11 Best Baby Bibs, According to Parents

Spit-up, drooling and messy eating are all inevitable parts of babyhood (and parenthood). So if you don’t want bodily fluids and mushy food all over you, your child or your home, baby bibs are an absolute necessity. The best baby bibs all have a few things in common. First, they’re excellent at keeping dribble and spills off the wearer—and your kitchen floor. Second, they’re comfortable enough for said wearer not to throw a fit whenever you put one on them. And third, while adorableness isn’t totally essential, we find that cute baby bibs make messes a lot less miserable. Ready to shop? We’ve got you (literally) covered. Below, we’re sharing what to know before buying a baby or toddler bib, as well as all our favorite options recommended by parents.

How We Chose the Best Baby Bibs

Baby bibs can be an important tool in helping to protect your child’s clothes and even your floor. To help you choose wisely:

• We researched what was being said about feeding and teething must-haves in The Bump community forums to learn what parents looked for and liked about baby bibs.
• We also conducted external market research, scouring third-party forums and message boards and reading user reviews to find out what parents across the country looked for when choosing a baby bib.
• From there we analyzed the market to find the most popular bibs on the market, narrowing the field based on elements like materials, closures, ease of cleaning and coverage.

Editorial integrity is at the heart of everything we publish. Read about how The Bump develops and reviews all articles, including product reviews.

Best Baby Bibs to Shop

Drool Bibs vs. Feeding Bibs

Bibs for babies are essential for catching both drool and food. While most bibs can accomplish both tasks, drool bibs—ideal for newborns and teething babies—tend to be smaller and made of soft, absorbent fabric, while feeding bibs—good for older babies and toddlers who are eating solids— are often made of dishwasher-friendly materials and tend to cover more surface area (for obvious reasons!); they also often sport wide-mouth pockets to catch drips, spills and falling morsels.

Below are some key differences between drool bibs and feeding bibs:

What to Look for in a Baby Bib

Still unsure of what you need in a baby bib? Consider these elements as you shop:

• Ease of cleaning. If you’re looking for feeding bibs to put on baby during mealtime, look for ones that can be wiped clean or be popped into the dishwasher, like plastic or silicone baby bibs. If you’re getting drool bibs, you’ll also want to be sure they can be cleaned easily—these typically are machine washable, although some may need to be line dried.
• Material. For younger babies, you’ll likely only be dealing with milk dribbles or drool and spit up, which means a smaller, more absorbent drool bib might be in order. Look for soft cotton or muslin material that won’t irritate baby’s tender skin.
• Adjustability. Babies come in all shapes and sizes, making it difficult to know if any given bib will fit your child. Your little one is also growing quickly, and you’ll want to ensure that your bib will adjust as your child gets bigger. Look for a bib with an adjustable neckline to get more mileage out of it, and to ensure a proper fit from the start.
• Coverage. A larger bib can make the difference between simply needing to wipe your child’s face and hands after a meal and needing to go to town on their clothes with a stain stick. Some bibs will have an extra-large front, while others will have sleeves for all-over protection.
• Closure. Bibs come with a range of potential fasteners, including Velcro, snaps and buttons. All can be helpful in keeping the bib secure. However, if your child tends to fight wearing a bib, it’s a good idea to consider choosing one with a more secure closure like a snap or button that’s harder for little hands to pull off.

How Many Bibs Does Baby Need?

Wondering how many baby bibs you should buy? When stocking up on baby essentials, we suggest starting with at least four to eight drool bibs and another four feeding bibs, but there’s no right or wrong answer here—it really comes down to how often you do laundry (and how drool-prone your baby proves to be). It’s a good idea to have a few extras on hand: You might want to toss a bib or two into your diaper bag, have some at the ready in baby’s nursery and of course stock a supply in the kitchen as well.

About the writer:

Christin Perry is a freelance writer and editor who specializes in pregnancy, parenting and health and wellness topics. As a mother of four, she’s gone through the paces and has used what seems like every product under the sun—and she’s used that experience to write dozens of product roundups for The Bump. Christin considers herself lucky to have worked for a long list of other large clients, including Forbes Advisor, Verywell Family, Parents, Parade, The Knot, Apartment Therapy and Dwell, to name a few.