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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

“Laying out school uniform”

365 replies

museumum · 02/04/2023 21:06

I’ve just realised that I’ve never actually considered the phrase “laying out school uniform” literally. Does anybody literally do this the night before? And if so, where? Have you all got massive “dressing” rooms? With space to lay out outfits?

We prep the school uniform, iron shirts and things. But it needs to stay in the wardrobes until it’s time to put it on.

AIBU to think laying it out isn’t really a literal thing?

OP posts:
LostAtTheCrossRoad · 02/04/2023 22:45

I don't get it. If you're having to supervise your child anyway surely it doesn't matter whether its hanging in a wardrobe, or lying on a spare bed, or on the dining room table. You've still got to go, get it, put it on. Just leave it in the bloody wardrobe - that's what they're for. Clothes! If you're not having to supervise your child, then presumably they can understand that clothes are in wardrobes or drawers. I just don't understand.

Pseudonamed · 02/04/2023 22:46

Never had uniforms here but when they were small I would put their clothes out on the radiator so they had toasty clothes to get up to of a morning.

melj1213 · 02/04/2023 22:46

I don’t think it’s about the number of minutes saved per se, the value to me is avoiding any morning panic because something can’t be found (like clean laundry hasn’t made its way back for some reason) and more importantly, the feeling of being ready/prepared for the next day.

This is the key - it's not necessarily specifically about saving time in the morning (though it does help) it's about physically setting the items out in the evening, when you have all the time you need, in whatever way makes things more streamlined and stress-free in the morning.

This is just something I have always done without thinking about it, it's second nature to have everything ready the night before - bags are packed and ready in their Kallax cube, shoes at the door, clothes "laid out", lunch bag already packed with none perishables so that all you have to add in the morning are the things from the fridge and/or make a sandwich etc - so that you know that in the morning you can just get up and go without having to start dealing with problems when you're on a deadline to get out of the door.

If there are missing trainers or a lost hairband, if a permission slip needs to be signed, if a lunchbox didn't come home from school or the only school jumper is disgustingly filthy because it got dropped in a puddle on the way home then knowing about it in the evening, because you have set everything out so it's ready for the following day, gives you the maximum amount of time to deal with it with the minimum amount of stress.

It also helps model this behaviour to your children to help them be more organised without thinking about it. From when DD was small I have always had her uniform organised on a Sunday for the week but as she got older I involved her more in the process - so at first I'd do it all, then I'd get her to help me carry the basket to her room with the uniform and have her open each drawer so I could put the days items inside, then I'd ask her to find the specific items in the laundry basket and put them in the drawers 'can you get me five pairs of socks and put one in each drawer?'; then I'd let her do it herself with just me supervising; then I'd let her do it herself and I'd just do a quick check when she was done to make sure it was all present and correct, then eventually I left her to do it all herself ... Now she's in secondary and she manages her own uniform every day but she unconsciously follows the same system of having things preprepared without even thinking about it.

Because of that I think I can count on one hand the number of times in the last 13 years we've had to do a mad dash in the morning because we discovered something was missing/unwearable last minute because it happens so rarely.

ChiefWiggumsBoy · 02/04/2023 22:46

We've never done it, unless grabbing the nearest trousers and jumper off the floor counts! Grin

linewithoutahook · 02/04/2023 22:47

I don't iron anything.

Put full outfits including underwear and socks on hanger the night before and hang it on hooks on the front of the wardrobe door though.

ReadersD1gest · 02/04/2023 22:47

Godwhatswrongwithme · 02/04/2023 22:38

Yes, I put Dds with socks and knickers on a small table in the hallway, her packed bag is on the floor by the table

😂. Why? Why do her socks and knickers have to be on the hall table?
This thread is bonkers!

Pseudonamed · 02/04/2023 22:48

ChiefWiggumsBoy · 02/04/2023 22:46

We've never done it, unless grabbing the nearest trousers and jumper off the floor counts! Grin

The floordrobe!

Lovelyring · 02/04/2023 22:48

Don't recall what happened at junior school but certainly didn't lay out uniform for seniors. It was the same skirt, tie and blazer every day so mostly just needed a clean shirt and I'm pretty sure I had enough to get through the week without washing any.

I also didn't bother changing out of uniform in the evening so I'd just take it off to put on PJs and put it in the same place every night. My room was tiny so very hard to lose any of it!

Pseudonamed · 02/04/2023 22:48

linewithoutahook · 02/04/2023 22:47

I don't iron anything.

Put full outfits including underwear and socks on hanger the night before and hang it on hooks on the front of the wardrobe door though.

Whats an iron? I put my own clothes out like that the night before all on hangers including underwear.

Pseudonamed · 02/04/2023 22:49

ReadersD1gest · 02/04/2023 22:47

😂. Why? Why do her socks and knickers have to be on the hall table?
This thread is bonkers!

I am not happy at the thoughts of any of mine swanning around out of their room commando. Put yer knickers on in your room.

ReadersD1gest · 02/04/2023 22:49

If there are missing trainers or a lost hairband, if a permission slip needs to be signed, if a lunchbox didn't come home from school or the only school jumper is disgustingly filthy because it got dropped in a puddle on the way home then knowing about it in the evening, because you have set everything out so it's ready for the following day, gives you the maximum amount of time to deal with it with the minimum amount of stress
That's getting school bags ready, though. Everyone does that. Different matter entirely to laying out clothes on dining tables.

linewithoutahook · 02/04/2023 22:50

Pseudonamed · 02/04/2023 22:49

I am not happy at the thoughts of any of mine swanning around out of their room commando. Put yer knickers on in your room.

Don't your children have nightwear?

Pseudonamed · 02/04/2023 22:51

linewithoutahook · 02/04/2023 22:50

Don't your children have nightwear?

Indeed they do although all sleep in knickers and boxers but they dress in their bedrooms. It would make no sense to come down the stairs and then dress.

ReadersD1gest · 02/04/2023 22:52

linewithoutahook · 02/04/2023 22:50

Don't your children have nightwear?

It would have to be removed in the hall if that's where the undies were kept, surely? Pointless... Who insists their kids get dressed in the hall?

bakewellbride · 02/04/2023 22:52

@LostAtTheCrossRoad my son is in reception and they wear a jumper and joggers that are the same colour. Stored away they look the same. I really don't fancy ds rooting through his drawers pulling out jumpers everywhere saying 'where are my trousers?' That's just more mess for me to sort out.

One set of uniform is laid out on living room sofa. Ds dresses and can then get straight on with watching tv while I get on with things. Works for us.

Pseudonamed · 02/04/2023 22:53

ReadersD1gest · 02/04/2023 22:52

It would have to be removed in the hall if that's where the undies were kept, surely? Pointless... Who insists their kids get dressed in the hall?

Mine are teens too so absolutely no thank you. I want to see less of your body not more at this stage.

ReadersD1gest · 02/04/2023 22:54

bakewellbride · 02/04/2023 22:52

@LostAtTheCrossRoad my son is in reception and they wear a jumper and joggers that are the same colour. Stored away they look the same. I really don't fancy ds rooting through his drawers pulling out jumpers everywhere saying 'where are my trousers?' That's just more mess for me to sort out.

One set of uniform is laid out on living room sofa. Ds dresses and can then get straight on with watching tv while I get on with things. Works for us.

Oh well, if time saved to watch tv is your priority, crack on 🤷🏻‍♀️
Pretty odd, though.

EsmeShelby · 02/04/2023 22:57

Literally laid out on a chair. My own clothes too.

bakewellbride · 02/04/2023 22:59

@ReadersD1gest hi, my priority is having ds able to put on his clothes without rummaging through his drawers confusing his trousers with jumpers as I explained. Pretty odd that you missed this and assumed tv is my priority.

If he dresses on time he gets 5 mins or so of tv before school. It's far from 'the priority', just a 4 year old still for 5 mins while I get the baby ready or whatever.

Also dh is a paramedic and needs to sleep at various times of the day / night. It's much better for his sleep if we get ready downstairs as then we are not disturbing him.

whereareyousleep · 02/04/2023 23:02

The only thing that's 'bonkers' on this thread is posters not accepting that some people do it different to themselves and that's ok. There's no right and wrong way. We find it easier to have everything ready so there's no stress my kids dress downstairs as they are both young so I can help while getting ready myself they get dressed last to prevent breakfast/toothpaste all over. At weekends the older gets himself dressed fine and I help the little one as it takes him 20 years! and he can't reach in his wardrobe. When they go to secondary they will obviously get dressed in their rooms. I don't like rushed stressed morning so this works for us.

ReadersD1gest · 02/04/2023 23:02

bakewellbride · 02/04/2023 22:59

@ReadersD1gest hi, my priority is having ds able to put on his clothes without rummaging through his drawers confusing his trousers with jumpers as I explained. Pretty odd that you missed this and assumed tv is my priority.

If he dresses on time he gets 5 mins or so of tv before school. It's far from 'the priority', just a 4 year old still for 5 mins while I get the baby ready or whatever.

Also dh is a paramedic and needs to sleep at various times of the day / night. It's much better for his sleep if we get ready downstairs as then we are not disturbing him.

You said he can "get straight on with" watching tv. You certainly made it sound as if this was a deliberate strategy 🤷🏻‍♀️

GodSaveTheClean · 02/04/2023 23:03

Uniform on radiator night before. School bags and shoes by door. Lunches and water bottles in fridge. It takes about 15 minute the night before. We don’t have dressing rooms! Until year 5ish, then it’s up to them to do it. Always the night before though.

I don’t hang out my own stuff but usually plan what I will wear the next day when I’m in the shower the night before.

PyongyangKipperbang · 02/04/2023 23:03

At times I had a minimum of 4 and then a maximum of 5 at school. So yes I laid their uniforms out. Money was used to its best so a full weeks worth of uniform each wasnt done (does anyone beyond the first term in reception when you realise that you are clothing the rest of the class with your kids lost gear?!), it was a wear and spare for each. Last thing before bed I laid out each uniform with underwear on the sofa. They would come down, get their breakfast, grab their uniforms and then go up and get dressed. Only did the "get dressed then breakfast" once....that day we used the spare!

It was the best time and money management way to deal with a large family all in school. It worked for us.

JimmyDurham · 02/04/2023 23:05

Nope. It lives in the wardrobe and/or ironing pile until required. A lifetime of having long-haired cats means we leave no clean clothing out where it can be turned into a cat bed.

Jourdain11 · 02/04/2023 23:06

I'm a little 🤔 at the uniform laid out on a different chair for each day round the dining room table. What if someone wants to sit at the table to eat a meal? And what if the weather goes warm or sth and you need different clothes for that day?

Mind you, I've just realised my DD2 appears not to own a single pair of socks as far as I can see, so what do I know? (And what has happened to them all,??)