What should you bring to chemo or an infusion appointment? Bring something to keep you comfortable (a blanket, warm socks, a layer you can add or remove), something to keep you busy (headphones, a book, a phone with a long charging cable), snacks and a water bottle your care team has okayed, and the paperwork and questions your clinic asked you to bring. Pack light, and pack for the trip home too.
Infusion days can run long, and clinics are not all set up the same way. A good bag turns a chair and a few hours into a space that feels a little more like yours. Here is a checklist you can adjust for your own appointment.
The infusion-day bag checklist
- Comfort: a soft blanket or hoodie, warm socks, slip-on shoes, lip balm, hand lotion
- Entertainment: headphones, phone or tablet, a long charging cable or portable charger, a book, sketchbook or game
- Snacks and drinks: food and a water bottle your care team says are fine for your treatment
- Paperwork: photo ID, insurance card, your medication list and any instructions from your clinic
- Notes: a notebook or notes app for questions and what your care team tells you
- Contacts: the name and number of the person picking you up and your clinic's phone number
- Extra layer for the trip home: a fresh top and a jacket, in case you feel warm or cold afterward
- A bag you can carry with one hand: a tote or backpack that stays out of your way in the chair
Wear first, pack second
What you wear does a lot of the work before the bag does. Soft, loose layers that keep your IV or port within reach for your care team are the starting point. If your infusion uses an arm IV, short or loose sleeves usually move out of the way fastest. If you have a chest port, a V-neck, a front-opening top or a snap-open port access tee keeps the area reachable. Our full guide, What to Wear to Chemo or an Infusion Appointment, walks through each setup. If you are new to chest access clothing, start with What Is a Chemo Port Shirt?
Comfort items worth packing
Infusion rooms can run cold, and you may be sitting for hours. A blanket you like is worth more than a thin one from the clinic. Warm socks, a soft scarf or hoodie and slip-on shoes mean you can add or shed a layer without a fuss. Pack lip balm and hand lotion too, since indoor air can feel dry. If you would rather not look at your IV, a soft fabric IV cover puts the site and tubing out of sight. It is clothing, not a dressing, so your care team still needs to reach the site. See why some people feel faint around needles if that sounds like you.
Things to keep your mind busy
Bring more than you think you need. Downloaded shows, playlists and podcasts are safer than counting on Wi-Fi. A long charging cable matters because outlets are not always next to your chair. A paperback, puzzle book or sketchbook is a good backup when your phone battery runs low. If you tend to get tired, a sleep mask and earbuds can be just as useful as a movie.
Snacks and drinks: check with your care team first
Some clinics offer snacks and drinks, and some have rules about what you can eat before or during treatment. Ask your care team what they recommend for your treatment, then pack snacks and a water bottle that fit their advice. Small, mild snacks in a zip bag are simple to carry.
Paperwork, notes and questions
Bring your photo ID, insurance card and any forms or instructions your clinic sent. A current medication list is useful too. Keep a notebook or notes app open for questions and answers: what to expect after today, who to call, and when your next appointment is. Write questions down as they come up during the week, so they are not lost when you sit down.
If you are bringing a person with you
Check your clinic's visitor policy first. Then give your person a small bag of their own: a charger, a snack, a notebook, and a layer in case the room is cold. If you need help getting dressed afterward, our guide to getting dressed with one arm has caregiver tips that work for anyone with limited arm movement.
For children's infusion days
Pack a favorite blanket or stuffed animal, headphones, a tablet or coloring book, and a change of clothes. Let your child pick what goes in the bag. It gives them a say in a day with a lot of decisions made for them. Happy Cloud IV covers come in a child size that fits a bicep (upper arm) up to about 9 inches (23 cm) around, and an adult size for about 9.5 to 14 inches. Measure around the widest part of the bicep before you order, and check the IV cover collection.
Plan the trip home
Pack a fresh top, a jacket and a bag for anything you pick up at the clinic. Ask your care team whether you should plan a ride home, and set it up before the appointment. When you get home, put your bag back together with the charger and blanket so it is ready for next time.
Where Happy Cloud fits in your bag
Happy Cloud makes snap-open adaptive T-shirts and IV covers for treatment days. They are made to look like the everyday clothes you would wear anyway. Our adaptive T-shirts are unisex and cut in men's sizing, in sizes XS to XXL. Women should order one size down from their usual. See the T-shirt size guide for the chart and how to measure.
Adaptive T-Shirt Black
Snap-open tee
Adaptive T-Shirt Blue Clouds
Snap-open tee
Adaptive T-Shirt Tie-Dye
Snap-open tee
IV Cover Black (2 Pack)
Child and adult sizes
IV Cover Blue Clouds (2 Pack)
Child and adult sizes
IV Cover Tie-Dye (2 Pack)
Child and adult sizes
Frequently asked questions
What should I bring to my first chemo appointment?
Bring your photo ID, insurance card, medication list and any instructions from your clinic, plus a blanket, headphones, a charger, snacks your care team has okayed and a notebook for questions.
Can I bring snacks and drinks to chemo?
Many people do, but rules differ by clinic and treatment. Ask your care team what is fine to eat and drink before and during your appointment.
Can someone come with me to an infusion appointment?
Often yes, but visitor policies vary. Call your clinic before the day to check.
What should I wear to chemo?
Soft, loose layers that let your care team reach your IV or port, plus warm socks and slip-on shoes. See our infusion outfit guide.
Does an IV cover replace my medical dressing?
No. An IV cover is soft fabric clothing. It does not replace the dressing or secure the IV, and your care team must always be able to reach the site.
What is the return window?
Happy Cloud returns are accepted for 14 days.
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This article is for general educational purposes. Always follow the instructions of your healthcare team for your IV, port or other medical device.
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