Before I became a parent I had no idea how many different types of bibs there were. They all have advantages and disadvantages. Here are my thoughts on lots of different ones; in no particular order.
| Advantages | Disadvantages | |
| Dribble bib | Widely available. Lots of different colours. Easy for baby to wear. Easy to wash. | Not very big so they don’t fully protect clothes. Not plastic backed so liquid soaks through. Stain quite easily. |
| Larger fabric bib with plastic backing | Widely available. Lots of different colours. Easy for baby to wear. Easy to wash. Covers more than a dibble bib. Liquid is caught by the bib doesn’t soak through. | They don’t fully protect clothes, especially arms. Not plastic backed so liquid soaks through. Stain quite easily. |
| Plastic coverall bib | Widely available. Relatively cheap Lots of different colours. Easy to wipe clean Protects tops from liquid. | Can be uncomfortable for small babies. Uncomfortable directly against bare arms. Liquid runs off so can end up on baby’s trousers. |
| Bibido | Covers arms and body. Attaches to the high chair so food and liquid don’t fall down onto babies lap. Softer than the plastic coverall so more comfortable for baby to wear. Protects clothes from liquid. | Expensive – especially if you buy more than one so you can wash them. Some people report staining, mould forming and odours. Can take a while to remove bib so if you need to remove the baby quickly you lose the benefit of collecting the food |
| Tidy tot bib and tray | Covers arms and body. Attaches to the high chair so food and liquid don’t fall down onto babies lap Collects food around the baby so protects the floor as well as the clothes. | Expensive. Makes the high chair quite wide. A little restrictive to baby’s movements. Can take a while to remove so worth practising ahead of any emergencies. |
| Silicone scoop bib | Can be easily washed/wiped clean. Collects food baby drops. Catches liquid and food. Relatively cheap. Softer to wear than the more rigid plastic version. Available in lots of colours. | Can be difficult for small babies to reach their arms around it to pick up food. Over time the silicone can become sticky. If you roll them up too much the scoop bit can flatten. |
Disclaimer: this article is my opinion on bibs. It does not equate to a recommendation