Silicone bibs are everywhere — in gift sets, in influencer videos, and stacked high in most big-box baby stores. They look convenient, they wipe clean, and they seem like the “easy choice”… until your baby hits about 10–14 months and suddenly:
- they’re pulling it off
- throwing it across the room
- arching their back when you try to put it on
- ending up with wet, stained clothes underneath anyway
If you’re wondering why toddlers often refuse silicone bibs, you’re not alone. This is one of the most common things parents tell us at Looma.
Let’s break down the real problems with silicone bibs, and why so many families switch to TerryTots™ towel bibs once their little one starts having opinions about comfort.
1. Silicone is cold, stiff and uncomfortable
Babies and toddlers are extremely sensitive to texture and temperature. When you place a silicone bib on their neck, it’s cold at first touch, heavy around the chest and tight in some places, and gaping in others. As adults we might not notice, but to a toddler, this feels “wrong.” Once they know what a bib is for, they absolutely know when something feels uncomfortable. This is the most common reason toddlers refuse silicone bibs - it just doesn’t feel good.
2. The gaping neckline problem
Even with adjustable buttons, silicone bibs rarely sit flush with the skin. Toddlers move, twist, lean forward and when they do:
- food sneaks underneath
- milk dribbles run inside
- water seeps into the neckline
- clothes end up wet and stained anyway
This is the flaw most parents notice after a few weeks — silicone catches some food, but it doesn’t protect the clothing underneath.
3. The food catcher isn't always the hero
The scoop looks helpful in theory until your toddler discovers it makes a great drum, toy pocket or pasta-storing tray. Toddlers often fold it, flip it, chew it, or slam it onto the tray, sending food everywhere. The catcher works best for older children who sit still, not wiggly babies learning to eat.
4. Silicone doesn’t absorb, it pools.
Because silicone is waterproof, liquids stay on the surface and travel under the chin, between the neck folds, down the sides and onto their lap
Absorbency is the key to protecting clothing, something silicone simply can’t do.
5. Toddlers Quickly Outgrow Silicone Bibs
Once your little one hits the one-year mark, independence kicks in. They want softness, comfort, and anything that feels like clothing, not a cold bucket around their neck.
This is when parents usually notice the switch. They refuse the silicone bib, they pull it off instantly, meal battles begin and stress rises for everyone
This is exactly why we created our towel bibs — gentle, soft, warm, and toddler-approved.
Why We Created TerryTots™ Towel Bibs
Looma began when my first baby refused silicone bibs. In a moment of desperation, I grabbed a tea towel, cut a hole in it and slipped it over his head, and it worked. No more battles. No more wet shirts. No more stiff, uncomfortable silicone.
That moment became the TerryTots™ towel bib — now loved by thousands of Australian families.
- 100% cotton terry towelling
- soft + absorbent
- gentle on skin
- the longest bibs on the market
- comfortable from 6 months to 3+ years
- machine washable + long lasting