Best Overall Bib
KiddyStar Toddler Bib
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Absorption 8.0
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Ease of Use 10.0
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Ease of Cleaning 7.0
Material: Organic Cotton, Polyester Fleece| Pocket: No
Ultra-soft & comfortable
Super absorbent
Range of neck-size
Care instructions
Mild shrinkage and curling
With high scores in nearly every category we tested, the KiddyStar Toddler Bib earns a podium spot. It uses 100% certified organic cotton fabric on the front, and the back is 100% polyester fleece. It is ultra-soft and comfortable (great for babies' delicate skin), and we now wish it came in an adult-sized blanket. When it comes to absorbency, this bib is your biggest supporter and outshines most of the competition regarding how much liquid it can absorb and retain before seepage, which is excellent for heavy droolers or mealtime mess. Leaks can lead to more outfit changes than a Kardashian at an awards show, so we appreciate a bib that can decrease the chance of additional changes. With four snaps on its closure system, this bib will likely fit your child as they grow.
The bib is large, perfect for toddlers, but too big for tiny babies. So you may want to pass on this option if you seek a small bib. Also, the bib's care instructions make this option slightly high maintenance. The manufacturer suggests adding a 1/2 cup of vinegar to its initial wash to help set and preserve color, and for best results on an ongoing basis, the bib should lay flat to dry. But, you can tumble dry the bib on low heat, which is faster. While testing, we noticed some shrinkage after its initial wash and that the bib's bottom edges slightly curled up. These minor issues are cosmetic and don't influence the bib's performance. If you have a heavy drooling youngster, the KiddyStar Toddler Bib is your best defense. It can save your sanity by avoiding multiple outfit changes throughout the day, plus you will have no qualms about your baby's comfort.
The KiddyStar Toddler Bib is most appropriate for a toddler, or if you are looking for a bib that offers coverage.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Runner-Up for Best Bib
KUDL Absorbent Baby Toddler Bib
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Absorption 8.0
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Ease of Use 9.0
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Ease of Cleaning 8.0
Material: Cotton, Fleece| Pocket: No
Super absorbent
Ultra-soft
Easy to clean & no shrinkage
One less neck-size setting
Too large for newborn
The KUDL Absorbent Baby Toddler Bib is another excellent performing cloth bib. It feels ultra-soft with premium cotton on the front and fleece lining on the back. Its absorbency powers are notable, and the cloth retains an impressive amount of liquid before leaking, nearly the same as our top-performing bib, KiddyStar. This bib's closure uses snaps, which we prefer over Velcro or tie, mainly because it is easier for parents and caregivers to use yet comfortable for babies. The KUDL is easy to launder (wash before drying on low), and we noticed no shrinkage or edges that curl up.
The bib's size is most suitable for a toddler, so you may want to look elsewhere if you seek a small bib for a young baby. Also, it has three snaps on its closure, which is better than some contenders in our lineup, but one less than the top-performer, which slightly dropped its overall score. Aside from minor differences, the KUDL performs nearly the same as the KiddyStar Toddler Bib, and we think it is worth considering.
The KUDL Absorbent Baby Toddler Bib is soft and absorbent.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
An Affordable Bandana-Style Bib
MatiMati Bandana Bib
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Absorption 6.0
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Ease of Use 8.0
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Ease of Cleaning 6.0
Material: Organic Cotton, Polyester Fleece| Pocket: No
Comfortable
Economical
Stylish
Limited neck-size range
Lay flat to dry
The MatiMati Bandana Bib is downright stylish and an option for little ones who dribble from teething. Plus, with multiple bibs in a pack, this option is budget-friendly. The bib has a snap closure, and the material (100% organic cotton front and 100% polyester fleece back) is soft to the touch. We noticed that it lays flat on our tester's chest instead of bunching up underneath the chin, and babies from 3 months of age to 24 months of age can sport this bib. Also, it does a fantastic job at retaining liquid, despite its bandana-style footprint, which is smaller and more limiting than traditional-style bibs.
The bib's care instructions say to dry flat, which is time-consuming compared to the dryer; however, there should always be one ready to go with multiple bibs. Another drawback is that the bib's closure only has two snaps, limiting the bib's longevity as your child grows. But, if you seek an assortment of adorable bandana-style bibs to coordinate with outfits, we think the quantity and cost of this option could be a fit.
Our little tester wore the MatiMati Bandana Bib on the largest size setting.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Best for Mealtime
Happy Healthy Parent Silicone Bib
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Absorption 1.0
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Ease of Use 6.0
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Ease of Cleaning 10.0
Material: Silicone| Pocket: Yes
Easy to clean & dry
Spill pocket
Neck-size adjustability
Travel-friendly
Cloth bibs and mealtime don't always mix, especially when you have a messy eater on your hands. Thankfully, the Happy Healthy Parent Silicone Bib answers the call of making mealtime easier to clean up. This bib is lightweight and pliable and made of food-grade, high-quality silicone (BPA and PVC free). The closure system consists of buttons and holes and offers a range of four neck-size settings. It has a deep, sturdy pocket to catch spills and crumbs, and your baby may be excited to discover leftover treasures hidden in the pocket! The bib's material is quick to clean - empty the pouch of food, handwash with soapy water, and dry it by air or towel. It is also dishwasher safe if you prefer that option, but we think hand washing will prolong the bib's lifespan.
The pocket does not catch all food crumbs but significantly reduces the amount of food you will be picking up off the floor. In our opinion, the silicone holes can rip over time, and a child's long hair can catch in the closure system. But, despite these flaws, we believe the Happy Healthy Parent Silicone Bib is a mealtime must-have.
The Happy Healthy Parent Silicone Bib has a deep, sturdy pocket that stays open and catches spills and food.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Versatile Baby Bib
Aden + Anais Burpy Bib
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Absorption 5.0
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Ease of Use 8.0
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Ease of Cleaning 7.0
Material: Cotton Muslin|
Pocket: No
One neck-size
Mild shrinkage
Not overly absorbent
The Aden + Anais Burpy Bib is undoubtedly versatile. It features a 2-in-1 design. Use it as a burp cloth or snap-on bib. This bib is made of 100% cotton muslin and feels soft, excellent for a baby's delicate skin. It is one of the largest bibs in our lineup, and its kidney bean shape and substantial size provide superior coverage, making it handy when burping or feeding. This bib is easy to wash and can tumble dry on low heat. From our experience, this bib offers longevity. Use it from day one when you welcome home your little sweet pea, all the way to introducing solids and beyond.
The Burpy Bib lacks absorbency like the top-performers, even with its quilted material. However, its bean shape provides extra coverage while bottle-feeding and works well into toddler mealtime. The baby bib offers only one neck size, and the neck space is on the larger side. We also noticed some mild shrinkage after its initial wash. Regardless of these flaws, we believe this bib is worth the splurge for its dual-purpose, longevity, and generous size that offers excellent coverage.
The Aden + Anais Burpy Bib only has one snap setting.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Warning: It is dangerous to let your baby fall asleep while wearing any bib, so remove it shortly after use to avoid this situation.
Compare Products
The selected, top contender bibs include a variety of styles and materials. Here is picture of the bibs that we thoroughly tested for our review.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Why You Should Trust Us
With nearly a decade of testing experience, BabyGearLab holds extensive knowledge of all things baby and a unique skill set to guide our testing and ranking process. Leading our review is Molly Bradac, Senior Review Editor, nanny, and Newborn Care Specialist with over 14 years of childcare experience. Molly can effortlessly transfer her background, knowledge, and expertise to the world of baby gear, especially when it comes to baby bibs. She truly knows what will meet parent and baby standards, so take advantage of her recommendations. We purchased each bib in our review and completed hands-on testing and side-by-side comparisons to determine performance.
Analysis and Test Results
We laundered each bib multiple times, following its manufacturer's care instructions, before hands-on testing to assess performance, particularly with absorbency, ease of use, and comfort. We also enlisted little testers' help, evaluating how each bib functions in everyday life.
Value
If you don't want to sacrifice performance but are conscious of cost, our lineup includes a few options depending on your needs. The MatiMati Bandana Bib is stylish, and with multiple bibs included in a pack, it is economical. But, if your budget can stretch and you value excellent absorption, the KiddyStar Toddler Bib is a top-performer that we believe is worth the investment.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Absorption
The primary function of a bib is to absorb and protect the clothing underneath from wetness and mess. To test a bib's absorbency threshold, we placed a paper towel under each bib and applied a dose of liquid to each bib, which we continued to do until leakage occurred on the paper towel. We also took notes on how quickly each contender absorbed the liquid, then compared the results.
Among the completion, the KiddyStar Toddler Bib and KUDL Absorbent Baby Toddler Bib rank high with 8 of 10. Both bibs can retain a considerable amount of liquid before the clothing underneath gets wet. Coming in behind the KiddyStar and KUDL is the MatiMati Bandana Bib. Although this bib struggles to absorb denser liquid and its bandana shape has less surface area, limiting the amount it can retain, it can hold a fair amount of thin fluid before seeping.
The Bumkins Sleeved Bib, Happy Healthy Parent Silicone Bib, and PandaEar Silicone Bib rank the lowest, scoring 1 of 10. These products are not designed or intended to absorb liquid; therefore, we are not surprised by their performance results. These bibs are best for mealtime, especially those with big pockets that can help catch dribbles and crumbs.
Ease of Use
To score this metric, we examined multiple sub-metrics, such as a bib's comfort, neck-size range, and closure system. Top-notch contenders should be soft and comfortable for babies, use a range of neck sizes for your growing sprout, and use a snap closure system, which we consider easy to use and comfortable for children—those who fall short of this profile rank lower.
Among the competition, the KiddyStar Toddler Bib scores 10 of 10, making it a high-ranking contender. This option is the king of comfort, thanks to its incredibly soft material and range of neck sizes (four settings), allowing it to grow with your baby. We also consider a snap closure the most comfortable for babies, whereas ties, Velcro, and silicone button and holes are more likely to trap and catch hair.
The Nuby Reversible Muslin Teething Bib is easy to put on and take off as it has a Velcro closure system. However, it only offers one neck size, which is not ideal for growing babies.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
On the flip side, the Nuby Reversible Muslin Teething Bib ranks the lowest, scoring 4 of 10, mainly due to its Velcro closure. Logically speaking, Velcro lacks long-term durability, primarily as it can collect fibers, hindering its strength. Consideration of these drawbacks reduced its score in this metric.
The Nuby Reversible Muslin Teething Bib (left) and the MatiMati Bandana Bib (right) are the only bandana style bibs in our review, and they differ in material, closure system, and available neck-size settings.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Ease of Cleaning
If a bib is easy to clean, there's a greater chance you will frequently use it. We believe a top-notch bib should be easy to launder and not shrink. We used these factors when scoring the competition.
The all-star champs in this metric are the silicone options, including the Happy Healthy Parent Silicone Bib and PandaEar Silicone Bib. These bibs are super easy to clean after mealtime and are quickly back in action, making them travel-friendly or appealing if you plan to use one silicone bib for multiple mealtimes throughout the day. However, the MatiMati Bandana Bib did not excel in this metric, mainly because its care instructions recommend laying the bib flat to dry, consuming time and space.
The Aden + Anais Burpy Bib is generous in size and offers great coverage.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Conclusion
Navigating the world of bibs can be dizzying. Thankfully, our review provides the details you need to make your informed decision. Many parents feel a baby bib is essential, and you may even need a combination of bibs to get your little one through the day. Whether you want something you can wipe clean or is really absorbent, there is something in this lineup for you. Let our expert recommendations guide you to the best baby bib that will meet your needs and budget.
