Best Baby Bib
The KiddyStar Toddler Bib is a stellar performing bib, quickly becoming a tester favorite. It features ultra-soft fabric, making it a top contender for comfort and perfect for baby's delicate skin. The bib's front is 100% certified organic cotton, and the back is 100% polyester fleece. It offers four neck-size snaps to fit your child as they grow, and considering the bib's size, which is large, we think is more appropriate for a toddler. Its absorbing capabilities are quite impressive in comparison to the competition in our review. It absorbs thin liquid nearly instantly and thick liquid a little slower, and, what is even more noteworthy, is how much liquid it retains before seeping - talk about an outstanding feat.
This bib has a few minor downsides. It requires adding a 1/2 cup of vinegar to its initial wash to help set and preserve color. Although we feel this is not a big deal, it is an added step, and you will need vinegar on hand. The manufacturer also suggests laying the bib flat to dry for best results; however, air drying can be time-consuming. Alternatively, you can tumble dry the bib on low heat, which is faster, and if you are already running the dryer, why not toss it in? We did notice mild shrinkage after its initial wash, and the bottom edges slightly curl up, but ironing will remedy this issue. With that said, if you don't mind a little work on the front end, and 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 among the cloth bibs. It features 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, merely the same amount as our top-performing bib. This bib offers a convenient snap-on closure, which we think is easy to use for the caregiver and most comfortable for baby. The KUDL is easy to launder, toss it into the washer, then dry it on low heat. While testing, we did not find this bib to shrink after its initial wash, plus the ends do not curl up. We think these are two additional perks on top of its excellent performance.
This bib is large, and we believe it is too big for a newborn, but fitting for a toddler. The bib also offers three neck-size settings, which is better than other contenders in our lineup, but one less than the top-performer. Regardless of this minor difference, the KUDL performs nearly the same as the KiddyStar Toddler Bib, and we think it is worth consideration.
If you prefer a silicone bib for mealtime and appreciate a deal, consider the PandaEar Silicone Bib. It is 100% food-grade, BPA-free silicone, and fits babies 10 months of age and older. We believe the bib is easy to wash by hand and quick dry by a towel, making it ready for your baby's next meal. It offers a button and hole closure system, plus four neck-size settings. The material is pliable, and the pocket stays open to catch liquid and food. We also think this bib is great for meals away from home. Place a utensil in the pocket, roll the bib up, stash it in the diaper bag, and hit the road.
We discovered that fastening only one button was not enough protection to keep our baby tester from removing the bib during testing. However, connecting two or more buttons created more strength and prevented the baby from pulling it off. Also, from our experience, silicone holes are prone to ripping with time. Despite these flaws, this silicone bib is easy to clean and dry, and it makes mealtime cleanup a breeze. Plus, its low cost is eye-catching. We think this bib is worthy of joining your baby gear arsenal.
The MatiMati Bandana Bib is noticeably stylish and 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 we noticed it lays flat on baby's chest instead of bunching up underneath the chin. The 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, we believe it doesn't hold as much as traditional-style bibs.
The bib absorbs thin liquid slowly and 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 the 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 we believe is limiting; you either have large or small, but no other choice. Although this bib lacks a range of adjustability, it is a bronze medalist for absorbency, given how much it can retain. We recommend this stylish bib to families who appreciate the quantity of 8 bibs, plus at a reasonable price.
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. 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. The closure system consists of buttons and holes, which are relatively easy to connect 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 food, and 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. However, if you prefer to stick it in the dishwasher, it is dishwasher safe. But, we think hand washing will prolong the bib's lifespan. The ease of wiping, washing, and quick-drying this bib makes it an excellent travel-friendly option, too.
This bib is not for soaking-up drool or to be worn for an extended time. We think the pocket does not catch all, but significantly reduces the amount of food you will be picking up off the floor. In our opinion, the button holes can rip over time and a child's long hair can catch in the closure system. Despite these flaws, we believe the Happy Healthy Parent Silicone Bib is one of the easiest bibs to use and a mealtime must-have.
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. This bib is suitable for babies 6 months to 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, and let it 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 the bib is soft and flexible, we do not think it's as comfortable as other cloth bibs. But, if you have a little Picasso who enjoys messy art exploration or a child who wants to feed themself, then this bib is an excellent full-coverage option.
Your teething baby will put just about anything in their mouth. Instead of worrying about a teether falling onto a germy floor, or 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, 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).
The Nuby features a Velcro closure system, and, from our experience, we believe Velcro loses strength over time, making it easier for baby to remove bib. Also, users find Velcro to stick and pull threads of other material while laundering. The bib offers one neck-size, and we think this limits the amount of time the bib can be of service to your growing baby. We did notice slight shrinkage after laundering, and, from hands-on testing, we believe this bib is not overly absorbent. Therefore, we do not recommend it for heavy droolers. With that said, the Nuby may not be your primary bib, but it provides a unique solution for your teething baby with its convenient teether and bib to catch dribbles, plus it is easy to wash and dry.
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 provide excellent coverage while burping or feeding baby. 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 excellent 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 the neck space is on the larger side. Also, we noticed some mild shrinkage after its initial wash. Regardless of these flaws, we believe 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 cloth and silicone, blending the best features of each. Instead of a silicone button and hole closure system, which may be prone to rips over time, the OXO Roll Up Bib swaps silicone for fabric on top and adds a Velcro closure. The material is 100% nylon coated in polyurethane (PU), allowing liquid repels off the fabric. The food-grade silicone on the bottom is soft and flexible, yet has a sturdy pocket to catch spills and food. We think the bib's material is initially a little crunchy and stiff, but softens with time. This bib is great for babies 6 months of age and on, and the Velcro closure offers neck-size adjustability. The bib is easy to wipe off, and you can either hand wash or machine wash before air drying. 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. Compared to other closure systems, Velcro has the potential to lose durability over time, making it easier for your baby to remove the bib. Users mention the fabric on top may be prone to mold and musty smells if not thoroughly dried, and it does not dry as quickly as full silicone bibs. We believe the 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 benefit of having fabric on the top, don't mind Velcro, and want the perks of silicone on the bottom for easy cleanup, 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