Every expectant mother knows that a diaper bag should be included in her list of things to buy before the baby finally arrives.
However, not many know exactly what it is that the diaper bag is supposed to carry, aside from diapers.
Basically, a diaper bag should contain everything that the baby could possibly need while away from the house.
Thinking of all these things right before leaving the house is not such a good idea because there is a high risk that you might forget an essential item, possibly causing a lot of inconvenience during your trip.
Instead, it is advisable to have a list of basic diaper bag items that you can refer to every time you have to go out with your baby.
Following are the most important things that should always be inside the diaper bag before you leave the house:

• Diapers - Always bring more than what you think you will need.
  It is always to be prepared for emergencies rather than find yourself in a situation where the baby has soiled his last diaper and you have no more extra left for another change.
  
• Baby wipes -Baby wipes are not only essential for cleaning your baby during a diaper change but also for cleaning up unexpected messes like spit-ups, both on you and on the baby.
  There are large packs of baby wipes available in stores but these tend to dry out when not used up within a certain amount of time.
  Instead, it would be better to buy smaller packs and to carry several of these in your diaper bag.
  
• Baby bottles -You will need to bring a LOT of bottles with you especially on long trips where you won't have access to a sterilizer.
  Of course, you can also invest in a portable bottle sterilizer if you expect to be on the road a lot, in which case you won't need to bring as many bottles.
  However, portable sterilizers can be quite expensive so that is something to think about carefully.
  
• Formula and water -Having the baby go hungry during your trip is certainly out of the question make sure you bring enough formula and water to keep him appeased until you go home.
  Some diaper bags come with their own containers for formula but if your bag doesn't have one, it is advisable to buy one because it's not very practical to bring the whole can of formula especially for just a short trip.
  
• Pacifier -Not all parents use pacifiers but if you do, you should make sure to bring one or two extras in addition to the one your baby regularly uses.
  
• Extra clothes - There is no telling when a baby might spit up on his clothes or soil it for some other reason, so you should always bring at least one or two extra sets of clothing just in case.
  
• Bibs -Babies drool a lot, and it gets a lot worse when the teeth start to come in.
  To keep your baby's clothes as dry as possible, be sure to bring enough bibs so that you can keep replacing them before they get soaked.
  
• Zip-lock bags -Access to garbage bins can be unpredictable when you are away from your house.
  Instead of scouring the surroundings looking for a place to throw away your baby's dirty diapers, just store them in zip-lock bags and dispose of them when you get home.
  
• Toys -You don't need to bring the entire playroom with you when you travel.
  You just need to throw two or three toys into the diaper bag that will keep the baby entertained during your trip.
  

These are just some of the most important items that every mom should have in her baby's diaper bag.
Feel free to add more to the list, and to include your own personal items as well since diaper bags can also serve as an alternative to your usual purse.