Best Bibs for Babies and Toddlers
Little ones + mealtime = lots of messes. These cute bibs help keep it under control.
With every meal, your kiddo is getting better and better at eating, but chances are not all of the food on your little eater’s plate is going to make it into their mouth (especially if you’ve got a self-feeder). Mess is inevitable, so you’ll definitely want some bibs to contain the overflow and keep your kiddo’s cute outfits pristine (well, relatively).
Bibs come in a variety of styles—drool bibs, plastic bibs, bibs with pockets to catch the mess. Here are the different types of bibs you’ll come across when looking for the right one for your baby or toddler:
- Waterproof: If you’re looking to cut down on laundry, you’ll want a material that doesn’t soak up a ton of liquid and can be easily wiped clean. Some cotton bibs have an inner waterproof layer that keeps them from soaking in food smells.
- Soft material: Bibs sit against your little one’s sensitive skin, so soft material is key. If the bib is rough or itchy, you can bet baby will want to rip it off.
- Adjustable neckband: Babies grow so, so fast, and you’ll want bibs that last more than just a couple of months, so look for ones that have adjustable closures and can fit a range of neck sizes that will last at least a couple of years.
- Firm closures: As your little one gets bigger (and stronger), they’ll get better at gripping their bib and yanking it off mid-meal. Bibs with firmer closures like snaps or buttons are easy for you but harder for older babies and toddlers versus Velcro closures.
- Pouch/pocket: Some bibs only protect baby’s neck and chest from messes, but having a pouch at the end of the bib means their lap will stay clean too (not to mention the ease of scooping out all the fallen bits). These tend to be popular for baby-led weaning since they’ll catch and hold all of the solid food pieces.
- Bandana: Mostly a style choice, bandana bibs are trendy and cute, but also pretty handy for teething. Some bandana bibs, like the one on this list, have a silicone piece at the end that’s perfect for gnawing.
- Coverage: If your little one is extra messy, or if their outfit is extra special, keep food and liquids off more than just their chest with an extra-large bib. Some even come with sleeves or cover their whole torso and shoulders. Some even come in a smock style with sleeves and cover their whole torso.
Bibs also come in a variety of different materials. Here’s what to know:
- Cotton bibs are fairly soft and absorbent, and typically machine washable without any special care needs (no gentle cycle, etc.), but always double check the washing instructions on the label. They’re typically available in organic and non-organic cotton, but likely won’t hold up for more than a year of regular use.
- Muslin bibs are softer, more absorbent and more breathable than basic cotton, but can require special care like a gentle cycle or hand wash only. They can also be slightly more expensive than basic cotton, but may last longer too.
- Plastic/plastic-coated or polyester bibs are waterproof and easily wipeable, though sometimes dishwasher safe or machine washable (not dryer safe, though!), just be sure to read the label. They’re usually either a thin and flexible all-plastic composition, thick and rigid all-plastic or cotton with a plastic cover.
- Silicone bibs are the easiest to clean out of all materials—they can be wiped clean, hand washed or put in the dishwasher. Since they tend to be long lasting, they’re also often the most expensive. Many parents say you only need one (if you wipe it off after every meal).
- Paper bibs are convenient if you need a disposable option when on the go, but not very economical for everyday at-home use.
Keeping all the options in mind, these are some of our favorite bibs for babies and toddlers.
Best Bibs for Spills
With soft fabric that goes around baby’s neck and chest (it secures with Velcro), and a durable, silicone pocket to trap crumbs and mess (the largest bib pocket we’ve found), this Oxo bib is both comfortable and practical. It’s also compact and convenient—the fabric part rolls up into the pocket and secures closed, so you can stash it in your diaper bag or kitchen drawer. It’s BPA free and machine washable, as well.
Best Bandana Bib
Stylish and multifunctional! These bandana bibs from Tiny Kind are super absorbent, featuring an organic cotton front and terry cloth back. They not only add a little something extra to your baby’s outfit, they’re perfect for the drooly, teething stage. These bibs get softer with each wash, and the designs are so cute, we won’t blame you for making them a regular part of your baby’s wardrobe.
Best Catch-All Bib
This bib has a smart design, with a deep and sturdy spill pocket that catches any stray food or liquids. It’s made from non-toxic food-safe silicone that’s comfortable, easy to clean and dishwasher-safe. The neckband has 4 different sizing options so it can fit from baby to toddler and rolls up easily into the catching portion for easy on-the-go use.
Best Muslin Bib
A different color for each day of the week! These soft muslin cotton bibs will brighten up any mealtime. They’re soft and absorbent, and get softer after each wash. They’re good for a few months of everyday use or as backups to keep in your diaper bag.
A Full-Coverage Outfit Protector
We love this bib for extra coverage. Wide shoulders and a waist-length front mean your little one’s entire torso is protected, and the crumb-catching pocket covers their lap. It’s made of polyester, so it’s lightweight, breathable and can be wiped clean or thrown in the washing machine. Need even more coverage? We love their long-sleeved bib as well (it’s especially great for art projects).
Best Smock Bib
This smock is not only great for the messiest eaters, but it’ll also stand up to your baby or toddler’s art and sensory playtime. The 100% polyester material is waterproof, wipes down easily and can be machine washed. There is also a large pocket on the front to catch food (and everything else) before it falls to their lap or the floor.
Best 2-in-1 Bib
These soft, 100% cotton muslin bibs do double duty. They’re a full-coverage bib with a snap fastener for older babies and toddlers—with four layers of cotton, they soak up wet messes and are cozy enough for droolers to wear all day—and they also make great burp cloths, so you can start using them right away. Just toss in the washing machine to clean.
Best Patterned Bib
The soft, food-grade silicone material is pliable enough to fold for travel, and the large size provides lots of coverage with a big pocket to catch runoff and keep baby clean. The adjustable buttons on the neckband means it grows with your baby (but keep in mind that some parents found the buttons to be a little difficult to thread through the small holes). Wipe, hand wash or pop it in the dishwasher to get it squeaky clean.
Best Bib for Bottle-Feeding Drips
We love these bibs, especially for younger bottle-fed babies. The absorbent padded collar catches the milk drips that can get trapped in baby’s neck folds (and get smelly), but it’s soft enough to be comfortable and safe around even a newborn’s neck.
Best Organic Cotton Bib
These organic cotton baby bibs have a lap shoulder design, so they’re easy to slip on and off of their head without messing with closures or neckbands. They’re also soft, absorbent and free of any harsh chemicals, so they’re gentle on your baby’s skin.
Best Disposable Bib
Need something for the restaurant or grandma’s house? These disposable cloth-like paper bibs can be tossed after one use, meaning you won’t have to worry about washing a bib in a restaurant bathroom sink or stashing a dirty bib in the diaper bag until you get home. And even though they’re disposable, these bibs are triple layered—a quilted paper top layer that feels like cloth, an absorbent middle layer and a leak-proof bottom layer—so they protect your little one’s clothes as good as the bibs you use at home every day.
Babylist Staff
Editor
Babylist editors and writers are parents themselves and have years of experience writing and researching, coming from media outlets like Motherly, the SF Chronicle, the New York Times and the Daily Beast, and the fields of early childhood education and publishing. We research and test hundreds of products, survey real Babylist parents and consult reviews in order to recommend the best products and gear for your growing family.
