Welcoming a new baby into the family is an exciting time for the parents, plus everyone involved. As far as baby equipment goes, you’ll find that bibs are an essential that every parent will need at various times throughout the first two or three years. Bibs play a crucial role during feeding time, protecting your baby’s adorable outfits from mealtime messes, they can also be useful during times when your baby is dribbling through teething. As a Mum to two young children, I thought it would be useful to share my experience to answer the question ‘When do babies need bibs’ and also to offer some advice about what type of bibs are useful in various situations.
When Do Babies Need Bibs?
The need for feeding bibs typically arises when babies start transitioning to solid foods, usually around 6 months of age. However, some parents find it helpful to use bibs even during bottle feeding to catch dribbles and prevent milk stains on their baby’s clothes.
As newborns can be prone to excessive dribble, especially when they first start teething so the newborn dibble bibs are a good option for keeping their delicate skin and clothes dry. You generally find that babies may start dribbling as early as around a couple of months old and this may continue right up until they have all their teeth at somewhere between two and three years old. You may not need a dribble bit for the whole period, but they are really useful to start with.
Feeding Time
Feeding time with babies can be a messy affair, especially when they are learning to eat solid foods. Whether you are spoon-feeding purees or introducing finger foods, mealtime messes are inevitable. This is where bibs come to the rescue, offering protection for your baby’s clothes from food stains and spills.
Number of Bibs Needed
The number of bibs you need depends on your baby’s age and how often you feed them. For newborn babies, having a few newborn bibs on hand for bottle feeding and excess drool is sufficient. In my experience, changing dribble bibs two to three times a day is usually sufficient, so it would depend on how quickly you can wash, but a pack of 10 dribble bibs would be a good start.
As your baby starts eating solid foods, you may want to invest in more feeding bibs to keep up with the increased mess. Having a rotation of bibs ensures you always have a clean bib available, even if the washing machine is running. If your baby is working up to eating three meals a day, then you will want a minimum of three bibs which you can sling in the washing machine at the end of the day, more is better. Once they get the hang of feeding, you may find that the bib doesn’t actually get messy, so you can reuse it for the next meal. I also find that using a silicone-style pelican bib is ideal when your baby is weaning as these will not only catch food, they are much quicker and easier to clean as they can be washed up with baby’s bowl and spoon.
Different Types of Bibs
There is a wide variety of bibs available in the market, each catering to different needs and preferences. Let’s explore some common types of bibs:
Traditional Bibs
Traditional bibs are the standard choice for many parents. They are typically made of cloth and come in various sizes. These bibs are suitable for everyday use and can be easily thrown into the washing machine. These are most useful for milk feeds and the early days of weaning when you might be spoon-feeding purees.
Smock Bibs or Coveralls.
Smock bibs provide more coverage, protecting not only the front but also the sleeves and the back of your baby’s outfit. These style coverall bibs are ideal for messy eaters who tend to get food everywhere. I’ve got a post about the best baby led weaning bibs which may be useful if you are looking for this style of bibs.
Bandana Bibs
Stylish and functional, bandana bibs are a fashionable accessory that doubles as a bib. They are great for younger children and come in various styles, making them a popular choice for fashion-conscious parents. I find these are the best style of bib for babies who are teething. They often dribble excessively and it’s useful to pop these on over the baby’s outfit to catch any dribble that might otherwise soak their top and make their neck and chest a bit sore.
Silicone Bibs
Made from food-grade silicone, these bibs are waterproof and easy to clean. They are perfect for messy eaters, as they can be wiped down quickly after each use. Many come with pouches which catch dropped food. These are ideal as baby can pick bits up out of their pelican. It also makes the clean-up after the meal much easier as you can just tip the dropped food out of the pouch at the end of the meal. I find silicone bibs are great for messy drinkers too and they are a godsend when you are serving soup to your baby and they want to self-feed.
Long-Sleeved Bibs
Offering wider coverage, long-sleeved bibs are excellent for protecting your baby’s clothing during mealtime. They are especially useful as your little one starts self-feeding and exploring different textures. I personally think the long-sleeved bibs are wonderful when your baby is learning to eat things like yoghurt. Yoghurt always gets all over baby’s clothes – particularly sleeves, so a long-sleeved bib is really useful.
Choosing the Right Bib
Selecting the right bib involves considering various factors, including the age of your baby, the type of bib, and the materials used. Here are some essential factors to keep in mind:
Material
Consider the material of the bib, especially if your baby has sensitive skin. Organic cotton bibs are a popular choice for their softness and breathability. Silicone bibs, on the other hand, are easy to clean and suitable for babies with allergies.
Size
Choose bibs that fit comfortably around your baby’s neck. Bibs that are too tight can cause discomfort, while those that are too loose may not provide adequate protection. You’ll probably find that a coverall-style bib will be quite big on your 6-month-old, so make sure you get one that can be made smaller with poppers or Velcro.
Silicone bibs tend to be quite large around the neck, so you’ll want one that can be easily sized up and down with different holes on the join.
When you first start weaning, especially if you are spoon-feeding purees, a traditional bib or bandana-style bib would probably fit best and be most useful.
Absorbency
For younger babies and heavy dribblers, opt for bibs made from absorbent materials like muslin cloths. These bibs help keep your baby’s delicate skin dry during feeding time. Some of these are double-layered to allow for maximum absorbency.
Easy to Clean
Look for bibs that are easy to clean, whether by tossing them in the washing machine or wiping them down. This ensures you can quickly reuse the bib for the next feeding session. I’d also recommend looking for bibs that can be tumble-dried (if you have a tumble drier) as you’ll be amazed at how quickly baby stuff mounts up on drying racks.
Comfort
Consider your baby’s comfort and preferences when choosing a bib style. Some babies may prefer the lightweight feel of a bandana bib, while others may benefit from the coverage provided by a long-sleeved bib. Generally speaking, babies will let you know if they are happy with your choice of bib.
Durability
Babies and their excessive messes can be rough on their belongings, so durability is an essential factor. Invest in bibs that withstand frequent washing and maintain their quality over time. It might pay you to go for similar colours when it comes to bib styles as they can all be thrown in the same wash at the end of the day.
My Experience
Whilst raising my babies, I’ve found that having a variety of bibs has been really useful. For my young babies, when they’ve been teething, having a few bandana-style dribble bibs on hand is really handy as it helped to stop my baby soaking their clothes. A wet top either needs protecting or changing as it can lead to rashes and chafing. A damp dribble bib is so much easier to change than a whole baby outfit.
For feeding, I found that starting out with a traditional bib was most useful when spoon-feeding. It’s great for protecting clothes and for wiping small amounts of food off chins and around lips.
For baby led weaning, I used a combination of a coverall-style bib and a silicone bib over the top. I found that this cut down the washing pile, whilst also giving my babies the freedom to be as messy as they liked whilst mastering self-feeding.
In the baby bib game, finding the perfect bib involves considering your baby’s needs, your washing pile, and the different styles and materials available. Whether you opt for the traditional cloth bib, the stylish bandana bib, or the practical silicone bib, the right choice depends on what works best for you and your little one.
As a new parent, experimenting with different types of bibs will help you discover the perfect combination that makes feeding time a breeze while keeping your baby’s clothes clean and dry. So, explore the options, find the bib that ticks all the boxes, and enjoy the adorable messes that come with the delightful journey of parenting.
If you are looking for other guides to weaning, I’d love for you to come and check out some of the following posts –
10 Best Baby Led Weaning Spoons
15 Best Baby Led Weaning Bowls
Let me know if you’ve found any of my guides useful and I wish you an amazing time with your little one as you embark on your journey together. I hope this has helped answer the question of ‘When do babies need bibs?
Read more posts in the Parenting Category