BIBaDO: The Bib that Bridges the Gap {+ exclusive coupon code}

A bib is a bib. Amiright?

Sure, some have sleeves; sure, some have food-catching pockets; but you know what? None I’ve tried actually catch all the food and drink that a 7-month-old manages to swipe, smear, spill, spit, spew, smash and splash all over themselves and their high chair.

From my first two kids, I knew just how messy baby-led-weaning could be … and I was not looking forward to multiplying that mess by twins. First step: buy second-hand, super-easy-to-clean IKEA high chairs that have no nooks and crannies for food to hide in and no fabric to stain. Second step: mentally prepare myself to hose down my progeny and their chairs one to three times a day for the next two years.

But then one of my Instagram followers introduced me to a bib that is NOT just a bib. BIBaDO is a bib that bridges the gap between child and tray. It’s a long-sleeved smock that secures around the high chair tray, creating a reservoir of waterproof fabric that protects the child and the chair from all wayward food.

It’s one of those products that had me wondering: Why didn’t I think of this?! (And the answer is because I had never tried to feed twins until a few weeks ago, but the parents behind BIBaDO had!)

The BIBaDO works with any high chair, with or without a tray. Just attach the adjustable Velcro tabs under the tray or seat of the high chair!

The sleeves can be shortened using snaps at the elbow …

… and the elastic cuffs keep the sleeves in place and clothes covered.

After mealtime, you can carry the BIBaDO over to the compost, garbage or dog bowl to dump out all the food that otherwise would’ve been all over the child, the floor and the high chair. Wipe or rinse clean, and it’ll be dry in time for the next meal!

Personally, I just leave the BIBaDOs attached permanently to our chairs, picking up the collected chunks of food and wiping clean for next time.

I haven’t had to change a single outfit since we started using our BIBaDOs, nor have I had to clean the high chair seats. The Cub Twins seem to enjoy mealtime, even if very little food actually gets ingested. Pre-BIBaDO, I was dreading the mess, so I’d have to psych myself up just to offer them one meal each day.

Now we do three meals a day because they have fun and keep themselves occupied while I make food for the rest of the family, pump milk or drink my coffee—sometimes all three things at the same time—and I know I won’t have a huge mess to clean up when they’re done.

You can use the BIBaDO even with notoriously-hard-to-keep-clean clip-on high chairs like the Guzzie & Guss Perch.

If you’re heading out for a meal, I’m jealous because I don’t think we will be eating in a restaurant with our children until they don’t need high chairs at all … but know that you can fold the BIBaDO up neatly into its built-in storage pouch.

Because it’s so easy to wipe clean and dries quickly, you really only need one BIBaDO compared to a drawerful of less effective bibs.

BIBaDO will save you laundry, save you food and save your sanity, whether you have one baby to feed or multiples!

[Update, Dec. 2018]

BIBaDO 2.0 has landed in North America! The new design features:

Softer, machine washable fabric
Easier-to-use cuffs
Longer velcro strip at the neck
Sturdier and more effective non-slip grib and velcro for securing around the tray or chair