Some people think that’s a typical requirement for a baby, particularly those who have had babies. They know that newborn babies are always drooling milk after they have fed, and it’s the bib that catches all that drooling.
Ugh! Otherwise, without the bib, the baby’s clothes underneath the bib would be damp and even smell nasty of sour milk. Some parents discover that their newborn needs a bib almost immediately – others wait for a couple of months before they start using a bib; sometimes it’s when their baby starts eating solids.
How many bibs should I have? Some mothers claim to have around 20; if you skip a few days of putting them in the laundry, you will still have plenty over for feeding. Some women even like to keep some stashed in the car or in their diaper bags; that’s how important they are to moms. Most parents do OK with around 4-6 bibs to start with, but they usually increase them along the way as the need grows.
Whether you’re using a formula for your baby or breastfeeding, it is assured that you will need several burp cloths and bibs right from day one.
Do I need to buy bibs for my baby?
Yes, you will need them, if you didn’t receive some at your baby shower and other gifts. It makes no difference whether you have a newborn or a baby that’s a few months old; you are going to need bibs for Baby.
They’ve been around for years on end and will continue to be around for years on end. After all, they protect a baby’s clothes and keep his delicate skin dry and non-chafed.
Recommended Bibs
Don’t worry we’ve already got you and your baby covered with the latest top picks for bibs! (All from Amazon)
- OXO Tot® Roll Up Bib: These are good for toddlers. They are made of waterproof fabric along with silicone pockets. It is a real favorite for older babies and toddlers.
- Daulia Baby Bandana: so cute for the drooling babies. They absorb all the spitting and drooling moisture with their fleece backing which also dries easily.
- Tommee Tippee Closer: These are ideal for the bottle-fed babies and have extra absorbency around the neck area to keep Baby dry and not uncomfortable and niggly. And it comes with a Velcro closure.
- Green Sprouts Infant Bibs: Excellent bibs for when you are budgeting. They are made with a terry front. They have a waterproof backing – no liquids will seep through and soak baby and make him uncomfortable.
- Bumkins Waterproof Sleeved bibs are great if you are looking for full coverage. These bibs suit babies aged 6-24 months and tie easily at the back.
When to start using a bib for baby
Even though a baby doesn’t really start eating solids until a few months old, he or she can still be rather messy. Spitting up their milk is actually common in babies from 0-3 months old.
You must have seen babies spitting onto small towels that their moms throw over their shoulders, holding the baby, to help him burp. Have you seen that? It’s something such as uncomplicated reflux, and it can often happen when a baby drinks his or her milk too fast.
A bib is actually so handy because it saves Mom from changing the baby clothes just about after every feeding. Look at this message seen on a bib: “I’m Messy But I’m Cute”.
Fortunately, bibs are easy to wash, and they are fairly cheap to buy. Sometimes you get, say, 3-10 in a packet, and while the one is in the wash, you use a nice clean fresh one.
There is just one very important thing to remember, please take note: DON’T ever let your baby lie down in his crib with that bib on! You can imagine how dangerous that could be for a baby.
Naturally, if you forgot it on and your baby has fallen asleep with it on, you don’t want to wake him – always try and take the bib off straight after the baby has finished his feeding.
Different kinds of Bibs
Many older parents remember the older bibs; just a round cloth or towel type garment that went around your neck and then you snapped it at the back. But in these modern days, there are so many varieties on the shelves.
You get dribbler bibs, feeding bibs, smock bibs, and even disposable bibs. See what Gerber says about the different types of bibs and why you get different types.
The Gerber Products Company has been around since 1928! So they know all about baby products and foods, of which bibs feature as well.
What age group for what bib?
Some of the high-quality bibs can literally be used for months on end. Some last for years. Others are for certain occasions.
- For instance, a brand new baby would need the typical drooling and spitting bibs that will last him till at least 6 months old. Generally, these babies are not really on to solids yet – which usually happens around 3-6 months old.
- Once a baby is around 3-6 months or so, you are going to be looking for feeding bibs and these you will use for as long as you like. The drooling bibs and the feeding bibs will protect your baby’s clothes.
- The smock bibs aren’t really practical for a newborn baby but they might be better for babies who are getting older and starting to eat fruits and veggies.
How to wash and keep baby’s bibs clean and fresh
Remember that baby bibs don’t have to be waterproof to make them effective. There has been ‘talk’ about chemicals in children’s products and clothes; read about that here.
That means it is a very good idea to thoroughly wash all your baby products before you use them and that includes even bibs. The best types of bibs you should choose are solid natural materials such as cotton.
Some organic ones are to be found on our list. Certified organic cotton is best for baby. But like all textiles, wash your baby’s clothes with unscented laundry detergent.
Always read the labels on how to care for a product
A baby’s bib can be made from rubber to organic cotton. The label will tell you what cleaning methods to use according to the manufacturers. Some can just be thrown into the washing machine; others will need more special care.
Treat the stain as soon as you can
If it’s a special type bib and it has a fresh stain, you will want to remove the stain before you wash it. Follow the care instructions because some materials will require soaking them first, and then pre-treating the spot with some of these special stain sprays. Then later you could throw it in the wash to wash with special baby laundry detergent.
Hang them up to dry
This is important to do, particularly for rubber or plastic bibs, but even the cotton and cloth ones. The sun will help to remove even the worst type of stains. Dry them in dry, well-ventilated rooms and better still, outside in the sun or on a porch.
Life is easier with the right bib
Now that you know which bibs apply for different needs, you can invest in the cutest styles, patterns, and colors for the baby. Sometimes you want a bib just to make a cute statement; maybe it is purely to keep his clothes protected.
But this ‘Bibby’ must get the most practical and functional bibs to keep him dry, clean, but still looking gorgeous all the time!
The history of bibs
Did you know that years back in 17th-Century Europe, when men and women attended dinner occasions by invitation to a nobleman’s house, it was actually expected that they would take along their own bib to protect their clothing? There were no dry cleaning shops around then.
Men would tie the bib around their necks and women would tuck the bib into their high-necked blouses. Any man and woman who carried their best bib and tuckers with them would be socially acceptable for the dinner occasion.
This became the custom and even the poorer classes started to wear bibs. Eventually, this custom was replaced by napkins on the lap while you were eating.
So you see how long bibs have been around, but anyway, today they are used exclusively for small children; sometimes you might see old people or invalids wearing a bib because they can no longer feed themselves properly.
Of course today, you get all types of bibs, and sometimes, when you see beautifully elaborate and hard-to-clean type bibs made from exquisite lace and other special things, the baby could well be attending a special occasion with his parents!
