Bibs are a necessity for babies and toddlers, as they can prevent a lot of mess from ending up on both your child and their clothes.
As any parent knows, mealtime mess doesn’t miraculously stop once your baby moves into toddlerhood. While some people associate bibs only with babies, bibs are often used for toddlers too, as your child’s coordination will take a while to develop, so they may still be messing food on themselves.
Toddler bibs can, therefore, make cleaning up after your child’s mealtime much easier. Unlike babies, toddlers only generally need to wear bibs while they are eating, as they will likely not still be drooling by the time they are toddlers.
Best Bibs For Toddlers
Bibado Coverall
We are big fans of the Bibado Coverall and have used them from the earliest stages of weaning right through to around 3 years old. This is definitely the toddler bib to pick if you’re looking to completely minimise mealtime mess.
The Bibado is a long-sleeved bib that will cover your toddler from neck to knee and can even wrap around your high chair table to cover that too. This bib doesn’t only need to be used for eating, as it can also act as a great cover for your child’s clothes when they are busy with messy craft activities.
The Bibado Coverall is machine washable, as it is made from polyester, but can also be wiped clean just as easily; it will just depend on your personal preference and how messy your toddler’s meal was. It also will dry quickly in the tumble dryer.
You’ll easily be able to keep using the Bibado Coverall for a few years to come, as this one-size-fits-all bib can be adjusted to fit babies aged six months or even 3-year-old toddlers. They also come in lots of fun patterns with plenty of new releases to keep your little ones engaged!
The Bibado Coverall should, therefore, keep your toddler clean during meal times and playtime, which will give you more time to spend with your little one, as you won’t be so bogged down with doing extra laundry!
BabyBjörn Feeding Bib Set
The BabyBjörn Feeding Bib is great for toddlers as it has a front pocket specifically designed to catch food. It comes in a pack of two so you’ll be set with one for home and one for on-the-go.
These bibs have soft neckbands that will make them comfortable for your toddler, regardless of how long a meal time lasts. It is also dishwasher safe, so you can take it straight off your child and stick it in the dishwasher when you are done.
The BabyBjörn Feeding Bib is also made of a plastic material that foods will not be able to seep through. This also means that it is very easy to wipe clean if you don’t want to put it through the dishwasher. The plastic used in the product also undergoes rigorous testing and is, therefore, certified food safe.
This is a great option for toddlers who don’t like long-sleeve bibs and if you’re looking for something simple.
Yummyboo Feeding Bib
BabyBoo is an Irish brand with a huge number of loyal fans in the UK thanks to the quality of their products. The Yummyboo Feeding Bib will likely be one of the most comfortable fits for your child. The soft material used in the bib will be great for either your toddler’s or baby’s skin.
The Yummyboo has three layers, with the layer closest to your child’s skin being made out of cotton. Unfortunately, cotton is not always the easiest material to remove food from, which is why this bib features a middle layer made from waterproof fabric.
This bib also features a front pocket that is also able to catch food, and the size of the bib can also be adjusted, so it will be able to fit your child for a long time to come. If your toddler has sensitive skin, then the Yummyboo Feeding Bib will be the best bib for them, as it is extremely comfortable but still easy to clean.
Baby Boosa Bib
If you want to keep your toddler or baby’s clothes clean but still keep them looking stylish, then the Baby Boosa Bib is for you.
This bib comes in a variety of different styles and colours, with the most eye-catching one being the leopard print. This bib doesn’t just look good, though, as it is BPA-free and made entirely of food-grade silicone.
This means it will be easy to wipe clean and will also be comfortable due to the silicone being flexible. It also has a food catcher that can stop food from messing with your toddler’s clothes or the floor.
The Baby Boosa Bib’s size can be adjusted and folded so that it can easily fit into the included net storage bag. This means it is a great bib to travel with, as it can easily be washed off and brought with you, regardless of where you are going.
Tidy Tot Cover & Catch Bib
The Tidy Tot Cover & Catch Bib is a great bib for toddlers and very similar to the popular Bibado coveralls detailed above, as it can be attached to high chairs and high chair trays, which means unless your toddler eats very enthusiastically, you won’t have to clean any food off of them or the floor.
The Tidy Tot Cover & Catch Bib is a long-sleeved bib that comes with an included travel pouch so that you can keep your dirty bib away from the other clean items in your diaper bag.
While this bib is soft and comfortable, it also uses waterproof fabric, making it extremely easy to clean. You can choose to wipe this bib clean, or just stick it in your washing machine, as it is machine washable.
The Tidy Tot Cover & Catch Bib is, therefore, a great choice for you if your toddler is currently still eating in a high chair, as this innovative bib can clip onto high chairs to make for an entirely mess-free mealtime with your little one.
Bibetta Wipeezzee
The Bibetta Wipeezee bibs come in a variety of different styles, colours, and designs, so you’ll be sure to find one that both you and your toddler will like.
Some of the styles that the Bibetta Wipeezzee bibs come in include a standard bib, a long-sleeved bib, and a coverall bib. You can even purchase a matching Bibetta Wipeezzee Splash Mat so that you can colour coordinate your toddler during their mealtime!
Like many of the other bibs mentioned above, the regular Bibetta Wipeezzee bib is made of waterproof fabric and is machine washable. The back of this bib is made out of polyester so that it won’t be harsh on your toddler’s skin, and the front has a polyurethane coating to make it easier to clean. It also includes a pocket to catch any food that might fall.
The long-sleeved Bibetta Wipeezzee bib has all of these features but has longer sleeves to ensure that your toddler will be nearly entirely covered from any food splatter that will inevitably occur!
The Bibetta Wipeezzee XL Coverall bib can be clipped onto a high chair and a high chair tray, so this will ensure that your toddler and their high chair won’t need an extensive cleaning after mealtime.
These Bibetta Wipeezzee bibs also come in four different colours and styles, which are grey happy fruit, green bunny & veg, pink yummy treats, and turquoise sea creatures.
These designs can make mealtimes much more fun for your toddler, and the messes that the Bibetta Wipeezzee bibs can prevent can make mealtimes more enjoyable for parents due to them not having to clean up both their toddlers and the area around them.
FAQS
Why Do Toddlers Need Bibs?
While toddlers do not necessarily need bibs as babies do, a bib can make cleaning up after your child has eaten a meal far quicker and easier.
If your toddler messes their breakfast all over their freshly changed clothes, you will likely need to change their clothes again and put the dirty ones in the wash, which can be time-consuming and unnecessary.
There are many bibs for toddlers on the market that can help make this process far less bothersome, as a machine washable bib can be far quicker to clean, seeing as they are designed to catch food that doesn’t end up making it into your toddler’s mouth.
Your toddler will likely only benefit from a bib until their coordination improves; otherwise, your child may keep eating messily longer than normal.
What Are The Different Types Of Bibs?
There are a host of different types of bibs for toddlers and babies that can suit every need you might have related to a bib. Some of the different types of bibs are:
- Long-sleeved bib – These bibs are worn like shirts and are most effective at preventing mess. If you have taken your toddler out to a restaurant while they are wearing white clothing, then this bib will suit the occasion. A long-sleeved bib will cover your toddler from their necks to their knees, so any food they mess with won’t end up on any piece of their clothing. Many of these bibs also have open backs, so you can remove them without dropping any food on the floor.
- Feeding bibs – Feeding bibs look like normal run-of-the-mill bibs, but they have a front pocket sewn into the bottom. This catches food and will make it so that you don’t need to clean your floor after every meal time.
- Disposable bibs – Disposable bibs do as the name suggests. It is generally best not to use them all the time, as this won’t be very friendly to the environment, but they can be a great option if you are out for a long time, as carrying a dirty bib around with you all day can be a hassle. A worthwhile addition to any toddler packing list.
- Drool bibs – Drool bibs generally aren’t suitable for toddlers, as they are mainly designed to catch drool and won’t be very effective at catching solid food or liquid baby food, for that matter.
Best Types Of Bibs For Toddlers
Feeding bibs and long-sleeved bibs will generally be the most suitable types of bibs for toddlers, as both of these bibs are designed to catch food that is solid.
It is best to start off with drool and regular bibs if you have a newborn, though, as a long-sleeved bib will likely not fit your newborn. You will generally only need to upgrade to these types of bibs when your child is between 4 to 6 months old.
Do Two-Year-Olds Need Bibs?
Two-year-olds don’t necessarily need bibs, and neither do babies if you are prepared to spend an extensive amount of time cleaning after each mealtime!
While two-year-olds may not need bibs, they can make your life a whole lot easier, as you won’t need to clean their clothes, high chair, and them after every mealtime.
Bibs will catch all of the food that doesn’t end up making it into your child’s mouth, and afterwards, all you need to do is throw away the solid food bits and put their bib into the washing machine or dishwasher, depending on the type of bib you select.
Should a Baby Sleep with a Bib on?
No, a baby should never sleep with a bib on or wear any clothing that may have a hood or lose strings on it.
This could cause your baby to suffocate, so it is always better to just wash the drool off of your baby’s bedding and clothing in the morning, as leaving a bib on your baby is extremely dangerous.
How Long do Babies Need to Wear Bibs?
Some parents like their babies to wear drool bibs from the time they are born until they are around six months old. After they are older than this, you will likely only need to use a bib during mealtimes.
You can continue to use a bib during mealtimes for a toddler until they have gained enough coordination to be able to eat on their own without messing.
Which Bibs are Best for Weaning?
Weaning is notoriously messy, particularly if your little one is getting into purées and softer food, so we’d definitely recommend one of the coverall-style bibs like the Bibado, Tidy Tot, YummyBoo or Bibetta Wipeezzee.
Final Thoughts
Using an effective bib for your toddler can save you a lot of time spent cleaning, so parents should definitely consider investing in one of the toddler bibs above.
