Babies are the cutest, aren’t they? We love them for their giggles and chubby cheeks — but boy, can they be messy. It only takes a moment of fussiness while playing airplane with a spoonful of baby food to stain that cute new onesie.
Bibs protect your baby’s clothes and your surfaces from constant cleaning, making those first few years more manageable. For parents, a bib that’s easy to clean and carry around are the two most important features, which is why the Ava and Oliver Silicone Bib Set is a popular option. Safe to put in the dishwasher, these well-designed bibs offer a generous catch-all pocket to collect spills before they hit your child’s lap.
What to know before you buy a bib
While they might just seem like just a simple piece of material, the make of a bib can cut down hours on washing and cleaning. Parents should consider the material, the shape and durability of a bib before buying.
Material
The majority of bibs are made out of cloth (usually cotton or terry cloth) or waterproof materials, like polyester or silicone. Cloth bibs can be a cheaper solution for newborns who are on liquid diets as they are softer, lighter and good at absorbing pureed foods and milk. As your little one gets older, you’ll likely want to upgrade to a waterproof material like polyester and silicone. These bibs will be able to withstand more stains and more washes and are easy to wipe off when done eating.
Shape
Bibs can come in three shapes: scoop, coverall and teething bibs. Each of these have their own advantages at keeping clothes clean.
Scoop bibs will catch drips and dropped food in a pocket that hangs at the chest. These bibs are the best for babies and toddlers transitioning to solid foods who are more likely to drop food before it gets to their mouth.
Coverall bibs go on like a shirt, using sleeves to cover your baby’s front and arms. If your baby seems like a serious messy eater, this bib will help keep them clean from head to toe.
Finally, teething bibs are a bit smaller than your standard eating bib and are to be worn while your baby is teething to protect clothes from drooling. These bibs typically wear closer around the neck and can be shaped like a normal bib or bandana.
Durability
Bibs have to undergo constant washing, and while they may be the first line of defense against pricier baby outfits, the weekly (sometimes daily) trip in the washing machine can take a toll. It’s undeniable that silicone will be more durable than cloth. However, because cloth bibs have their advantage with liquid diets and stuffing into diaper bags, you’ll want to make sure those cloth bibs can take a hit. Try going with a polyester bib for a good middle ground bib between cloth and silicone.
Bib features
Neck adjustment
Comfort matters to babies, too! While most bibs come with a simple snap to keep it attached around a baby’s neck, they can also come with several snaps or notches to allow for a size adjustment. This can be helpful depending on your baby’s life stage and food. For scoop bibs, wearing a bib a little higher can capture drooling and dripping while staying out of your baby’s way. Bibs can be worn a little looser for solid foods.
Bulk packs
Parents are likely to go through a lot of bibs throughout their baby’s first years. Even when buying more durable bibs like polyester or silicone, it can be helpful to have several on hand for quick meals around the house or on the go. Bulk packs contain anywhere between two to 24 bibs.
Colors and prints
While your baby might be too young to care about the prints on their bibs, they can be available in all kinds of colors and prints — geometric, animal, stripes, dots, floral, etc. Pick any print that speaks to you!
Bib cost
Bibs aren’t going to break the bank, and buying bulk packs can keep those costs even lower. While the more durable silicone bibs can run you $10-15 each, you can typically get a bulk back of 10 cotton bibs for approximately $1 each.
Bib FAQ
Should a baby have different kinds of bibs?
A. While this is entirely up to you and your baby’s eating habits, each bib material and shape has its unique benefits. Keep a couple of silicone bibs at home where their size doesn’t matter and clean up is as quick as a wipe down. Then, keep cloth and polyester bibs in the stroller or diaper bag because they are easier to pack and can double as a wipe.
How many bibs should each baby have?
A. Babies are likely going to need one bib for each meal. Considering meal times and the expected inter-meal snack, you can expect to use up to five bibs a day! Of course, using silicone bibs will dramatically cut down on that number, with one bib being used for every meal throughout the week. For those opting for cloth bibs, keep 10-20 bibs around so that you have more on hand while others are in the wash.
Which bib should I get?
Best of the best bibs
Ava + Oliver Silicone Bib Set: available at Amazon
Our take: Simple, clean and adjustable, these bibs are going to be your long-lasting workhorses to keep your baby clean throughout mealtimes.
What we like: These silicone bibs are incredibly easy to clean – they can be washed by hand with soap and water, but being BPA-free, they can also be washed in the dishwasher. The scoop shape catches drips and falling food and it comes in colorful sets depending on preference, making them a great gift for baby showers.
What we dislike: These bibs are slightly more expensive per bib and are also slightly more cumbersome to carry on the go.
Best bang for your buck bibs
Hudson Baby Unisex Baby Drooler Bib With Waterproof Lining: available at Amazon
Our take: Stock up with this bulk pack of bibs with a waterproof lining, making it a perfect bib for food as well as drooling and dribbling.
What we like: This affordable bulk pack comes with 10 bibs that have simple hook and loop closures. They’re machine washable and available in an array of colors.
What we dislike: The neck circumference is a little small and may be best for the first few months of a baby’s life.
Honorable mention bibs
Bumkins SuperBib: available at Amazon
Our take: You’ll be paying slightly more per bib with this pack of three, but they come with several features that parents will find useful around mealtimes.
What we like: These bibs cover a lot of surface area, have adjustable neck straps making them grow with your baby and are a lightweight polyester blend and quick-drying fabric.
What we dislike: Manufacturer recommends that these bibs be hung dry, which can be inconvenient for busy parents.
Daisy Kelly is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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