Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To buy my son a cardigan for his school uniform

291 replies

clemetteattlee · 28/06/2012 14:17

I was asking some friends about this last night and was surprised at the strength of some reactions so I thought I'd ask the Mumsnet jury.
My son is 4 and due to start full-time school in September. i have started to think about which bits of uniform to start getting him and thought I might look around for a boy's cardigan for him. In my head this is not that different to the hooded cardigan things he wears now, it just wont have a hood. It would be easy for him to get on and off, and might look quite cute.
Anyway there were lots of raised eyebrows when I suggested this last night.
Would you buy one (actually this would be tricky as no-one seems to sell them, but in principle...?)

OP posts:
StillSquiffy · 28/06/2012 14:32

DCs school is very strict in uniform and it has always been cardis for the girls and jumpers for the boys. A boy in a cardi would get mercilessly teased.

BackforGood · 28/06/2012 14:32

Being that very few of us have ever seen a boy in a school uniform cardi (they are sold as 'for girls'), then it depends if you want to make you boy stand out and be known as 'the boy in the cardi' or if you'd rather he blended in and was able to make his own mark once he's at school.
Up to you of course, but I know which I'd choose.

Original poster
clemetteattlee · 28/06/2012 14:34

I think we are quite lucky to be sending him to a school where the intake is so diverse and cosmopolitan that a cardigan wouldn't be the most unusual thing in the world to wear!
He NEVER comments on what children at nursery wear; do little boys really care? (DD would give me a blow by blow account of all the uniform breeches she has seen and why it is NOT FAIR that she is not allowed to wear pink leggings under her summer dress)

OP posts:
newport67 · 28/06/2012 14:34

I wouldn't do it. Not seen a single boy in school wearing a cardigan. Although ds wears them out of school and I agree they are practical.

sleepingbunny · 28/06/2012 14:35

Lots of boys at DDs school wear the logoed cardigan (bizarrely and horribly known as a 'sweat-cardi'. I think,like my DD, that they prefer them because they don't have to pull them over their heads.

takeonboard · 28/06/2012 14:37

I have never seen cardi's in the boys school uniform section, only in the girls section. The other kids will be aware of this too. I would stick with what works for all the boys and not risk him being teased.

Original poster
clemetteattlee · 28/06/2012 14:37

Oh definitely stand out backforgood. He has big shoes to walk in as his sister is a "little bit alpha" and we are keen for him not to be "just M's brother".
But that isn't the reason for the cardigan - I just cant see a real reason not to...

OP posts:
IHaveAFeatureWallAndILikeIt · 28/06/2012 14:38

But at nursery there isn't a uniform. If its a school wear pupils wear lots of different things then a cardi would be fine, but if all the other boys are going to be in sweatshirts then I would personally get the same.

IHaveAFeatureWallAndILikeIt · 28/06/2012 14:38

From reading your posts I think a cardi sounds like a sensible option.

mrsscoob · 28/06/2012 14:39

What about a light zip up fleece instead?

PinkChampagneandStrawberries · 28/06/2012 14:40

My DS wore one last year but our school isn't very strict with uniform so it wasn't part of the uniform but all his friends wanted one too as I had other mums saying there DS wanted it where could they get one Grin

cantspel · 28/06/2012 14:40

Cardigans are very in with teen boys around here. But they have to be the skinney fit type rather than something like your nan would knit. Teamed with chinos and fred perry polos.

I cant see how people think they are pratical for a reception child. Surely they would struggle with the buttons and then just leave it to flap open so they get cold?

tittytittyhanghang · 28/06/2012 14:41

Just realised your ds is only 4! I still dont think it will matter. I sent my ds in P1 to school with tank top instead of jumpers. He looked absolutely cute as anything, he was the only one and no, he didn't care. I don't think anybody else particularly cared neither.

Original poster
clemetteattlee · 28/06/2012 14:42

Where did you get it PinkChampagne?

OP posts:
Original poster
clemetteattlee · 28/06/2012 14:42

I think tank tops are also on my shopping list...

OP posts:
Original poster
clemetteattlee · 28/06/2012 14:46

Now I challenge you all to find me a skinny fit black/navy/grey cardigan for a tall four year old (I will probably draw the line at red...) Wink

OP posts:
MissCoffeeNWine · 28/06/2012 14:48

My DD couldn't give a crap what she wears or what anyone else is wearing, has never mentioned anyone else's outfit to me be it nursery or school. Can't see why girls would care and boys wouldn't - they are surely all just small children.

Maybe DD's school is ridiculously lax but I'm looking at the school picture now and there are three boys in green school cardis over either shirt or polo shirt. Two in just polos, several in jumpers either green or grey some with logos some not some round neck some v-neck. The girls are all wearing the same only some have a pinafore/skirt as well. Some have leggings some have bright tights, some have open cardigans, some closed, some grey some green some v neck some summer dresses some short sleeved some long. I can see white socks stripey socks school socks, trainers black shoes, there are no two children in the exact same outfit.

Original poster
clemetteattlee · 28/06/2012 14:53

Similar picture here MissCoffee.
If a cardigan was "forbidden" I wouldn't get one but it's not...

OP posts:
Floggingmolly · 28/06/2012 14:54

Black/navy/grey cardigan/jumper... It doesn't exactly sound like a uniform, does it??

gallicgirl · 28/06/2012 14:57

FFS cardis only for girls? Really?

You'll be telling me next that they've got to be pink too.

YANBU and given that kids are expected to dress and undress themselves at school, I think a cardi is the best option.

hellymelly · 28/06/2012 14:57

www.petitbateau.co.uk/e-shop/product/69
the navy is full price, the grey is in the sale. For a tall thin 4y you might want the 5y (4-5) or the 6y (5-6). Petit Bateau are good for slimmer children. Not cheap, but will last and look good for a couple of years.

Original poster
clemetteattlee · 28/06/2012 15:02

That is lovely hellymelly, but in practical terms he is also likely to lose it!

OP posts:
veritythebrave · 28/06/2012 15:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

fluffette1980 · 28/06/2012 15:23

There are quite a few boys in DS' class who wear black cardis to school - like this one here preview.tinyurl.com/7azqp8x

hellymelly · 28/06/2012 15:27

My Dds have never lost anything at school (they are in in reception and year 2) The school seem pretty good at reuniting children with their things, and I name-tape everything too. But if you think your ds might easily lose his cardi or sweater, then I see that you need cheap and cheerful rather than long-lasting! I just looked at the John Lewis website and couldn't see anything in the uniform section, but that sort of plain navy button or zip up cardi might be just as likely to be in a main line rather than uniform I suppose. Will have a root around online!