bibs

You may recall my enthusiasm for Bumkins long-sleeved bibs. The nifty shields keep things clean during eating hours, but they're also stain savers for art projects and cooking experiments. If you're a fan of them, you may be cheering for joy when you see the more affordable options!

Simple: The long-sleeved Ikea smocks with a catchall pocket on the tummy are a steal at $4 for a pair!
Swank: The original Bumkins bibs come in abundant designs and tie around the back of the neck for extra security. If a Dr. Seuss design suits your fancy, get ready to pony up $18 for the posh protector.

Lil munchkins make messes and while moms are quick to pull out their wipes, wash cloths and stain sticks, there's an easier way to deal with the spills that come with kids. My Dirty Birdie is a line of genius shirts that incorporate stains in the design. Who better than a tot to pull off the splattered with mud, dropped a lil peanut butter and jelly, or squeezed a bit too much juice from my box tees? Made of cotton and available in tops ($20), onesies ($16) and bibs ($14), these fashion statements can't get any more adorable. So go ahead and let your rascals play with makeup and run through the mud.

If you think a bib is a bib is a bib — you probably haven't checked out those made by Bumkins ($6). The waterproof food soakers have a pouch that catches the morsels of food that never make it into your lil one's mouth. When feeding my daughter a bowl of cereal or an over easy egg, I need a splash mat to shield the dribbling milk and flying yolk. But their sleeve bib ($16) has elastic rimmed cuffs that keep her clothes spiffy. And, the tie behind the back design prohibits her from ripping it off.

Similar to their standard bibs, the smock also comes in sprightly prints for lasses and gents alike. These bad boys are also PVC, BPA, phthalate, and vinyl free. Oh, and did I mention, they're machine washable!?

Mealtime can be a bit of a mess for both parents and their tots. And, bibs are just a big hassle, but biby tees ($30) are an adorable and practical alternative.

Made by Jack & Salma, the 100 percent custom made cotton tees are available with short or long sleeves and three terry animal adornments — pig, hippo and elephant. All of the creatures have long ears to help wipe messes off wee ones' faces.

Beyond table time, the shirts are perfect for drooling lil darlings or to wear out.

I rarely use bibs for my baby girl, but just couldn't resist buying one of these precious dual purpose Mullins Square bib and washcloth sets ($15).

My heart was set on the longhorn set because it reminds me of my home state, but there are other whimsical and holiday themed bibs to choose from – airplanes, ladybugs, poodles, ponies, etc.

The best part about this lil find is that the washcloth is part of the bib. So the longhorn's ears come out and aid in cleaning up baby's face, hands, and tray after eating. Although I'm pretty sure that after one use and wash, I won't be able to make the set look as good as it did when I brought it home — I can try!

As you may know, the Sugar Network recently welcomed lilsugar to the team. To show them how excited we are for their arrival, we've decided to kick off the YumSugar gift guides with gifts for new parents or parents-to-be. You can stuff their stockings with Morning Sickness Preggie Pops for her and Sugar Daddy Lollipops for him; or you could surprise them with babyfood cookbooks or portable food mills. If you've got one of them on your holiday shopping list, then check out some of our ideas below.