The best bibs from baby to toddler

Baby bibs

by Emily Gilbert |
Updated on

When your baby is a newborn, you'll go through plenty of spit-up from milk feeds, then there will be dribble from teething, and finally, solid food as they begin weaning - that's why you'll be looking for the best bibs for your baby. Whether you want a bandana bib or a silicone bib, read on for our picks of the best on the market.

Just like weaning products, they'll be a parenting must-have well into toddlerhood, so it's a good idea to invest in some good quality ones that will last you. You will need different bibs depending on what stage your baby is at - for example, with your newborn, you'll want an absorbent bib for any spit-up or dribble. You'll also need to consider the material, fastening, and comfort of the bib.

Having a good stash of the best baby bibs is a newborn baby essential you will need from day dot. When teething, you may find a bib with a baby teether toy attachment is just what they need. As they reach the weaning stage, a wipeable bib is a bonus as it saves on washing.

Editor's choice

Best baby bib overall: Tommee Tippee Milk Feeding Bibs
Best baby bib for teething: Cheeky Chompers Neckerchew
Best baby bibs for newborns: aden + anais Cotton Muslin Snap Bibs
Best for travel: NatureBond Waterproof Silicone Baby Bibs

You can get all sorts of different bibs suited to your baby's needs, from silicone pockets to soft fabrics and adjustable neckties. To make your life easier, we've rounded up some of our top picks for your baby, taking into consideration the price, design, and quality of each bib. Included below are real buyer reviews along with Mother&Baby Award winners, all with the aim of helping you find the best bib for your little one.

The best baby bibs for 2024

Best baby bib overall

These Tommee Tippee Milk Feeding Bibs are perfect for breastfed or bottle-fed babies. The Comfeefit™ collar is not only super comfortable, but the padding helps to protect baby's delicate skin by absorbing excess moisture build-up that can cause irritation. The ultra-absorbent material quickly and easily absorbs dribble and milk to help keep baby's skin and clothes clean and dry.

One reviewer said: "These bibs are a game changer! Moving forward they will be the only bibs I buy. They fit comfortably around babies neck, they absorb milk dribble with the foam neck. Just a very good design."

Pros

  • Padded neck helps prevent spillages
  • Easy to adjust
  • Reversible

Cons

  • Slightly too small for older babies
Age Range:Suitable for birth
Material:Cotton
Cleaning:Machine washable

Best waterproof bib

Award: Won gold for Best Teething Product in the Mother&Baby awards 2022.

Block dribble from passing through to clothes and cut down your washing pile! This handmade, multi-award winning Bibbilyboo Waterproof Bib will save you from constantly changing wet tops and laundry, which helps the environment too! Say bye-bye to the dribble rashes and bulky going-out bag stuffed with spares, and hello to a cute accessory to complement their outfit, not just cover it up.

One reviewer said: "Using these bibs made my life so much easier with a teething baby. I wasn't having to change his clothes multiple times a day as the bib kept his clothes dry even though the dribble was unbelievable. Also all other bibs that I put on my son, he kept pulling them off. These ones he barely even knew he was wearing it."

**Read our full Bibblyboo Waterproof Bib review.
**

Pros

  • Grows with your baby from teething to toddlerhood
  • Waterproof inner lining protects clothes, saving on laundry

Cons

  • A coverall or larger bib option would be good
Age Range:2 months - 2 years
Material:33% Cotton jersey interlock, 33% Bamboo, 32% Polyester PU
Cleaning:Machine washable

Best baby bib for teething

Cheeky Chompers Neckerchew
Price: £19.99

This Cheeky Chompers Neckerchew teething bib is great for babies who might not have the range of motion to hold a teething toy, as it has an integrated plastic teether as part of the bib. The adjustable poppers mean the bib will grow with your baby, and they're reversible too.

Sophie Knight, mum to Eli, said: "I love this bib and found it really useful when Eli was teething. Not only was it great for mopping up dribble and milk, but he liked chewing on the silicone corner. I love any product that does two things at once!"

Pros

  • Includes silicone teether
  • Multi-award winning product
  • Lots of design options

Cons

  • Bib itself is not that waterproof
Age Range:From 2 months onwards
Material:‎95% Cotton, 5% Elastane with Silicone Corner
Cleaning:Machine washable

Best bib for preventing mess

Award: Won Silver for Best Weaning Product in the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards.

Keep mess to a minimum with this bib which covers your child, their lap, and highchair tray for maximum protection. Phwoar! Easy to put on and take off, the Bibetta Wipeezee has an adjustable hook and loop neck fastener for a great fit around the neck. It also folds or rolls up very small to fit into a changing bag, perfect for when you're out and about.

Our tester James said: "The product is well made, very easy to use, and does exactly what it says it does, perfectly well. Our toddler is very good at feeding herself but occasionally gets distracted while holding the spoon between bowl and mouth, and it spills everywhere. Having a large bib that goes from her neck all around her and to the table on the high chair makes cleanup really easy."

Read our full Bibetta Wipeezee review

Pros

  • Lots of designs available
  • Prevents mess

Cons

  • Not super easy to get on and off
Age Range:6 months +
Material:Unspecified
Cleaning:Machine washable and wipe clean

Best for weaning babies

best bibs Babi Hapi® Silicone Bibs for Babies
Price: £9.95

Babi Hapi® Silicone Bibs are a great choice if you're weaning because the stiff lip at the bottom will catch any dribbles or chunks of food. These ones are safe for teething babies to chomp on too. These baby-feeding bibs are made with premium quality silicone, which is extremely durable, waterproof, and flexible. Also, the material is skin-friendly and lightweight, so your baby can eat his or her meal without experiencing any discomfort.

One reviewer said: "Very nice design, beautiful bright colours and quality. My baby loves it. It's soft, and she likes to suck on it. Also arrived in a very presentable packaging, great for gifts. Easy to clean, would highly recommend it."

Pros

  • Easy to clean
  • Adjustable fit

Cons

  • Some reviews found the scoop lip too shallow
Age Range:Babies and toddlers
Material:Silicone
Cleaning:Machine washable

Best silicone baby bib

BabyBju00f6rn Baby Bibs
Price: £18

These easy-to-clean silicone BabyBjörn Baby Bibs are great for weaning babies and have a special non-chafing neck band to keep your baby comfortable at meal times. The handy deep pocket catches any mess they might drop, and they come in a range of gorgeous colours for you to pick from.

One reviewer said: "These bibs from this particular brand are by far my favourites!

  1. They are harder than the others (similar), but I find this way that the food caught in there remains safely there.
  2. Baby can't open it - but you need to be careful to not tie it too tight around baby's neck.
  3. Because you tie it using pearls, you have several options to choose from when it comes to how tight/loose you want it around your little one's neck.
  4. Super easy to clean and also dishwasher safe.
  5. It also doubles as a good toy for my daughter - she loves playing with the pearls!"

Pros

  • Wipe clean
  • Easy to adjust

Cons

  • Not a huge range of colours
Age Range:Suitable from 4 months
Material:100% BPA free plastic
Cleaning:Wipe clean of wash in dishwasher

Best baby bibs for newborns

aden + anais Cotton Muslin Snap Bibs are made from three layers of 100 per cent organic cotton, which stays soft wash after wash. The adjustable popper neck tie grows with your baby, and there's a selection of gorgeous patterns and colours available.

Reviews Editor Emily Gilbert said: "These Aden and Anais muslin bibs are a really good length and have three poppers on the neck strap meaning that you can adjust the fit to suit your child. They wash well, and you can just pop them straight in the tumble dryer."

Pros

  • Wash well
  • soft organic cotton
  • Highly absorbent

Cons

  • Snap fixings can be fiddly
Size Range:Baby to toddler
Material:100% Cotton Muslin
Cleaning:Machine washable

Best for travel

NatureBond Waterproof Silicone Baby Bibs
Price: £10.99

These NatureBond Waterproof Silicone Baby Bibs are great for eating on the go, as they come with a special waterproof pouch designed for outdoor use. BPA-free and PVC-free, they have four tightening buttons which secures the bib and make it harder for toddlers to pull it apart.

One reviewer said: "Really really happy with this purchase. We had two bibados and found we could only get one use out of them before they became smelly and needed a wash. These bibs are amazing, catch most of the food that doesn't make it into baby's mouth and is super easy to clean, easy to put on and seem very comfortable. Yay!"

Pros

  • Comes with travel pack
  • Soft with good sized scoop lip

Cons

  • Soft buttons are tricky to 'clip'
Age Range:4 months and above
Material:Silicone
Cleaning:Wipe clean and dishwasher safe

Best bibs with elastic cuffs

Another great long-sleeved option, these bibs from Baby Mori Done by Deer Sleeved Bib have cute woodland designs and are made from 100 per cent PU with polyester backing. They're machine washable and have comfortable elasticated cuffs to protect your little one's clothes from stains.

One reviewer said: "Great looking product! Easy to pop on baby and cleans up lovely!"

Pros

  • Sleeves help prevent mess
  • Cute patterns and colour options

Cons

  • One size
Age Range:6 - 18 months
Material:Polyester
Cleaning:Unspecified

Best bib with teething toy attachment

Vumin Box Baby Bandana Drool Bibs
Price: £15.88
Alternative retailers
Walmart$23.45View offer

These cute Vumin Box Baby Bandana Drool Bibs are one of the highest rated on Amazon, and the reviews are positively glowing. The attached teething chew means you'll never lose a teething toy again, and you can wipe up any dribble with the super absorbent cloth bib. We love this high-quality design.

One reviewer said: "Love, love, love. Really nice mix of designs and colours, wash well, the teething toys go in the steriliser. So pleased I'm ordering more immediately for myself, my sister and my friend. Genius bibs!"

Pros

  • Soft cotton fabric
  • Easy to wash, and colour stays well

Cons

  • Don't absorb as well as other brands
Age Range:3 months - 2 years
Material:100% Organic Cotton and Polyester
Cleaning:Hand wash

The best machine-washable bib

Pippeta Waterproof Cape Sleeved Bib
Price: £14.95

pippeta.com

This stylish and functional accessory for little ones during mealtime or messy play is made from waterproof and wipeable fabric and has a catch-all front pocket, keeping clothes clean and dry. The safari-themed print adds a playful touch while the adjustable neck closure means that it's comfortable and easy to use with your baby, making it a practical choice for growing children.

Reviews Editor Emily Gilbert said: "This is a really great bib made from high-quality materials with a very cute print. It's so easy to clean and adjust and I really like how long it will last my son."

Pros

  • Multiple design options
  • Water repellent
  • Catch-all front pocket
Age range:3m - 3years
Material:recycled polyester Oeko-Tex tested
Cleaning:Machine washable

Best long-sleeved bib

Little Dimsum Long-sleeved baby bibs are a godsend for busy mums - covering your baby from neck to wrist while they're experimenting with food will save you time wiping and changing outfits. These ones are some of the top-rated long-sleeved bibs on Amazon, and they come in a range of sweet colours and patterns.

One reviewer said: "Most bibs of this kind seem to cover a 6-36 month range which makes them unusable: it is useless trying to put them on a 7-month-old baby as the food ends up all over their clothes through the gaps. Thankfully, Little Dimsum are a bit more sensible as they cover 6-24 months, making them much more suitable for us. They don't let any food go on baby's clothes. We wash them with a bit of washing-up liquid after every use, and they dry pretty quickly. And they pack very small, so we are very happy with them."

Pros

  • Lots of design options
  • Two per pack means one is always ready to be used

Cons

  • Fabric is quite rustly
Age Range:6 months - 4 years
Material:Polyurethane
Cleaning:Machine washable

Choosing the right bibs for your baby

When selecting a bib for your baby, there will be many factors that you'll want to consider. These are a few that we would bear in mind when making a choice.

Age range - Getting the right age range for your child's bib means it'll be the right size for them and appropriate for all their needs.

Material - Some materials are softer than others, some are easier to clean. Getting a bib that's soft and easy to clean will be the ideal option for you and your little one.

Cleaning - As previously mentioned, you'll want a bib that's easy to clean, be that because you can just throw it in the washing machine or quickly wipe it clean.

Purpose - Bib designs are always evolving. Obviously, they're mainly designed to stop mess from eating getting on their clothes and helping with dribbling, but some may have other features to look out for.

Comfort - Your little one's comfort will, of course, be at the forefront of your mind. That's why picking out the right fastening, material, and size is so important.

Fastening - Speaking of comfort, make sure the bib fastening sits comfortably on your child. You'll want it to be secure while still being easy to get on and off.

What fabric is best for baby bibs?

This entirely depends on what exactly you're going to be using your baby bib for. When you have a newborn, a bib is primarily for preventing your youngster's clothes from getting wet with milk and dribble, so you'll want bibs that are made of absorbent materials that can soak up liquids. You'll find many of these have a backing to help keep the baby dry.

For those babies that are weaning, wipe-clean bibs, which are usually made from silicone and synthetic materials, are the most obvious choice. If you're baby-led weaning, we recommend a bib with a pocket or pouch, as these will help catch dropped food and make your job a little easier when it's time to clean up.

When should my baby start wearing a bib?

Many parents use a bib right from birth, especially as there's a chance your baby may be sick after milk or is particularly dribbly. If not, it's usually when starting weaning that parents choose to introduce a bib.

How many baby bibs do I need?

This one is completely dependent on your baby. If they are using a bib from the early weeks and are quite dribbly, expect to get through them quite quickly, sometimes between 5-10 a day. So if you're planning on washing these every day, you'll need to double that amount, so you're not waiting on the first load to dry.

If you just have weaning bibs, we'd recommend having two bibs, one to keep at home and one to pop in your changing bag. This is where wipe-clean bibs come in handy, as there's no need to wait to put a wash on.

How we test and choose recommended products

Our product recommendations are based on a combination of real-world testing from our burgeoning army of mum testers and the extensive knowledge of our experienced editorial team and product specialists. Where we can, we also consult experts who specialise in that field to ensure you get the right advice along with the right product, and we listen to what you say as well.

Our thriving mum community on our Facebook group #mumtribe consistently provides great insights into which products mums like best and why, helping us highlight the products that will meet your needs.

For essential products, our annual Mother&Baby Awards shortlist the top products tested. Full reviews from our mum testers can be found on our product pages. The winners and runners-up for each category will also appear in our top picks article for that product, along with other products that were rated highly by our team.

Emily Gilbertis a Digital Writer for Mother&Baby and has written for the website and previously the magazine for six years. Specialising in product reviews, Emily is the first to know about all the exciting new releases in the parenting industry.

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