Materials for Bibs

Whether you are looking to make your own or choose which is the best bib to use. This guide discusses what materials are best for your purpose.

Materials

There are many types of materials available for bib making so we have listed the most popular ones below.

Silicone

Silicone is made by heating large volumes of sand. Silicone bibs are primarily used for feeding and come with an inbuilt trough.

Polyurethane Laminate

This is cotton but has been coated with polyurethane. This material is perfect to use for a waterproof layer. One negative is that any moisture or food will slide off and onto the baby.

Cotton

Cotton is the best to use and there are many different kinds to choose from. This includes organic cotton, plain cotton or a mixture of materials. We use all these in our range of bibs.

Bamboo 

Bamboo is a popular choice to use as its very absorbent. Like cotton, there is a variety of bamboo fabrics to choose from. You can even have a bamboo cotton mix as we use on the back of our bandana drool bibs. Bamboo is an environmentally friendly, sustainable and absorbent material.

Fleece 

 Fleece is made from polyethylene terephthalate or other synthetic materials. It is lightweight and lets moisture evaporate. But it is not environmentally friendly as is made from non-renewable resources. It also needs extra chemicals to coat the fabric. Stay away from this material as it’s not eco-friendly.

Thread

When making or choosing bibs the thread isn’t the first thing you consider. But it is important. A good thread will keep the bib from falling apart. And this is why we make all ours with Gutermann cotton thread. We find this easy to work with and high quality.

Fasteners

There are many types of fasteners to use including;

• Velcro — This is a common fastener normally found on cheaper bibs. These are attached to either side and joined together to keep the bib in place. The main problem is that Velcro loses its stickiness. And the baby learns quickly how to remove it making them useless.

• Plastic Fasteners– These are found on the majority of bibs. They are a KAM fastening system and work like a clasp. As they are made from plastic so be careful not to iron them. This is covered in more detail in our Care and Maintenance of bibs article.

 • Metal Fasteners — These are based on the same snap fastener design as the plastic type but made from steel. They aren’t very popular as they are an overkill. Especially since the plastic fasteners do such a good job.

• Draw String — You may find a drawstring on vintage-style bibs. We don’t recommend using string or cord as this increases the risk of strangulation and choking.

Best Materials

The best material to use for bibs is fabric. This is easy to use, eco-friendly and sustainable. Fabric bibs are also absorbent and easy to wash and maintain. We hope this article has helped. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.

This article was updated in September 2024 to reduce unnecessary information.

Luisa Figueroa – I am the owner, designer, and maker of the My Little Love Heart range of bibs. I am a mum to a beautiful daughter Natalia. I’ve been in the fashion industry for over 15 years, specialising in baby accessories for the last 7. My love of fashion has enabled me to work and study around the world.