Buying things for a new baby is always exciting because the items are so cute and there are so many different styles and designs to choose from.
However, many expectant parents sometimes get so carried away in style and fashion that they end up buying things that look great but don't serve their purpose very well.
When it comes to choosing a diaper bag, it goes without saying that style is important.
After all, you will have to carry the bag in public often and you certainly wouldn't want to be caught dead with a diaper bag that is so last year.
Nevertheless, looks should not take precedence over more important factors such as efficiency, comfort and durability.
At the end of the day, the choice of which diaper bag to buy is really a personal decision.
Nevertheless, it would help to keep the follow factors in mind when taking your pick from amongst the dozens of available options.

• Capacity.
  It is very important for a diaper bag to be able to accommodate all of the baby's things, from feeding bottles and formula to bibs, clothes and of course, diapers.
  The bags come in all sizes these days so it shouldn't be too difficult to find one that's exactly the right size that you need.
  
• Comfort.
  With all the things that it contains, it is not impossible for diaper bags to get rather heavy at times.
  Therefore, you should find one that will be comfortable to carry around even for extended periods.
  Look for one that has wide, padded shoulder straps that can ease your burden.
  
• Durability.
  Those short trips to the supermarket, to the park, or to grandma's house can take a toll on a bag, especially if it is not really made of durable material.
  If you expect to use the bag a lot, you should find one that is sturdy and will last well into the toddler years.
  
• Ease of cleaning.
  There are so many accidents that can occur around a diaper bag that can put it at risk of getting really dirty.
  Water in the baby bottles may spill and so can food from a jar that you thought had been properly sealed.
  A soiled burp cloth or bib may also get the inside of the bag dirty.
  Since these can't be avoided, it is absolutely necessary to pick a diaper bag that is easy to clean.
  
• Organization.
  Finding a small item like a pacifier in a cluttered diaper bag can be time-consuming and frustrating, especially if the baby is already wailing as you scuffle through the bag.
  You can avoid such hassles by picking a diaper bag that has several compartments so that the various items can be sorted properly and you can get to them easily.
  

In addition to these essential factors, there are also some features of a diaper bag that would be very useful to have.
These are optional features that are not included in all diaper bags but if you think they will be helpful for you, then you should definitely take the time to find a bag that comes with these extras.

• Changing pad.
  Most malls, restaurants and other establishments these days have special areas in the ladies' room for changing babies' diapers but what if the baby decides to do his business while you are in the park or at the beach or some other place with no decent changing area? A changing pad would certainly come in handy for such situations.
  
• Diaper pouch.
  These are handy containers for used diapers if you have to change the baby and there is no trash can to put the dirty diapers in, or if you use cloth diapers that you have to bring home to wash.
  
• Bottle holders.
  It's possible for bottles to leak when they are just scattered around in the bag along with all the other baby stuff.
  To keep this from happening, the bottles need to stay in an upright position at all times, which is only possible if the bag comes with bottle holders.
  
• Insulated bottle bag.
  You can buy these separately but there are also some diaper bags that do include them as an optional feature.
  Insulated bottle bags are great for keeping the baby's bottle warm and will come in handy during long travels.
  

As mentioned, choosing a diaper bag is a personal decision so there are other factors that may come into play such as your budget, your sense of style, and so on.
In any case, there are so many different brands and styles of diaper bags to choose from so no matter what your preferences are, you will surely be able to find a few that will meet your requirements to a tee.