School Uniform - best way to label?

[Enigmasaurus]

Eldest DC is starting school in September and I’ve just bought all the uniform.

Any advice on the best / most foolproof way to label it all so that we don’t end up with one pair of holey trousers and someone else’s jumper by Christmas?

Sew in labels are the best. I bought some Cash's ones when my Dd's started playgroup. I am still reusing them now they are in their teens.

Stikins also good if you don't fancy sewing. But definitely recommend something with full name, rather than just sharpie-Ing Initials on the label - that might help your child to recognise their own jumper, but is no use to the adult who picks up said jumper in the playground / lunch hall...

I can’t be arsed with sewing them in! Or the iron on ones.
I know some people like the stamps or the tags but I am a fan of stickers. I use Easy2Name and a starter pack lasts the whole academic year.
You get ones designed for things like water bottles and lunchboxes (I also put them on bags) which are designed to stand up to the dishwasher; then you get others for clothes labels which are designed to stand up to repeated washing and ime last pretty well.
I keep some in the hall then can easily wack on new bits of uniform through the year.
I also then wack them on cardies and jumpers or anything they’re likely to take off when they go somewhere in their own clothes.

Stikins are great. I first used them for my mum when she was in a care home. Now use them for dd at nursery.

Stikins seem really good, I've bought them to label up all DS's preschool stuff.

Sharpie

Stamp for me

Labels can be removed or peel off, I did iron on stickers and red sharpie pen and even then another child took my son's jumper. The teacher knew it was my son's by the red sharpie initials and the parent still tried to argue it was her son's!

Having a pack of stikins on the go at all times is a lifesaver. They’ll stick onto virtually anything. Might need replacing once every 6 months or so on items that regularly go in a hot wash.

Another vote for stikins, only thing they have ever come off are shoes which I now sharpie. They haven’t come off in the wash yet.

I got some iron on labels from Amazon. You get loads (more than you'll ever need) and they stay on for years without peeling off. To be honest 99% of school uniform items have a label that says "Name" with a space to write DC's name so now I just do that with a biro. I only need to go over it again maybe after a year once it's faded in the wash.

Having been someone trying to return lost property to a child please make sure it's readable. Biro washes off after a few washes, Sharpie isn't often legible. If the name is clear you have a good chance of getting it back.

I buy the little stickers from mynametags.com. CBA sewing labels in.

Stikins! They're great. Put them on the wash label and they won't come off.

Thanks everyone!
Looks like Stikins have a lot of fans will check them out

My name tags do great stickers. You design them yourself for about £13 I think.

They are waterproof so can go on uniform and through the washer and I also put on book bag, school bag, drinks bottle, lunch bag, plimmys etc.

I got a sheet of 50 and have loads and loads left for this year next year and probably the year after too!

I just ordered stick on ones from a company called Petit Fernand simply because I liked their designs! I have no idea how good they are.

Stick on labels in various places. A sharpie pen again in various places and the expensive stuff write their names in sharpie along the inside of the sleeves. Try to get a system so you can say ‘can I just check there isn’t a green sharpie star on the bottom right corner?’. Don’t forget shoes and trainers! Tippex is good or sone sort of symbol somewhere.

I have iron on and stick on ones from my nametags. Bought some from stickins this year which seem fine.

If you have two kids you can order labels " A Jones B" and trim off the initial you don't need.

Shoes are a real pain in the arse to label. Might dig out the tippex pen now 🙂

Thanks everyone.

Any feeling on stikins vs my name tags??

CCQuavers that is brilliant advice! Luckily uniform is not too expensive at this school but I may write inside sleeves when we get to blazer wearing years...

@Sunnysidegold I use the my name tags stickers stuck on the soles inside the shoe and they have been fine. Haven't faded or come off or anything.

Special sharpie called Rub a Dub which doesn't fade in the wash !

parkrunhun I have just remembered that I already have that Sharpie!

If you are getting the iron on labels, just use your surname and mobile number. Then you can use them for all the children.

I’ve concluded the only way to permanently name shoes is to sew name tape inside tongue, bit fiddly but once it’s there it’s done. Doesn’t work on girls school shoes though.