What would a mom do without the ubiquitous diaper bag? When you want to venture out of your home with a small baby, there’s no telling what you may need. The best solution is to carry it all. Beginning with diapers and baby wipes to diaper ointment, baby powders and anything else that you may need the diaper bag can hold it all – and then some.

The most important item in a diaper bag continues to be the diaper. You can carry up to a dozen of the thickest diapers in the market in a diaper bag. In another large compartment of the bag you can put in several changes of clothes. Some other useful things to put in the bag would be bibs, baby cups, burp cloths, washcloths and of course, a blanket too. A towel is another essential item – in fact anything that you need to use on a daily basis should go into the diaper bag. You can put in some pacifiers and some essential snacks and food items. The diaper bag comes equipped with several cylindrical pockets to hold bottles; and if your baby is on solids you will have to pack in plastic utensils, bowls and spoons too.

It is actually a good idea to keep your diaper bag at least partially ready all the time. Some people have toys, pacifiers and blankets stashed away in their diaper bags permanently. You may want to add toys and books too.

In the past, diaper bags were little more than large plastic shoulder bags with two big compartments. They had the most preposterous designs. They were used because one didn’t have a choice! Fortunately, the winds of change have brought in designs that vary from the trendy to the stunning and classy.

And for moms who wouldn’t be caught dead near a bulky, single-colored diaper bag, there are designer diaper bags. Stylish bags that are functional too – of course, the price tag may dampen some of your enthusiasm. The simple design of some of the bags may fool you into believing that there’s nothing much inside. But, you may be surprised to see some nifty features like a pullout changing pad or special pockets for keys and cell phones etc. Most bags come with nylon linings so that messy spills do not ruin the bag. If you like colorful, glossy fabric but fear for wear and tear, some designer bags even have laminated covers to keep the outside scar-free. You can get diaper bags in sleek leather, which is waterproofed so you need not worry about spills.

One of the most attractive diaper bags I’ve seen looks very much like a purse, and everything inside the diaper bag – changing pad, storage bag, wipes case – can come out. So, you can ultimately use it as a purse. Another one of my favorites has a non-slip grip on the strap, so the bag will not slide off when you bend to pick something up. A great feature in some bags is that they can easily be attached to a stroller with rings and clips that are included in the bag.

Besides the cost, the only factors you have to keep in mind while purchasing the perfect diaper bag is size and comfort. Take a look at various models before you make the purchase. That way, you know what you are getting.