How Many Bibs Do I Need? The Ultimate Guide
If you’re working on perfecting your baby registry, you likely already know what baby essentials you’ll need. But, while you know you need things like bibs, you might question, ‘how many bibs do I need?’.
In this article, you’ll find everything you need to know about buying baby bibs. Whether you want to know the best kinds of bibs or how many bibs you’ll need, whatever the question is, you’ll find all the answers here!
Let’s get started!
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How many bibs do I need? Things to Consider:
When trying to figure out how many bibs you’ll need for your baby, there are four crucial things to first consider:
How old is your baby?
The number of bibs you’ll need for your baby depends on their age. For example, many newborns and babies up to 3 months old don’t need a lot of bibs. And if they do, the bibs are primarily used to catch drool or spit up.
While on the other hand, babies six months and older will need more feeding bibs to start solids and prevent meals from staining their clothes.
How often do you do laundry?
Another crucial aspect to consider when figuring out how many bibs you’ll need is how often you do laundry.
If you do laundry every couple of days, you can get by with fewer bibs. But, if you do laundry once a week, you’ll need to stock up on more bibs, so you don’t run out of clean options before laundry day.
Will you use burp cloths?
If you know you want to use burp cloths for your baby in their first few months home, that can change the number of drool bibs you’ll need.
If you have a burp cloth with you during feedings and while burping your baby, then you likely won’t need to use a drool bib. I recommend using large burp cloths like these ones because they cover more of your shoulder and don’t slip off as easily as a smaller burp cloth does.
Does your baby drool a lot?
If you’re trying to find out how many bibs you need to add to your baby registry, you won’t know if your baby is a drooler. But, it can be beneficial to buy the minimum number of drool bibs, and if your baby ends up drooling frequently, you can grab some more to have on hand.
So, how many bibs do you need?
With everything above considered, 10-20 bibs will be a good place to start. But make sure you have a variety and not just 20 drool bibs! Now, let’s get into the different types of bibs.
Filling out your baby registry? Check out these related articles:
- How Many Diapers Do You Need for the First Year?
- How Many Baby Clothes Will You Need in Each Size?
- How Many Cribs Sheets Will Your Baby Really Use?
- How Many Burp Cloths Do I Need On My Registry?
- How Many Swaddles Should I Have For My Baby?
Different Types of Bibs:
Now that you know approximately how many bibs you’ll need for your baby, it’s beneficial to know what kinds of bibs there are to choose from. Here are the top five types of bibs:
1. Water-Resistant Bibs
Water-resistant bibs, sometimes called drool bibs, are your standard bibs. These bibs usually have layers with multiple fabrics and a water-resistant layer or backing.
The water-resistant layer prevents liquids like milk, spit-up, drool, or watery baby foods from leaking through the bib onto the baby’s shirt.
Water-resistant bibs are ideal for many situations, from teething to feeding, and are appropriate for babies three months and up. Many times, even babies who are over 12 months old can wear most water-resistant bibs.
Most packages of water-resistant bibs come in a pack of at least five bibs. But, you might find that many brands have packs of 7-10 bibs. If you plan on primarily using water-resistant bibs with your baby, I recommend getting no less than ten bibs.
Our Favorite Water-Resistant Bibs:
These bibs by Carter’s are our favorite water-resistant bibs. I used these bibs the most when our son was a baby, and they always worked well at keeping him dry and stain-free.
I also love that these bibs come in packs of seven, with so many cute prints to choose from! Not to mention, they are machine washable and have a secure closure to prevent your baby from ripping it off during mealtimes.
2. Bandana Bibs
Like water-resistant bibs, bandana bibs are sometimes referred to as drool bibs. These bibs are typically made of cotton and use fleece or terry cloth to make them more absorbent.
Because bandana bibs are a triangle shape, they aren’t ideal to use during feedings; they work best to catch your baby’s drool. So whether you have a newborn who has some milk drool after feedings or a teething baby whose drooling non-stop, bandana bibs will be great!
Also, many bandana bibs have multiple closures, so your baby can wear them from the time they are newborns until they are much older!
When looking for bandana bibs, you’ll find that most brands sell the bibs in packs of eight or higher! Since bandana bibs are usually used for catching drool, I recommend getting one pack of at least five and seeing if you need more later.
Our Favorite Bandana Bibs:
These bandana bibs from KeaBabies are fantastic if you want some drool bibs! These bibs come in a pack of eight and have some adorable patterns to choose from.
Another great thing about KeaBabies bibs is that they are made of organic cotton and have a three-snap closure to grow with your baby. Plus, they are machine washable!
3. Feeding Bibs
Feeding bibs are a very popular choice once your baby starts solids. A feeding bib has a pouch at the bottom to catch any dropped or spilled food, helping to prevent it from falling to the floor.
Also, most feeding bibs are silicone, making them waterproof, and can be quickly hand washed or rinsed at the kitchen sink after a feeding.
One of the great things about feeding bibs is that they typically have adjustable neck straps, so your child can use them from 6-months-old until well into toddlerhood.
Because you can easily and quickly wash feeding bibs at the sink, most brands sell them in packs of two or three, which I found was plenty.
Our Favorite Feeding Bibs:
Regarding feeding bibs, there are two great brands to choose from. If you are looking for a more sturdy, silicone feeding bib, these ones from Happy Healthy Parent are fantastic!
These feeding bibs are 100% food-grade silicone, come in multiple colors, and are very highly rated. Not to mention, they have a lifetime warranty!
But, if you’d rather have feeding bibs that you can throw in the washing machine, these ones are for you! These bibs are made of waterproof fabric and can be either hand washed or machine washed.
These feeding bibs come in a pack of three. If you plan on washing them in the washing machine, I recommend getting two packages so you have plenty of clean ones to use.
4. Disposable Bibs
While they might not be the most sustainable option, disposable bibs are excellent for traveling. If you’re out of town and don’t want to pack a bunch of dirty bibs home or out at a restaurant, these bibs can come in handy!
If you know that you frequently travel or go out to eat often, you can add some of these bibs to your baby registry. These disposable bibs come in a pack of 32, so they can last you a while.
5. Smock Bibs
A smock bib is a great option if you want ultimate coverage for your baby during mealtimes. A smock bib is a bib that completely covers your baby’s arms and torso. Smock bibs often have a pocket at the bottom to catch food from falling to the floor, like a feeding bib.
Also, most smock bibs are made of waterproof fabric to help prevent your child’s clothes from becoming wet.
Most smock bibs usually come in a pack of one or two, and I recommend having two at the very least. You always want to ensure you have a clean bib while the other is in the wash.
Our Favorite Smock Bib:
These smock bibs from Bumkins are terrific! They fit children ages six months to 2 years old so that you can get a lot of use from them. Plus, we’ve used ours for more than just mealtimes. As our son got older, he used his smock during painting and craft times to protect his clothing.
Related Articles:
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How Many Bibs Do I Need? FAQ
Do newborns need bibs?
Many new parents wonder if newborn babies will need bibs. And the answer is all on personal preference. I used burp cloths with my newborn instead of bibs. I found that using a burp cloth was easier for us, and we had plenty to use.
But, bibs can be beneficial for extra protection against spit-up and drool outside of feeding times.
Do babies need bibs for breastfeeding?
Using a bib while breastfeeding is another thing that is a personal preference. While your baby can wear a bib while breastfeeding, the bib might not be handy, depending on your breastfeeding position. The bib would be more beneficial while burping your baby.
If you choose to breastfeed your baby, you’ll still want to stock up on bibs for when your baby starts solids. That time will be here before you know it, so it’s smart to be prepared.
How many bibs should I put on my baby registry?
When it comes time to add bibs to your baby registry, you’ll want to have no less than ten bibs. Generally, 10-20 bibs are an excellent starting point as you can always grab some more later if needed.
When adding bibs to your registry, you’ll want to have a variety. You can always add a pack of each kind and then buy more of the ones you like after you start using them.
How long do babies need bibs for?
Typically babies will use bibs up until the age of two, sometimes longer. Of course, when you have a toddler, they will be using strictly feeding bibs, so you might have to invest in more feeding bibs as your child grows.
My son gradually stopped using bibs around 2-years-old and started using napkins instead. Now, there are certainly still times when he spills on himself, but for the most part, he is ok to go without a bib.
I hope this guide answered all of your questions about how many bibs you’ll need for your baby! It’s easy to get carried away and add too many items to your baby registry, so knowing the proper amount of bibs for your baby will help save you some space and money!
Before you go, check out these related articles:
- What to do When Your Baby Refuses the Bottle
- When To Start Buying Baby Stuff: The Ultimate Guide
- The Best Tips for Having a Baby on a Budget
- How To Write the Best Baby Shower Thank You Cards
- Thoughtful Gifts for Labor and Delivery Nurses
How many bibs do you prefer having for your baby? Which bibs are your favorite kinds to use? I would love to know in the comments below!
