From reactions to new tastes to the sensory joy of finger foods, there’s never a dull moment when bub starts on solids. There’s also a lot of mess! So to protect those sweet little outfits, you’ll a stash of quality baby bibs for meals and snacks in the early years.

Baby bibs are total sanity savers when it comes to protecting clothes at mealtimes. Made of tough materials like silicone or chemical-free plastic, they prevent spills from soaking through to bub and wipe down with ease. Plus, genius scoop designs even catch all the bits that don’t make it to little mouths, which means less time cleaning up and more time snuggling bubba.

And if you thought a bib might cramp bub’s style, think again. Designer bibs not only make life easier at mealtimes, but they pack a huge dose of cuteness – and we’ve tracked down the best of them for you!

Types Of Dinner Bibs For Babies And Toddlers

We know that the cost of bibs quickly adds up, so take a look at the available types so that you pick a style to see you through years of mealtime shenanigans.

• Scoop - No one likes waste, especially if you’ve spent a little more on food by using a baby food home delivery service. But scoops help reduce food waste by catching what doesn’t make it to mouths. They save food from hitting the floor which means baby can have another go at it.
• Smock/Cape – While many bibs do up at the neck leaving arms free, smock bibs protect the front of clothing and arms. These are a great choice if you’re after an accessory that works well for playtime as well.
• Roll-Up - Some ultra-flexible silicone bibs can be rolled up into a nifty little bundle for toting everywhere you might stop for a nibble. They’re a great space saver and fabulous for travel.
• Silicone – Food-grade silicone is a favourite material for baby feeding sets because of its hardwearing, flexible and chemical-free composition.
• Plastic – Chemist-free plastic bibs are easy to wipe down and often a budget-friendly option.

15 Best Baby Bibs In Australia For Meals And Snacks

Ready to tame the mealtime mess? Check out our shortlist of top bibs available in Australia for protecting clothes and catching splats.

Itty Bitty Sleeved Bib Smock, $27.95

Versatile and super comfy, Itty Bitty Smock Bibs are just as useful for messy meals as they are for messy play. They use breathable PU laminate and come with an adjustable Velcro neck, cuffed sleeves and waterproof front pouch for catching spills – or hiding broccoli!

Mushie Silicone Baby Bibs, $24.95

Crafted from food-grade silicone, Mushie bibs are colourful, contemporary and super cute. They feature rounded neck fasteners that grow with your child and ensure a comfy fit every time. They’re a cinch to wash with soap and water, and they dry in a jiffy.

Little Chomps Messy Mealtime Smock, from $25.95

The ultimate baby and toddler feeding smock! The unique extra-long length and all-round protection of the Messy Mealtime Smock keeps little laps, sides and backs free from mess and stains. The super-soft, waterproof fabric is easy-wipe and washable for a speedy clean up!

Designed for spoon feeding, baby led weaning and self-feeding babies, Little Chomps gives your little one the freedom to explore and develop their fine motor skills at meal times. It’s the only smock they’ll ever need!

Snuggle Hunny Kids Waterproof Frill Bib, $17.95

Frills – because there’s always room for a bit of pizzazz at mealtimes! But these waterproof bibs from Snuggle Hunny Kids aren’t all looks and no function. Each is made using cotton and chemical-free PU and boasts an adjustable neck and built-in pockets for storing cutlery or catching food spills.

Liewood Merle Cape Bib, $48

Available in a huge range of prints and suitable for use from birth, the machine-washable Liewood Cape Bib fully protects babies and toddlers up to three years of age. They use 100% recycled polyester and are super quick to pull on thanks to an open back and easy-snap neck buttons. Adorbs!

BIBS Overall Dinner Bibs, $29.95

Inspired by the classic baby overalls from back in the day, Nordic-designed BIBS dinner bibs feature a roomy collection pocket and clever button straps that adjust to three sizes.  They are completely recyclable and use food-grade materials that are 100% BPA and phthalate-free.

4Baby Long-Sleeve Bibs, $12.95

Fuss-free, affordable and highly functional, these versatile little coveralls from 4Baby come with a spacious front pocket and brilliant cuffed sleeves. Each is PVC and phthalate-free and comes with a fully -adjustable neck that caters to growth spurts.

Lou Lou Lollipop Silicone Bibs, $24.99

Crafted from 100% food-grade silicone, Lou Lou Lollipop bibs have little ones covered from three months right up to three years. They are top-rack dishwasher-safe and come with reinforced buttons for an adjustable and comfy fit every single time. From avocados to sailing boats, there’s a design in this lot for every little bean.

Done By Deer Friends Silicone Baby Bib, $17.95

Sweet as pie, these beauties from Danish brand Done By Deer celebrate the classic ‘Deer Friends’ and deliver a huge dose of cuteness to dinner-time outfits. Made with food-grade silicone, they’re dishwasher-safe and feature a neckstrap that’s adjustable to seven sizes.

BABYBJÖRN Bibs, from $20

Lovingly created in Sweden using BPA-free plastic, these water-repellent accessories serve little ones from their very first meals right through until the later toddler years. They have a non-chaffing, adjustable neckband and a lovely deep scoop pocket for catching food.

Minihaha Silicone Bibs 2PK, from $29.95

Designed especially for easier feeding, Minihaha 100% silicone bibs are free from PVC and BPA and dishwasher-safe. The fold-up food catchment means less mess on floors and the adjustable strap means it grows with your child.

Bubba Blue Silicone Baby Bib, $12.95

Available in six animal designs, Bubba Blue silicone bibs are dishwasher-safe and free from BPA, lead, phthalates and latex. They roll up easily for storage, have an adjustable neckstrap and come with a nifty built-in crumb catcher.

Designer Bums Baby Food Smock, $34.95

Made using 100% Polyurethane Laminate, these mealtimes accessories from Designer Bums are machine-washable and highly versatile in the early years. They fit kids from six to 18 months and come with a wipe-clean outer surface and front catchment pocket. Loving the hook loop for hanging up in between meals!

OXO Tot Roll-Up Bib, $29.95

A cinch to roll up and pop in nappy bags, these chemical-free bibs have a Velcro closure for easy adjustments. The roomy silicone pocket is ready to catch fallen food and they’re even safe to toss in the washing machine.

Skip Hop Zoo Bib, $29.95

If your little ones are crazy about their Zoo Lunchies, they’ll love having a silicone bib to match! Suitable from six months, these dishwasher-safe accessories come in a range of Skip Hop characters and feature an adjustable strap and deep scoop.

All4Ella Long Sleeve Bib, $19.95

With full-length, waterproof sleeves and a glorious star-filled design, these practical accessories are brilliant for both meals and messy play. They’re suitable for babies from six months and can safely be tossed in the washing machine for a fuss-free scrub.

 We Might Be Tiny Catchie Bibs 2.0 2PK, $29

These beauties from the beloved feeding brand, We Might Be Tiny are specially engineered for way less mess at mealtimes. Made with stain-resistant silicone, they catch liquid and food spills, plus they roll up into compact bundles for outings.

Beaba Silicone Bib, $19.95

Ergonomically shaped, Beaba food bibs offer comfort and freedom as babies explore the wonderful world of food. Free BPA, PVC and phthalates, they come with a deep and wide scoop pocket that’s ready to catch everything!

When should babies start wearing bibs?

Babies can start wearing bibs as soon as things start getting messy – which is straight away! Whether you are breastfeeding or bottle feeding, bibs come in handy to catch all of those first dribbles!

Do newborns needs bibs?

Popping a bib on a newborn makes for so much less mess – be it some milk overflow or some baby vomit! Generally for a newborn, you’ll want to use a soft bib – like a bandana or cloth style. These will soak up milky spills, while a silicone baby bib won’t.

How many bibs do I need to buy?

It’s always great to be prepared with a bib stash because you just never know how messy your tot is going to be! To start with you’ll need a good stash of soft newborn bibs, depending on how much your baby dribbles and drools.

Later on when baby starts solids, switching to silicone bibs means you won’t need as many, because they can be easily wiped down and used again and again – no need to put them in the washing machine.

How do I wash a silicone bib?

This is one of the many benefits of a silicone bib – the washing, or lack thereof! All you need to do to get a silicone bib nice and clean is wash it in warm, soapy water and let it air dry.

Some silicone bibs are also fine to pop into the top rack of the dishwasher.

Still unsure which bib to buy? Take a look at the suggestions from mums in our community!

Know a product that belongs on our list? Contact us, we’d love to hear from you!