Whether you plan to breastfeed, bottle-feed, or use a combination of both — and whether however snugly drooling bibs under your babies. Most likely your baby bibs were either given to you as a gift or something that looked so cute at the store that it got added for fun onto our registry. That question has a lot of answers but I will give some tips that work for me and my family.
In conclusion, the total number of bibs you may need will depend on the baby, the kind of feeding and cleaning routine, and how often you can do laundry in a week. But, even to get started, consider having at least 10-20 drool bibs and between 1-5 or 7 feeding bibs. For a newborn, you can use drool bibs for feeding and later introduce feeding bibs when the meal isn’t spilling any more.
![How many bibs does a baby need?](https://babiesparent.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/How-many-bibs-does-a-baby-need-1024x1024.webp)
How Many Bibs Do I Need For My Baby?
The humble bib is one of the many unsung heroes of a parent’s arsenal (aka diaper bag); it could be as plain and cheap as an ordinary bandana, however, it protects your child’s smart clothes from being drooled on, milk or formula spilled on them and covered in food each time there’s a meal. But just how many workhorses like these do you require?
There is no right answer to how many bibs you will need. You may want to start with 10-20 drool bibs and 1-5 feeding bibs. Consider buying only drool bibs since newborn babies cannot use feeding bibs. Try out at least two types before settling on any one type.
Every family needs different amounts; therefore, there is no correct answer to how many bibs are required. When determining the number of bibs to buy keep in mind the following:
- Feedings – If you have to replace a new one for every feed because either your little one is messy or they dribble out after every meal then you would need 3-4 daily-use-bibs.
- Drool – Some babies tend to drool continuously even before they start teething. It can even get worse as soon as their first teeth emerge. For babies who drool excessively, changing a wet bib is easier than replacing an entire outfit.
- Laundry – the number of bibs you need will be influenced by how often you wash them. If you only require three bibs per day and wash them every three days, for example, nine bibs should be enough. I always suppose that I will be one day behind.
![From protecting those adorable outfits](https://babiesparent.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/0cb324e7ac2f9b8163082d303982a3b2.webp)
How Much Are Baby Bibs?
The prices of baby bibs are as varied as the available designs. You can buy multipacks containing 10 fabric bibs for about $15-20. A single bib (either fabric or silicone) that is also good at trapping food during feeding time starts from approximately $8. Additional smock-style bibs have sleeves and cover your baby’s upper body entirely; these vary in price between $14 each/will average around $14.
However, this is a good place to begin when deciding how much to spend on a bib. Made of two-ply terry cloth, they can handle quite a messy meal or even a heavy drool. They come in plain white or in different vivid colors too.
Types Of Baby Bibs
The cost of baby bibs will depend solely on the type you choose; therefore, let us explore some types of bibs. It is common for any new parent to think instantly about the traditional cloth bib. However, with so many new baby products in the market today there are many different types of them. For example, this type includes:
- Smock bibs
- Drool bibs
- Feeding bibs
- Disposable bibs
- Newborn bibs
It’s alright to purchase extra ones as spares in case you may need them but it would be unnecessary to rush out and buy 20 more if you own only a few ones
Smock Bibs
Feeding smocks or smock bibs are those that have long sleeves to cover your baby’s entire dress. Smock number one is water-proof and amazing when you want to ensure that your kid remains neat or even because he/she is just very dirty.
Drool Bibs
For what feels like all the time before their first birthday it seems your child is teething. These drool cloths are specially made to prevent drool from reaching your child’s clothes though they do have much weight compared to smocks for instance.
Feeding Bibs
This is common with babies and toddlers. Bibs for feeding: Bibs are only useful once your baby is old enough to eat solids. These are standard bibs except for a lower pocket that aims to catch any food won during eating.
Disposable Bibs
A disposable bib is similar to a conventional bib, but they are for single use. With those bibs, you just throw them away after your baby is feeding instead of washing them. They can be a bit expensive for everyday use, by making great bibs on the go and they fold up to stow away easily in your diaper bag
Newborn Bibs
Newborn bibs are only the size of a newborn baby. Your newborn baby still will not be consuming solid foods just yet, however; it can also be used when your consumer consumes via a bottle to catch any morsels or spit up.
![Types of baby bibs](https://babiesparent.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Picture1-7.webp)
When Do Babies Start Wearing Bibs?
The decision of when your baby should first start wearing a bib depends on the individual child more than their age. Some babies would need a drool bib right from birth, just because he/she is a heavy drooler or possibly dribbles out milk while others may not require one up until they start teething.
These are also needs that will go up as your baby starts teething, eating solids, and other milestones. As your baby gets older, they will drool less often but make up for it with more messes from food!
Do Babies Wear Bibs All Of The Time?
In the end, you know what works for your particular situation in terms of always having a bib on or only during feedings and we are certainly not wearing them to sleep.
It could be a problem with an infant who drifts off into sleep within minutes of nursing, I see that as highly unlikely but the bib around her neck is nothing compared to losing your sweet baby because she strangled or suffocated herself. Either we remember to remove the bib as feeding time comes close, or have our babe screaming in a bacon coma quickly followed by attempt two once she passes out at which point you shank her into consciousness when taking back said posh peanut.
What Kind Of Bibs Should You Buy?
Alright, now that you know what the distinction between drool bibs and feeding bibs is there are a few main features of both that will make them extremely desirable based on your own needs. Before determining what kind of bibs to purchase, think about:
- Baby’s age
- Feeding patterns
- How often you’re willing to do laundry
- Where baby will be spending most of their time
No one can say just how messy your baby will be before they are born, but you know that he or she will make a kind of mess because all babies do. You may need more bibs if your baby is drinking from a bottle than if they are being fed directly from the breast, at least until he/she starts eating.
Remember, too: you don’t need to own all the shorts and bibs at once. It is completely fine to use a drop bib and only buy feeding bibs later on when your child gets older.
![Picking the right ones can be overwhelming](https://babiesparent.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Picture2-4.webp)
How Long Does A Baby Bib Last?
Other parents also need guidance on how long bibs will last and what types of bibs are there that they should be buying. Bedsheets that you bought with the better fabrics can surely last for years so, do not forget to mix that aspect into your cost per use additionally, do remember we do offer bibs in many sizes.
Bibs for a newborn will not remain fit for your baby for a long time; however, it is crucial to select a bib for your baby that complements the baby perfectly well without posing any threat to the safety of the child or even developing a rash on the skin. Every baby requires a bib and if you have been cautious about washing your baby’s bibs and you have various sizes of bibs, you will not need to purchase most of the bibs you have. But I can vouch for the fact that the majority of your little ones’ bibs will be stained in the blink of an eye.
What To Look For In Drool Bibs?
When it comes to drooling bibs the product does not look different from the other, however, certain aspects are distinguished making them different.
- Fabric – most drool bibs are made of some kind of cotton to make them absorbent, however, it is always more advisable to go for an organic muslin or a hypoallergenic bamboo fabric if baby skin is sensitive.
- Aside from the sizes, color, and characters, opt for bibs with hook and loop closures, although your newborn may not be able to tear off even a hook and loop closure; for a slightly older child though, use bibs that have snaps.
- Fashion – If your baby will only be wearing bibs during the time he eats, there is possibly little rationale for anything other than the traditional shape. If they will have it put on most of the day, perhaps you want to work with the bandana style that is friendlier with outfits.
- Everything’s So Cutesy – Oh please, baby bibs were those with little dinosaurs or kittens or something and cute sayings. If the bib is going to be captured and featured in the candid shots that you intend to capture, it may as well bear some character.
Popular Drool Bibs To Consider
Neat Solutions Drool Bibs: Sometimes, basic doesn’t have to be a bad thing provided that it is meant to serve the function of getting dirty. These come in plain white or come with a pack of other colors.
Burt’s Bees Lap-Shoulder Drool Cloths: These bibs are 100% organic and as such are ideal for extra sensitive skin, as is evident in their materials of construction. It has a pull-over kind of top rather than the design of the bibs that snap on and off which is quite irritating to the babies as the baby can remove it on his or her own during meals. They also come in much larger sizes than typical drool bibs; hence, they can be used as feeding bibs if needed.
Nuby Teething Bibs: Similar to the bib’s design, this option is more like a bandana bib and also has a silicone teether dangling at the edge of the triangle part for your baby’s gum’s satisfaction.
What To Look For In Feeding Bibs?
Feeding bibs can be offered in a wider range than drool bibs so you might be limited in choice so it is worth trying a couple of brands and types. Here’s what to look for in feeding bibs: Here’s what to look for in feeding bibs:
- Cleaning – Feeding bibs come in a polyester-coated material or silicone. While the polyester bibs might need to be washed and dried before the next use, the silicone bib will be easily cleaned with a wipe and allowed to be used instantly. Even some of these can go in the dishwasher!
- Size – If your baby is big or the baby is somehow clumsy then you may need a bib with a wider neck cover or something like a smock type of bib.
![Feeding bibs come in a wider variety than drool bibs, so you have many options to explore](https://babiesparent.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Picture3-3.webp)
Although it is not mandatory to wear bibs, especially for newborn babies, they can help save time in wiping the drool or milk dribble. This is especially the case if your baby is on bottles There is no denying the bonding between you and your baby through feeding if you are on bottles.
There isn’t an exact number of how many bibs you need, but it’s a good idea to add at least 10-20 drool bibs and 1-5 feeding bibs to start with.
It’s impossible to give the exact numbers for the required bibs, but, preferably, one should buy more drool bibs, 10-20, and fewer feeding ones, 1-5.
It is completely possible to breastfeed without putting the baby in a bib; however, having your baby wear a bib will help minimize the mess created by leaks, spills, or spit-up from reaching both you and the baby.
The price of bibs differs with the type of bib ranging from $5-$15 for each bib. Other forms of standard fabric bibs can be had in sets most of which cost between $10-$20 while smock-style bibs are sold at $15 for one bib.
Conclusion
Some people probably think that bibs are only an accessory that babies wear and they do not need to be bought seriously; however, they are very useful because they help to keep your baby clean. Of course, as an inexperienced parent, you will have to change them often while eating and as a result, go through many bibs; however, do not panic if you do not have enough bibs. The number of bibs you will need to buy will depend on the messiness of the baby, the feeding style you wish to use, the baby’s age as well as the frequency at which you are willing to do the washing.