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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Hand downs

33 replies

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 16/09/2020 11:41

We have two DDs, close in age.
DD1 has grown out of her Cub jumper- she has a year left
DD2 has just started at Cubs.

DH thinks we should buy DD1 a new Cub jumper, move over the various badges, and give the old one to DD2. This would also save me quite a bit of sewing as well as being cheaper. There will be marks where the old badges were.

I think we should get them both new jumpers. It will cost more (about £14). No marks on jumper. More sewing. Old jumper will go in the spares box and passed onto a family who can't afford new.

I'm probably being silly, but just think it's nice to get a new jumper for DD2. She gets a lot of hand downs (but their grandmother spoils them with new stuff too). If DD1 hadn't grown a few inches over lockdown, it would have been a moot point.

So...
YABU... Hand down uniform is fine
YANBU... New stuff is nice sometimes.

OP posts:

Sunnydaysstillhere · 16/09/2020 11:44

I think given how the last 6 months have hit dc the most a few new things will be a lift. ££ allowing obviously..
My dd got a new short suit just before lockdown for the summer.
Been wearing it at home under her dressing gown!! Bit chilly where we live!

MsEllany · 16/09/2020 11:46

New stuff is nice but for a jumper worn for two hours a week I’d rather not.

TinySleepThief · 16/09/2020 11:46

I'd get DD2 her own jumper. It's not a lot of money and like you said she often gets her sisters old clothes. Having a new jumper each sounds much fairer and is kinder to DD2 rather than giving het the old jumper and potential making her feel less important or second best.

Settleandcalm · 16/09/2020 11:46

Hand me downs are fine, but it’s nice to have new sometimes. DD1 is in all hand me down uniform but I did buy her just the blazer for her new school as it made her feel special.

JemimaTiggywinkle · 16/09/2020 11:48

If DD2 really isn’t bothered then I would give her the old jumper.
Might be different if she had started getting upset that she never has anything of her own.

Mrsjayy · 16/09/2020 11:50

Just get the girl a new jumper it will be a treat and something that is hers, I have nothing against hand me downs we did it when dds were children went round a few cousins too. But for things like brownies it is nice for them if you can get them their own.

Florencex · 16/09/2020 11:50

I think I would get DD2 a new jumper, the old one will be marked where you have taken off badges. Feels a bit mean that she has a marked jumper whilst her sister gets a brand new one.

TeenPlusTwenties · 16/09/2020 11:51

In this case I'd buy a new jumper - the marks from previous badges swings it for me.

DontBelongHere · 16/09/2020 11:51

I love hand me downs usually and generally endorse them entirely BUT I do think for starting something like cubs or whatever it's nice to have a little bit of ceremony, make it special, and get DD2 her own new jumper. Starting a new club because you're finally old enough is a wee milestone for them. I still remember getting my Brownie uniform in 1990

LittleOwl153 · 16/09/2020 12:15

How does dd1s jumper fit on dd2? Is she likely to get the 2.5yrs out of it? If she isn't likely to as it only just fits now then I would certainly buy her a new one - a bit bigger - so that you don't have to replace and transfer badges again.

How much has dd1 grown? Given the current situation with some scout groups operating and some not I would be reluctant to splash out on too much new uniform if she hasn't got that long in reality...

TheDuchessofMalfy · 16/09/2020 12:18

Depends if you can easily afford it, and if Dd is bothered at all.

Alexandernevermind · 16/09/2020 12:18

I would go new in this instance, as Cubs jumpers with the badges on etc are a nice keepsake. DH still has his from 40 years ago.

LittleOwl153 · 16/09/2020 12:19

In our house (I have both scouts and guides) the bit of uniform that holds your badges is new, bought slightly big - so it lasts your time in that stage! Other bits of uniform, tshirts trousers etc are handed down as any other clothes.

JustCallMeGriffin · 16/09/2020 12:19

If you can afford it I'd but new just because the badges leave marks.

DD2 is mostly kitted out in DD1 hand downs for uniform because it's silly replacing decent quality clothing just because it's been worn a few times...but badge marks doesn't really fall under 'decent quality' for me.

JustCallMeGriffin · 16/09/2020 12:20

*buy new I give up with autocorrect sorry

Poppyismyfavourite · 16/09/2020 12:20

as a former cub leader... there is absolutely no point buying anything new! after a session of building fires / running around outside / painting it will be a bit grubby anyway

Emeraldshamrock · 16/09/2020 12:23

I love passing on clothes or getting a bag if nice stuff from friends.
As a DC we mainly got hand downs from siblings I didn't like it.
Normal clothes yes but for the sake of £7 plus sewing time I'd buy a new one.

seayork2020 · 16/09/2020 12:28

Although my son does not have a sibling he has had second hand and new clothes - is in scouts and would not care if new or second hand top so I would go with what your child wants if not bothered go with used

sparepantsandtoothbrush · 16/09/2020 12:32

Completely missing the point but how will it be less sewing if you hand the used one down to DD2? Surely you have to re-sew DD1s badges back on to the new jumper either way?

Original poster

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 16/09/2020 12:36

@sparepantsandtoothbrush

Completely missing the point but how will it be less sewing if you hand the used one down to DD2? Surely you have to re-sew DD1s badges back on to the new jumper either way?

It's the group tags, county badges and a few staged badges I wouldn't have to redo. It's going to be a lot of sewing either way... DD1 has 15 new badges she achieved in the last few months.

OP posts:

sparepantsandtoothbrush · 16/09/2020 12:39

@Aroundtheworldin80moves ah ok that makes sense. I used to use badge glue because I'm lazy 😂

Original poster

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 16/09/2020 12:41

Thanks everyone. I think I care more than DD2... I'm excited to have her in my Cub pack. I loved taking DD1 shopping for her Cub jumper last year.

The jumper may fit DD2 the whole 2.5-3 years. It currently covers her hands. She's not as tall as DD1 was at the same age. But she has spurts.

If we don't get the extra new jumper, we would probably get her a couple of other Cubs bits.

OP posts:

DelurkingAJ · 16/09/2020 12:50

Maybe it depends on what DD2 feels. I was going to buy DS2 a new book bag for starting school but he beat me to it by asking DS1 if he could have his old one and when offered a new one turned it down. If you’re agnostic then just ask her?

MaskingForIt · 16/09/2020 12:52

YABU doing the sewing. In Guides we were expected to learn how to sew our own badges on. The first few were a bit wonky, but soon improved. Surely self-reliance, responsibility and not being a burden to others are a standard part of being a Guide or Scout?

AriettyHomily · 16/09/2020 12:54

For £14 and the pain in the arse of the badges? New jumpers.

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