The Advantages and Disadvantages of Different Types of Baby Bibs

There are many things to think about when having a baby, for new parents especially as they rarely have any experience to fall back on. One thing that many new parents neglect to consider is the issue of baby bibs. There are different types of baby bib, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. As a new parent, you will probably think that you do not need to think about bibs until the baby is at least 4 months old, the age at which some babies are able to wean.

However, many new parents have found that they have neglected a key area: baby dribble. Even if your baby does not eat solid food, it may still dribble a lot, and need, therefore, to wear a bib. If your baby does not dribble much, it is still worth taking the time to consider different types of baby bibs. Here, we discuss the pros and cons of various types of bib, from bandana bibs to scoop bibs, in the hope of preparing you to cope with one of the most problematic times in a baby's life: weaning.

Bandana Bibs
Bandana bibs get their name because they are modelled on the bandana (- a handkerchief folded in half to create a triangle, and then tied around the neck for decoration).

1. Great for babies who are teething or dribbling a lot, because they look like items of clothing, rather than bibs.
2. Because they sit rather high on the neck, they absorb a lot more dribble than an ordinary bib would.
3. They are difficult for the baby to remove because they tie around the back of the neck.

Disadvantages
1. They do not reach very far down, and so may not protect clothes as much as other types of bib, such as the coverall (see below).

Scoop bibs
These are a familiar type of bib. They are normally made of plastic and they have what looks much like a trough at the bottom of the bib, which catches food as it falls. These bibs are for use at meal times only, because they are not very comfortable.

Advantages
1. They are easy to clean. They simply need wiping down after use.
2. Provide children with a sense of independence, as parents are more likely to allow the baby to feed itself (because they will make less of a mess).

Disadvantages
1. Babies must be able to sit up on their own before this style of bib is usable - if the baby is unable to sit up, opt for bandana bibs or the traditional dribble bibs.
2. They may be uncomfortable, banging against the table or high chair, and rubbing the neck.

Coverall bibs
These, as the name suggests, cover all of the baby's upper body. These are plastic bibs and look like jumpers, rather than a traditional bib. They are great for older babies, who already know how to feed themselves, but who have yet to learn the art of cleanliness.

Advantages
1. They protect a much greater area of clothing than other bibs.
2. Babies love them because they usually sport favourite cartoon characters, and other fun imagery, or they look like a uniform, for instance, a police officer's jacket - which boys love.
3. They are easy to clean.

Disadvantages
1. They can be very uncomfortable if they have elasticised necks or wrists.
2. They tend to cost more than the average bib.