Bibs

L
ove them or hate them most parents will use bibs at some stage or other. Most babies need bibs because they either dribble or regurgitate their food at some stage – some rather more than others! In fact most parents will use between 5 – 15 bibs a day (information from extensive market research at The Baby Show) depending on their child. Whether it is dribbling from teething, infant reflux or just feeding time bibs can be very useful keeping a baby clean and dry.

Manufacturers and suppliers have done everything imaginable to make bibs more user friendly and funky and they come in every colour, size, materials and price range. In a similar way to nappies bibs are also a concern for those parents who care about the environment. Most parents use cotton bibs that very quickly become stained from the strong colours found in baby food like the tomatoes and carrots and strangely banana turns bibs black. This means bibs are being constantly washed, dried and quite quickly thrown away and the washer and drier are on more than necessary and bibs need replacing!

But, did you know:

- It’s estimated that we produce between two and four pints of saliva a day! Believe it or not, babies don’t produce any more saliva than adults – they just haven’t mastered the swallowing reflex that adults take for granted, so they drool.

- Drooling tends to tail off around the age of 18 months, as babies eat more solid foods and develop the ability to chew and swallow.

- Many babies regurgitate a little milk after feeds and this is usually nothing to worry about; however some babies regurgitate more frequently and in larger volume. The condition is commonly known as Baby Reflux.

- Saliva helps to wash away bacteria and actually contains antibacterial agents. When your baby dribbles, his natural defences may be using saliva in the fight against infection.

- Baby drool can be stimulated by the smell of food or thoughts of eating! Saliva contains the enzyme amylase, which starts the digestive process in the mouth. Unfortunately, amylase also irritates delicate babies’ skin, making it chaffed and sore when they dribble.

- We commonly blame dribbling on teething, but sometimes a baby dribbles long before any tooth appears. Experts believe dribbling can be part of a baby’s development as they prepare for digesting solid foods.

- Babies do dribble more when they’re teething. Chewing and biting may sooth the pain of a cutting tooth, tricking the brain into thinking there’s food in the mouth and stimulating extra drool.

Baby bibs fall mainly into two types: for messy eaters, a feeding bib will protect clothing during meals. Common styles available are the “pelican” style bib (the upturned rim catches food), fabric bibs, all-in-ones (with sleeves), waterproof backed or soft oilcloth bibs.

Little dribblers will benefit from wearing an absorbent dribble bib, more suitable for all day wear than a feeding bib. Dribble bibs can be bought with padded necklines or in bandana styles and not only protect clothing but prevent excess moisture irritating delicate skin.
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