me before I arrived.

We’ve all been there. You reach for that plastic pack, and before you even pull a wipe out, your toddler is already ducking, diving, and screaming "No!"