To think it isn’t too early....

[Sophisticatedsarcasm]

Was at the park yesterday with dd and we saw some of her friends, some of them started to talk to me and the conversation moved to the new school year etc. A few of them started talking about how they have to make sure they keep some money for the school uniform at the end of the summer. I mentioned how I had already brought everything needed except my DS shoes. The look of horror made it look like I’d suggested murdering someone. One of them asked if it wasn’t too early. So I mentioned how it was better than trying to chase stuff down in a panic 2 days before school starts which I see a majority of parents do as I work in a shop.
Surely I’m not the only one that buys the stuff early?

Well, my son is 14 and if I'd bought his school pants at the the start of the summer it may not fit him by now! I have all their books and stuff though

My ds has a nasty habit of growing an inch in the last week of August so I tend to order uniform about 25th August. And book a 9am school shoes slot at Clark’s.

Depends on the child. I have 2 ds's who had massive growth spurts at various stages. One went from a size 4 to a size 7 shoe in 3 months. The other grew 6 inches in as many months! Dd hasn't grown since she was 12 so I feel safe buying her stuff in advance.

I bought everything for DD last week. She starts in 3 weeks so can’t imagine she’s going to grow too much in that time. It’s all got growing room anyway.

(I haven’t bought shoes yet, but have got everything else)

Well her skirts and trousers were all in good Knick and I’d already got a bigger size last year with adjusted waist so I have just loosened that and tried it on her and it’s got some growing room. Her shoes we only just got at the end of last term as she went up a size and are still miraculously looking almost new. I’ve brought everything else, lunchbox, bags, polos, pe kits etc.... same for my DS.... just his shoes as he’s inbetween sizes so waiting to see. I know every kid is different but if you roughly know your children’s size then why not?

but if you roughly know your children’s size then why not?

Because you only roughly know their current size, not the size they are going to be in a month's time, which, with teenage boys particularly, can be substantially different.

I've just got my daughter's stuff. All except shoes. I hate shoes she's got long thin feet with flat arches and an extra bone on her inner ankle which means the shoes need low sides. I feel like chucking a wobbler during shoe shopping.

I bought everything but shoes before the end of term, when M&S had 20% off. Will do shoes next week, and will probably be inveigled into buying half of Paperchase just before they go back.

I've bought all my son's uniform but I've left the tags on the trousers, he hasn't grown very much in about two years so I took a chance and bought them. Not buying shoes yet though because he's got a size 8 foot at 13 so I'm expecting them to grow more.