To buy DS and DD bags for school/pre school that are not branded!!

[ThePosieParker]

I bought dd this to put her lunch box in and this for DS3 for his first pre school bag to put a chnage of clothes in. DH said that dd would have preferred Hello Kitty but I have a real aversion to logo/branded stuff.

AIBU to buy what I like???

[zazizoma]

YANBU. Many schools in America do not allow any logo/branded items, bags or shirts or shoes, with the understanding that they have no place in school.

At some point you simply have to decide to parent, ignore cries of 'peer pressure," and choose your battles according to your values.

I remember as a kid when logo sweatshirts had just started coming into shops. Some friends of mine had ESPRIT sweatshirts, and I asked where they got them because I was sure they had to be a free gift with purchase. I couldn't then, and still have difficulty, wrapping my head around the idea that people PAY to wear brand logos. It wasn't always like this, and doesn't have to be like this. It's essentially consumer choice.

Good Luck!

[MilaMae]

Great but for me it's cost too. I'll only buy the dc 2 bags their entire school career.The rec/pre-school ones and one each for Y3-6.

Re Pepper Pig we loved that but I think kids like to tease re characters once at school.A friend of mine had her son teased mercilessly for his Thomas boots in rec. Kids like to make out they're gown up and past certain characters,it starts early .

[halcyondays]

I bought dd1 an In the Night Garden bag when she was about 18 months old. It's still being used by dd2 nearly 4 years later. Dd1 is 5 and she's liked Peppa Pig since she was 2. Even if they did want a different bag, there would be no need to put it in landfill, I would give it to a charity shop or Freecycle it.

[MilaMae]

Said satchels are now back in (I still have mine too),think it's the satchel company and they do them in all colours,kid ones too.I considered one for dd but price and practicality won over.

[MilaMae]

Hmmm I bought said owl bag and the boys their very plain Gap bags in pre-school/rec think they were £18/&16. They wore them all through Pre-school,rec,Y1 and Y2.

If I'd bought a character bag in pre/school/rec there is no way my dc would like the same character now and I've have had to replace them 3 times thus putting bags into landfill 3X3 kids -9 bags!!!!!

I'll put away said owl bag for the grandchildren as it's timeless.


Sorry but cheap character bags are false economy and I personally don't want my kids getting used to constantly replacing stuff.I like them having less but better quality.

[halcyondays]

Oh yes,
I had a brown leather traditional style schoolbag when I started primary school, too, diddl. You never see anyone with them nowadays. I liked it at first and used it for the first three years, but then I rebelled against it and wanted something else. Now that was a good quality bag and would have lasted a lot longer than any of these trendy bags with owls on them.

[Seona1973]

I think woolworths is all online now and that all the shops closed. I agree it was good for back to school stuff

[carriedababi]

Think it's a bit mean to buy them a bag that you ! If your going to spend that much at least let it be on something they like!

Do you do this toys too? Buy all the things you! Want

[gorionine]

"it's a school bag and under £15" according to this it is over £20.

pinkhebe do you order your woolworth stuff on line or are they still any of the branches open? Our Local one closed a few years ago and I really miss it. I thought they had all closed.

[halcyondays]

I guess most school bags will end up in landfill in the end, whether they are "quality" yummy mummy approved ones or cheap character ones. Unless you are a hoarder like me, when old bags are likely to get thrown into my understairs cupboard never to see the light of day again.

[pink4ever]

No I am not being defensive. I actually dont buy a lot of disney/hello kitty stuff as think it is over priced for what it is. Ditto the branded bags the op linked to-twee and over priced. I just dont like threads where the op says one thing but means another entirely.

[diddl]

"Diddl. I want them to have nice things and animal cutesy is good for small children, as far away from TV and toy characters as possible."

It´s still a "character" aimed at small children though/just not Disnez&on TV.

My first school bag was a brown leather satchel/it was lovely.

[MilaMae]

Pink I thing you're being a bit defensive.

[MilaMae]

Also what do you do when this years fad has gone ie Hello Kitty is passe? You replace it with the next passing fad. With a non character product this is far less likely to happen.

[pink4ever]

Mila good for you.Give yourself a huge pat on the back. You are just sooooooooooo much better than the rest of us. Oh you and op of course

[MilaMae]

Woolworth cheap plain welly boots were the best.My mum made all my dc's PE bags too.

[MilaMae]

All I'm saying is don't be suckered in by a character as that is all you're paying for.If you want your kid to have a bag solely because he wants a trademark face on it then fine,but I don't.I'd rather look beyond and like to consider design,landfill etc,etc.


I agree the op could have been worded perhaps in a more tactful way but she raises an interesting subject.

[pinkhebe]

My Mum made my son's pe bags from some spiderman material in reception - it's still going now he's 12

But the best rucksac came from woolworths and it was just like those bags but was an alien - cost under £5 and is now 9 years old, and although a bit small and grubby, still a favourite.

Woolworths was great for back to school stuff.

[MilaMae]

I don't think non character is always more expensive.Anything with Star Wars on is hellish expensive.In the Next catalogue Star Wars boxers are way more than plain Next ones.

Also some of the best pencils we own are the Lidl triangle ones.They never break,sharpen amazingly and are super bold. They were £1.99.

[joric]

Lellie Kelly shoes.....Perfect example of expensive crap... DD had some for school ( from to tk maxx but hey, you can still shoot me!)
by Xmas, they were ruined and good old Clarks bought.

[halcyondays]

My dds aren't bothered about following the pack, they just like what they like. Obviously with some things I will make sure they have shoes that fit, warm winter coats that keep them dry etc. but a bag is a bag, I'm not bothered about what bag they choose,almost anything will do the job.

And some of their art supplies have come from the pound shop. they do the job too. Oh, and dd1 has some bobbly Disney nighties, which she loves.

[joric]

Lelli Kelly shoes!!!!

[gorionine]

I think the price you are paying for this "non branded" bag is far ti high. but maybe that is just me. I tend to go for supermarket "brand" for lunch boxes, PE bags and the eldest Dcs school bags (little one still has school own brand school bag).

To people worrying about peer pressure, my Dcs have never ever come back home demanding anything dfferent just because their friends had it. it is an alien concept to me and I think a lot of parrents probably worry about this unecessarily.

[pink4ever]

mila some people want to buy the disney/hello kitty stuff because their kids like it. Agreed maybe it isnt the best quality. Some people prefer to buy different/more expensive brands. But they are still brands. Op was trying to make out she is so superior to us mugs who buy the other tat. Not nice.

[MilaMae]

Owls will never be over in this house but then I never have and never will be a yummy mummy-sadly.