Best Baby Bib
The KiddyStar Toddler Bib is a stellar performing bib, quickly becoming a tester favorite. It is a winner for comfort with its ultra-soft fabric, perfect for your little one's delicate skin, especially if they are wearing it for some time. The bib's front is 100% certified organic cotton, and the back is 100% polyester fleece. This bib is large, so it is more appropriate for a toddler or if you want a bib that will provide more coverage. The KiddyStar is a snap-on bib with four neck-size settings, which is the most of any bib in our review. Also, the bib has impressive absorbing capabilities. It absorbs thin liquid nearly instantly and thick liquid a little slower, but more notable is how much it retains before seeping. A feat that not many cloth bibs in our review, except for the KUDL, could match.
This likable bib does have a few minor downsides. It is the only one in our review that required a 1/2 cup of vinegar added to its initial wash to help set and preserve color. Although this is not a big deal, it is an added step, and you will need to have vinegar on hand. The manufacture suggests laying the bib flat to dry for best results; however, that is time-consuming. Alternatively, you can tumble dry the bib on low heat, which is quicker, and if you are already running the dryer, why not toss it in? Mild shrinkage did occur after its initial wash, and its bottom edge slightly curls up, but ironing will remedy this issue. Nevertheless, if you don't mind a little work on the front end and if you have a youngster that is a heavy drooler, then the KiddyStar Toddler Bib is your best defense. It will save your sanity by avoiding multiple outfit changes throughout the day, plus you will have no qualms about your baby's comfort.
The KUDL Absorbent Baby Toddler Bib is a top-contender. This bib has premium cotton on the front and fleece lining on the back, which feels ultra-soft. It has incredible absorbency capabilities, absorbing thin liquid instantly, and thicker liquid a little slower. Most impressive is how much it can retain before seepage, just about the same amount as our top-performing bib. This bib has a convenient snap-on closure, which is easy for a caregiver to use and most comfortable for a baby. The KUDL is easy to launder, toss it into the washer, then dry on low heat. Plus, it does not shrink after its initial wash, and the ends do not curl, which are additional bonuses.
One thing to note is that this bib is large and may be too big for a newborn, but more suitable for a toddler. Another downside of this bib is that it only offers three neck-size settings, unlike our highest performer, which offers four. Regardless of this minor difference, the KUDL performs nearly the same as the KiddyStar Toddler Bib.
The MatiMati Bandana Bib is a noticeably stylish bib that is a good option for little ones who dribble from teething. The front is 100% organic cotton, and the back is 100% polyester fleece. The bib is soft to the touch, primarily the fleece on the backside, and it lays flat on the baby's chest instead of bunching up underneath the chin. The Bandana Bib snaps on, and babies from 3 months to 24 months of age can wear it. It slowly absorbs thin liquid, and it is excellent at retaining a decent amount. However, due to its bandana size and limited footprint, it doesn't hold as much as traditional-style bibs.
The bib absorbs thin liquid slowly, yet struggles to absorb thick liquid well. It can retain a decent amount of liquid before seepage, nearly matching the traditional-style cloth bibs, but its bandana-style shape is smaller, causing this bib to tap out earlier. The bib is easy to wash, but care instructions say to lay it flat to dry, and we view this as time-consuming. It also offers two neck-size settings, which is limiting; you either have large or small, but no other choice. Although this bib lacks a range of adjustability and thick liquid gives it a hard time, it is a bronze medalist for absorbency concerning how much it can retain. It also offers style, comfort, and the best bang for your buck.
Traditionally, cloth bibs were for mealtime, but they soaked up the mess and needed to be laundered after every use, making them a poor choice. Thankfully, those days are over. The Happy Healthy Parent Silicone Bib answers the call of making mealtime easier to clean up. The bib's material includes food-grade, high-quality silicone free of BPA and PVC, 100% waterproof, lightweight, and pliable. Plus, silicone does not easily stain like cloth. It moves with the baby and feels comfortable. The closure system consists of buttons and holes, which are relatively easy to fasten and disconnect, and it offers a range of four neck-size settings. Most noticeable is its deep sturdy pocket that stays open to catch spills and mess. Plus, your baby may be excited to discover leftover treasures in the pocket. When it comes to cleaning the bib, the task couldn't be easier - simply empty the pouch of food, handwash the bib with soapy water, and let it air dry or towel it off. It is also dishwasher safe, but hand washing will prolong the bib's lifespan. The ease in wiping, washing, and dry, plus its flexibility, makes this bib an excellent travel-friendly option. Roll it up and carry it in a diaper bag or suitcase.
This bib is not for soaking-up drool or to be worn for an extended time. The pocket will not catch-all, but it will significantly reduce the amount of food you will be picking up off the floor. One thing to be aware of is that users report that the holes can rip over time and that a child's long hair can catch in the buttons. Despite these flaws, we believe the Happy Healthy Parent Silicone Bib is one of the easiest bibs to use and a mealtime superstar.
The smock-style Bumkins Sleeved Bib offers an advantage that other bibs in our review do not: full-coverage. Its waterproof fabric and long sleeves protect clothing underneath and is for babies 6 months - 24 months of age. The material is free of BPA, Lead, Phthalates, and PVC. The closure system is a tie that holds its durability over time and is not easily undone by baby, which is great for when your little one is covered in a mess. Another bonus is that this bib is machine washable. Toss it into the washer, then hang to air-dry.
A downside of this bib is that the large pocket is basted 1/4 inch in the middle at the top to preserve the pocket shape, which limits what you can place inside. Also, the bib is relatively long, and the pocket lays at lap level, so it is not very effective at catching food. Even though this bib is soft and flexible, it is not as comfortable as other cloth bibs. But, if you have a little Picasso who enjoys art exploration or a child who wants to feed themself, but creates a mess, then this bib is an excellent full-coverage option.
Your teething baby will put just about anything in their mouth. Instead of worrying whether a teether has landed on a germy floor, or fallen out of baby's reach, the Nuby Reversible Muslin Teething Bib is a brilliant solution to this issue. This drool catcher is a bandana style bib made of muslin, with a BPA-free teether attached at the tip, where it is easily accessible for baby. The fabric feels soft, and continues to be softer with each additional wash. This bib is designed for little ones as early as 3 months of age and on. It is also easy to wash and can tumble dry on low heat (a rare find in bib-Ville).
A couple of factors to consider are that the Nuby features a Velcro closure system, and there is only one neck-size, which limits the amount of time it can be of service. Velcro is not ideal as it can lose its strength over time, making the bib easier for your baby to remove, and it can feel scratchy. It also can stick and pull threads of other material while laundering. The bib did slightly shrink after laundering, and it is not overly absorbent, so it is not a match for heavy droolers. Although the Nuby may not be your primary bib, it provides a unique solution for your teething baby with its convenient teether and bib to catch dribbles while being easy to wash and dryer safe at a low price.
The Aden + Anais Burpy Bib is a versatile, two-in-one design that can either be a burp cloth or snap-on bib. This bib is made of 100% cotton muslin and is soft to the touch. Its kidney bean shape and substantial size provides excellent coverage while burping, or for baby while feeding. It is one of the largest bibs in our review. This bib is easy to wash and can tumble dry on low heat. What is great about this bib is that it offers longevity. You can use it from day one, when you welcome home baby, up to introducing solids, and beyond.
A downside of the Burpy Bib is that it lacks absorbency powers, even with its quilted material. It absorbs both thin and thick liquid quickly but performs better with smaller amounts, as larger volumes begin to seep through to clothing underneath. The baby bib offers only one neck-size, but, with that said, it is on the larger side. Also, there is some mild shrinkage after the initial wash. Regardless of its flaws, we feel that this bib is worth the splurge for its dual-purpose and longevity, plus it is easy to wash, soft for baby, and offers excellent coverage due to its generous size.
The OXO Roll Up Bib is a hybrid of a cloth and silicone bib, blending the best features of each. Considering that a silicone bib's closure system of buttons and holes may rip over time, the OXO Roll Up Bib resolves this problem by replacing the silicone on top with fabric that is 100% nylon coated in polyurethane (PU), along with a Velcro closure that offers a range of neck-size settings. The food-grade silicone on the bottom is soft and flexible, yet has a sturdy pocket to catch spills and mess, and liquid repels off the fabric. We found the bib's material to sound a little crunchy, but this may soften with use. This bib is great for babies 6 months of age and on. It is easy to wipe off and either hand wash or machine wash, then hang to dry. Also, a neat feature of this bib is that the fabric rolls into the silicone pocket and stays closed with a closure.
This bib has a few downsides. In comparison to other closure systems, Velcro can loose durability over time, making it easier for your baby to remove the bib. Users report that the fabric on top may be prone to mold and musty smells over time. Also, it does not dry as quickly as full silicone bibs, and you may find yourself waiting to use this bib as it air drys. Also, the unique closure that keeps the bib rolled up for travel is not always reliable, especially when tossed around in a diaper bag. Despite these flaws, if you appreciate the benefits of having fabric on the top, and don't mind Velcro, yet want the perks of silicone, this hybrid bib is worth consideration.
It is dangerous to let your baby fall asleep while wearing any bib, so remove it shortly after use to avoid this situation.
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, Research Analyst and professional Nanny, 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. To evaluate performance, each bib in our review was purchased, hands-on tested and experienced side-by-side comparison.
Analysis and Test Results
Each bib was laundered multiple times following the care instructions recommended by its manufacturer before experiencing the same test procedures.
Absorbency
The primary function of a bib is to absorb and protect clothing underneath from wetness and mess. It is essential to know how well a bib absorbs and how much liquid it can retain before seeping. To assess this threshold, we tested two fluids of different consistencies (milk and water) on each bib's material. A dose of the liquid was administered to the same location and repeated until leakage. Of all the bibs in our review, the Aden + Anais Burpy Bib and the Nuby Reversible Muslin Teething Bib struggled with absorbency, offering some of the worst results. Alternatively, the KiddyStar Toddler Bib and the KUDL Absorbent Baby Toddler Bib did the best. They can retain a considerable amount of liquid before the clothing underneath starts to get 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 with less surface area limits the amount it can retain, it does have the ability to hold a fair amount of thin fluid before seeping.
Comfort
For comfort, we examined the material, neck-size adjustability, and comfort of each product's closure system. We consider a snap to be the most comfortable for baby, whereas ties, Velcro, and buttons and holes are not as cozy due to various factors, like hair getting stuck. If a baby is itching to remove a bib, then they will not be able to focus. Also, since drooly babies may be wearing a bib for an extended period, comfort is critical. This metric is important and worth considering before purchasing a bib. The KiddyStar Toddler Bib is the king of comfort with incredibly soft material, primarily the fleece backing. It has a snap closure system, plus a range of four neck-size settings. On the flip-side, the Nuby Reversible Muslin Teething Bib does not rank as high, considering it offers a Velcro closure that can feel scratchy for baby and only one neck-size setting.
Easy to Use
If a bib is easy to use, there is a greater chance you will frequently use it, which means it should be easy to launder and dry. Also, it should be easy to put on and take off baby, yet not effortless for your baby to remove. The all-star champ in this metric is the Happy Healthy Parent Silicone Bib. This bib is easy to wipe, wash, and quick to dry, making it most suitable for multiple times throughout your day. However, the MatiMati Bandana Bib did not excel in this metric, mainly due to its care instructions that recommend laying the bib flat to dry, consuming time and space.
Conclusion
Navigating the world of bibs can be dizzying. Thankfully, our review provides the details you need to make your informed decision. And, truth be told, a baby bib is essential. In fact, you may even need a combination of bibs to get your little one through the day. Let our expert recommendations guide you to the best baby bib that will meet your needs and budget.
— Molly Bradac