*This is a collaborative guest post
To paraphrase the great American statesman and scientist, Benjamin Franklin, there is nothing certain in the world, except for death, taxes and the fact that babies get really messy during feeding time. It is also an undeniable scientific fact that, regardless of how careful you are, babies will only consume a tenth of what they are fed – everything else will be smeared on their faces, clothes, walls and floors. Thankfully, we can count on baby bibs to save the day – as well as protecting baby clothes from being permanently stained.
In case you have been trapped inside an underground bomb shelter since World War II, baby bibs are basically napkins that are wrapped around the neck of babies. However, for obvious reasons, they are not made from linen or silk. Instead, baby bibs are usually made from a blend of synthetic materials that are light, easy to clean, and quicker to dry.
Aside from feeding time, bibs are also useful during teething and weaning as babies generate a lot of saliva. They can also be used on slightly older toddlers during messy activities such as painting.
Today, baby bibs have become one of the must-haves baby accessories in every home. It probably wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that there are hundreds of thousands of different varieties of bibs that are available in the market. Amazon alone carries over 142,000 different designs. However, don’t be alarmed by the huge number of choices, because all bibs essentially fall into one of the following four categories.
1. Regular/Feeding Bibs
This is the starter model, the barebones bib that gets the job done with minimal fuss. It comes in varying sizes, shapes and colours, and can be either tied or hung around a baby’s neck. The area of coverage is rectangular, and extends from the neck to the stomach. It’s always a good idea to keep a few of these lying around so you have ample time to wash and dry a bib after every meal.
2. Drooling Bibs
This is much smaller than a regular bib, and can be worn throughout the day. It’s perfect to stop the saliva and drool of teething babies from dirtying clothes, cots and floors. The small size ensures that babies don’t get tangled up in them.
3. Long Sleeved Bib
The long sleeved bibs are usually twice as large as regular bibs – sometimes larger. They are meant to protect a baby’s entire body from food, water and even water colours – anything out of the ordinary, really.
4. Dribble Bibs
Dribble bibs, sometimes known as bandana or drool bibs, serve two functions. The first is to protect babies from the usual suspects (food, saliva, etc.). The second function is fashion. Yes, you heard it right. Dribble, or bandana, bibs are fashionably designed bibs that are worn to complement a baby’s attire. Designs ranges from cowboy scarf and sailor’s scarf to flowery themed ones. In addition, the bibs are also sealed around the neck with adjustable Velcro snaps. Babies have never looked cuter!
