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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Staying in school uniform after school?

217 replies

Jupin · 13/10/2020 19:12

Thought I would start a thread to see what others do as my partner and his family always comment on the fact that my DS stays in his uniform after school and I don’t see the issue so wondered if it isn’t normal.

He has fresh uniform every day but keeps it on until he gets ready for bed. If he wants to get changed then he will just get ready for bed early but I’ve never got him to get changed into other clothes when we got home and partner thinks I should.

I never got changed after school apart from as a teen when I was going out with friends after school. But partner and family are really judgey about it like it isn’t normal and it’s not hygienic (not covid they have always felt that way).

So do your children get changed after school and Is there something I’m missing about why I should be making him change?

OP posts:
hypochondriacseveywhere · 13/10/2020 19:49

Mine stay in uniform until bath or bedtime. No point in making loads more washing if not going anywhere after school. Mine even play out in theirs sometimes too. Clean uniform on everyday.

Mintychoc1 · 13/10/2020 19:49

@cricketmum84

I think with the current situation they should always get changed after school! Mine changes and I spray her uniform with an anti bac febreeze.

I'm a 90s kid and I don't remember changing after school unless it was into pyjamas though.

Why not just wash it?
CarrotCakeCrumbs · 13/10/2020 19:49

My 4 year old gets changed out of hers because I know if she doesn't she will spill her dinner down it; especially if that dinner has a tomato based sauce Grin. Her uniform is a colour that can't be bleached too Hmm but I see nothing wrong with it either way.

Shouldbeworkingnotreadingtalk · 13/10/2020 19:49

Always used to make them change as soon as they walked through the door... hated seeing that uniform and I'm
sure it "smelt" of schools ..... thankfully now older and at sixth form so no uniform. I agree with your hubbie x

Sally872 · 13/10/2020 19:50

Mine change because they go out to play and I would rather youngest wore cheaper clothes as at an age where more chance of ruining things. Uniform is hung up to wear again next day if clean enough (pre covid. Wash it daily now).

In the situation you describe I wouldn't bother changing him.

flumposie · 13/10/2020 19:50

Pre corona no. But as a teacher the first thing I do myself at home is change my clothes.

OneForMeToo · 13/10/2020 19:52

Mine all always change always have.

I was brought up that it was the kids of parents who didn’t care or where just lazy who stayed in their uniforms once home/out to play.

MitziK · 13/10/2020 19:52

School uniform is often far more expensive than ordinary clothes. so if mine were going to tip Bolognese sauce over something, I always preferred it to be the £2 t-shirt and not the £12 school shirt.

I wasn't allowed to change after school as a kid to save on washing. I never really felt comfortable at home as a result during the week and could never really relax, as I'd get grief about ruining my uniform.

AuditAngel · 13/10/2020 19:54

Mine have always changed out of uniform as soon as they get in. Means they wear fewer sets of uniform in a week.

Usually we also have activities 4 evenings a week after school which require different clothes.

DD1 gets in and puts pj’s on (well actually a t-shirt she nicked from her dad to wear for bed), DD2 it depends, today was PE so she had leggings on, they stayed on and she added a t-shirt.

I’m generally out twice a day for school run then back to wfh. I’m not wearing a minimum of 3 sets of clothes a day

Besides, our senior school issued instructions that nothing needed changing/washing more often than usual.

spiderlight · 13/10/2020 19:55

Mine never used to unless playing out after school, but at the moment I'm making him change and washing his uniform as soon as he comes in. Possibly unnecessary but it makes me feel better.

AlwaysUtterChaos · 13/10/2020 19:57

Two of mine do, two don't.. it's up to them, they have fresh uniforms each day so it's more a choice of whether or not they find it comfortable to lounge about in. One is in his onesie within 5 minutes of walking through the door every evening without fail 🤣

TheCanyon · 13/10/2020 19:58

My 4 all get changed straight after having a snack 99% of the time, I don't ask them, it's just become routine I guess with clubs or going out to play. When dh has a day off he would like them to get changed as soon as they've set foot in the house, he's a bit of a moany shit like that Grin

ImFree2doasiwant · 13/10/2020 19:58

Dc are young primary and pre school. They don't change if we're coming straight home and staying in. If weve beeen to the park they probably do change as theyll be filthy usually

Florencex · 13/10/2020 19:58

@JesusInACabbageVan

We certainly have never bothered with changing and haven't started now! We keep clothes on all day, why shouldn't they?
Well most adults surely do change after work don’t they, into something more comfortable? I have never sat at home watching Coronation Street in my suit.
CruCru · 13/10/2020 19:59

Mine wear clean uniform every day. They only get changed if they've got wet on the way home - otherwise it's yet more laundry.

Someone upthread said that they spray the uniform with anti vac Febreze. Does this also eliminate viruses? If not then what is it for?

Although people are very concerned about Coronavirus, it isn't good for the environment to do lots of extra laundry.

SomethingM1ss1ng · 13/10/2020 19:59

Daughter in year 2- uniform in the washing machine, straight to the loo for a wash, change clothes and then snack/30 min tv/reading or playing
I got 5 pairs of uniform so that I don’t have to run the washing machine everyday. They wear a mixture of PE uniform and the normal one during the week.
Even before COVID the routine was the same- my mum did this with my and sis so I guess I got used to taking off the uniform as soon as home routine.

happymummy12345 · 13/10/2020 19:59

My son always got changed straight away after nursery and always gets changed after school. Sometimes he spills a bit of his dinner on him so his jumper is dirty anyway (he's in reception). But to me it's the done thing to get changed. It means his uniform keeps nicer and in better condition because it's only worn at school, and he will be more comfortable in jeans or tracksuit bottoms and t shirts than he will be in his school trousers proper shirt and tie.
I always got changed as soon as I got home as well.

happymummy12345 · 13/10/2020 20:00

Also even now I love changing into my comfy bottoms and t shirts when I get home

MeltingIceCaps · 13/10/2020 20:02

This is one of those mn threads (there are MANY) that make you just wonder how difficult life must be for some people. I just can't imagine spending a significant amount of time with anyone who has a strong opinion on something as irrelevant as this. They think he should change? Why? Who cares?? Ugh.

Jellycatspyjamas · 13/10/2020 20:04

I was brought up that it was the kids of parents who didn’t care or where just lazy who stayed in their uniforms once home/out to play.

No judgement there then Hmm

My kids either stay in their uniform or change into pjs when they come home depending on what they’re doing. I don’t change them from uniform to other clothes to pjs - it creates extra laundry and they have fresh uniform every day, so their uniform goes into the wash. My DH and I also change into pjs/joggers at the end of the day rather than jeans, T-shirt etc.

I’m neither lazy or uncaring.

iMatter · 13/10/2020 20:06

My kids only change if they're wet when they get home

SarahBellam · 13/10/2020 20:07

Mine are teens. It’s £15 for 3 shirts in M&S, and &14 for two skirts. Their Nike leggings are £20 a pair and Jack Wills hoodies are about £50 each in the sale. They can stay in their uniforms if they want. I’d much rather they dropped spaghetti on a £5 shirt.

MeltingIceCaps · 13/10/2020 20:08

I was brought up that it was the kids of parents who didn’t care

Which is true I guess. In that I don't care if my kids wear their uniform in the house after school. Why the hell would I??

Marchitectmummy · 13/10/2020 20:08

Ours change straight after washing their hands. Clothes go into the laundry and whatever tbey choose to wear up until bath or shower. We do the same, its nice to be in relaxing clothes, do children really sit around in shirts and blazers?

SunshineCake · 13/10/2020 20:09

When they were small enough for me to decide they stayed in their uniform. No point using three sets of clothes a day, pyjamas bring the third. I now have two in school. One has changed, one hasn't. They are teenagers. They do what they want.