Buying school uniforms

KellyWelly

My two have each got 2 sweatshirts/cardis; 5 shirts and then 5 shorts for my son, 5 dresses/skirts for my daughter. They both have countless pairs of socks and tights but I buy the same plain socks for both of them so they can be paired up easily. I don't do a wash every day and they always come home filthy so I've got clean for each day (except the sweatshirts/cardis because they are £13 each!)

Mine only have 1 PE kit which is kept in school and washed every half term - sounds gross but it never actually comes home dirty or smelly.

Naughty_Sausage

thanks for all of the posts.

I think the idea of cardis rather than jumpers is a good thought.

Had not even thought about pe kit.

I have promised her a pair of 'yo-toy' shoes so that will be the best part of 40 quid. shocking.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

5 blouses (no need to wash them until Friday that way), 2 cardies, 1 skirt/pinafore plus 3 pairs thick tights (both optional), 2 pairs trousers with elasticated waists (easier to pull off when desperate for loo), 5 pairs identical ankle socks (easier when sorting washing). PE kit as specified by school - velcro fastening footwear is easily the way forward with kids. Easy zip up jacket. Wooly hat (2), gloves (3 pairs - they'll be lost within days). Label everything before it leaves the house.

Spendless

I find if I buy 5 items of each, then come this time of year when they have managed to lose 1, rip 1 and get another so stained its only fit for the bin then I still have bits and pieces to see me thru to the end of the school year.

A tip I read on here when my daughter started reception was to put her in pinafores so any spilt paint/dinner when down the darker hard-wearing pinafore rather than the white polo shirt or school jumper. I did this and buying long means they will still fit her next year and have seen out all her infant days.

I would suggest you buy long if you do buy a gingham dress so if fits next summer. September frequently has warm days at the beginning but changes rapidly (I know my birthday is end of Sept!).

BeenieCat

I find that trousers and polo tops stay pretty clean, but sweatshirts get grubby at lunchtime so i would always recommend getting 3 or 4, but you could get away with two if you're always washing!

bestpud

Mine had a polo shirt for every day, 3 cardis/sweatshirts and 3 pairs of trousers/skirts to start with.

Now dd is in year 2, she still has a polo for every day but only one cardi and two pairs of trousers. She has the Asda £2.50 a pair trousers because she's quite hard on her clothes (the playtime 'superheroes' seem to spend more time on the floor than they do flying at her school! :rolleyes::D) and it is easier for me to buy them cheap and replace than cry when a £8 M&S pair come home with a hole in the knee! Although she has been wearing a skirt of late because her cousin passed some down to her.

Cardis are better for girls, I think, because they are easier to get on and off and they often have pockets. Plus they are cooler in summer because they can be left open.

I strongly advise you to name them, as others have said, and a permanent fabric pen is far easier than name tabs! You can also use them to write the name in their shoes as several of them may have the same pair. You'd be surprised how many parents don't bother!

Also, I always reinforce any buttons as they can be quite hard on them when getting dressed in a hurry.

Mine only ever brought their PE kit home at half term when at primary school and they are never dirty.

I wouldn't worry too much about it, as you can always buy extra if you need it.

Oh, if they will be going swimming at some point during the year, you may find it easier to buy a cossie now as they can be thin on the ground in winter and cost more too.

Janepig

Naughty_Sausage wrote: »

thanks for all of the posts.

I think the idea of cardis rather than jumpers is a good thought.

Had not even thought about pe kit.

I have promised her a pair of 'yo-toy' shoes so that will be the best part of 40 quid. shocking.

Does she wear shoes bigger than size 10 because that's the size they start at? Thankfully DD's only just reached a 10 so I was able to put off buying a pair until recently - I got her a pair of white yo-toy sandals to go with her ginham dresses (and other stuff) which cost £30 (and I threatened to take them back to the shop if she didn't sing in her school concert the following day - mwahahahaahahahaha - but it worked!!). Anyway, I'll probably regret it because I don't know anyone who'd recommend them because the insoles get wrecked from the constant opening and closing to get the toy in and out.

Jxx

Caroline73_2

I think the number of sweatshirts/jumpers etc also depends on colour.

If you had navy ones then they can go in a normal dark wash which you would probably do a number of times in the week.

My son's are red which means doing a red wash so it made sense to have a few more.

He's in year 6 now. He has 5 t shirts, 4 sweatshirts and 3 pairs of trousers. Thats been what I've always bought.

Woodyrocks

For shoes if you have the patience (or inclination) save alerts on ebay for what you are after. You should be able to bid on them BNIB for much lower and they should arrive in plenty of time.

Janepig

Spendless wrote: »

I find if I buy 5 items of each, then come this time of year when they have managed to lose 1, rip 1 and get another so stained its only fit for the bin then I still have bits and pieces to see me thru to the end of the school year.

A tip I read on here when my daughter started reception was to put her in pinafores so any spilt paint/dinner when down the darker hard-wearing pinafore rather than the white polo shirt or school jumper. I did this and buying long means they will still fit her next year and have seen out all her infant days.

I would suggest you buy long if you do buy a gingham dress so if fits next summer. September frequently has warm days at the beginning but changes rapidly (I know my birthday is end of Sept!).

What I found with the pinafores is that as well as being hard-wearing and longer lasting (DD's lasted ages because you can buy them long and they still look okay) you can get away with a plain polo-shirt in school colours underneath which are cheaper than badged ones.

And the gingham dresses do indeed get as much wear in September/early October as they do in June/July, especially when teamed with a cardigan. Not that my DD needs a cardigan, she's such a boiler. You could send her to school in vest and knickers and she'd still sweat profusely :rolleyes:!!

But beware the move from the colder winter months and tights with skirts or trousers, to short socks and skirts (or shorts for boys I guess) because they come home looking like their knees have been attacked with cheesegraters and then you get the hysterics when they have to put their knees in the bath. And don't try spit and a hanky or Social Services will be round :D.

Jxx