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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To worry about DS wearing £££ football kit?

63 replies

LegoCatLikesTuna · 22/08/2023 11:00

The only thing DS1 (9) wanted for his birthday was a football top and shorts with a player name and number. I cannot get over the cost of this (£70 for top and £30 for shorts) compared to the physical quality and quantity of what you get for your money. The material is so thin, it feels like something that will not withstand the rigours of a child's play.

He immediately wanted to go out and play football in them, and I know that is the point, but I just cannot stop ruining his fun by constantly shouting things like "be careful", "don't roll around on the floor", "don't wipe your mouth with your collar", "don't climb on that - you might rip something". I'm a nervous wreck. I don't have any clothing other than big winter coats even approaching £100 in value, and if I did I would treat them very carefully indeed.

I know football tops are a complete waste of overpriced tat, but it was DSs dream to own one. At this rate it will be in a very sorry condition in only a few months. I know he'll grow out of it eventually, but I would hope we'd get 2-3 years before that happened.

Do others just let their kids wear football shirts wherever and not worry about it? It feels like burning money. He's a very messy eater and I've already made him take it off at meal times! I know this is my problem, but we just cannot afford to buy a new one if it gets ruined.

OP posts:
Cropout · 22/08/2023 11:03

They are more hardy than you think. Many of my ds’s kits are still going strong having been treated in a similar way.
Keep some vanish in and let him enjoy his present.

FlowersareEverything · 22/08/2023 11:04

YABU. You need to leave the poor boy alone and let him play. You’re ruining the gift for him. Football strips get stained. It’s normal.

Cupcakegirl13 · 22/08/2023 11:04

I don’t have any advice but am in the same
boat with dd having just bought a Lioness kit
for similar price I was horrified !!
In my head I’m saying all the things you are , but i’m trying to relax and think ‘they’re only young once ‘.
If it rips or stains she knows there won’t be a replacement.

dikwad · 22/08/2023 11:04

I'm afraid you're just gonna have to let the kid crack on! Look at it like this, you've paid a lot of money for it so he needs to get your moneys worth from it so let the kid get mucky, sweaty, creased and yes it will look like a bag of shit within weeks but your son won't care and he'll feel so good every time he's got it on and that's worth the cost!

evtheria · 22/08/2023 11:05

It is lots of money on something they grow out of, sorry... Many of DS's friends have the latest kit from their team and wear them out casually. You can buy knock-offs, but I hear they're nearly always identifiable from the real thing.

araiwa · 22/08/2023 11:05

I hope you don't take your £100 winter coat out in rain and cold- you might damage it

thelinkisdead · 22/08/2023 11:05

You say the quality is awful but I disagree. I’ve bought MANY kits over the years as I have two football-playing kids and they pretty much live in them. They get a new kit or two each season and re wear older seasons’ kits alongside these. They get washed after every training session and largely they’ll last the entire football season and beyond. With some good stain removal and by being a bit discerning over colours (black and white mixed kits don’t last well as you can’t keep the white bright; pale pastel / white kits need careful washing to keep them stain-free), they last beautifully and dry in hours. I rarely get names on the back for my two but they can give money towards the extra cost if they want to.

I’m not one to spend loads of money on kids’ clothes but football kits are well worth it!

IfICantHaveYou · 22/08/2023 11:06

I agree they are worth it

They won't wear much else....and they don't need ironing!! Dry quickly too

TokyoSushi · 22/08/2023 11:06

Just let him get on with it. If it's a 'proper' kit (for the price, sounds like it is) they're surprisingly good quality, we've had absolutely loads over the years, they usually last the season an beyond with no particular special care taken.

thelinkisdead · 22/08/2023 11:08

evtheria · 22/08/2023 11:05

It is lots of money on something they grow out of, sorry... Many of DS's friends have the latest kit from their team and wear them out casually. You can buy knock-offs, but I hear they're nearly always identifiable from the real thing.

Always. My two love a knock off from shops on holiday - you can get great third kits for teams like PSG and these are less identifiable, but if you’re buying knock off Premier League kits, they are obviously fake. Nothing wrong with that though if it’s what someone can afford!

Chaoscreated · 22/08/2023 11:08

They are more wearing than you think. They are for the purpose of playing football and get some good cleaning stuff and let him
crack on.

Original poster
LegoCatLikesTuna · 22/08/2023 11:12

Sorry I realise this is the a drip feed, but he's worn them for one day and I washed them, and I've just noticed a really tiny hole/rip in the rear seam of the shorts. I have no idea if this was there already, and I could cry.

OP posts:
Original poster
LegoCatLikesTuna · 22/08/2023 11:13

araiwa · 22/08/2023 11:05

I hope you don't take your £100 winter coat out in rain and cold- you might damage it

I don't tend to roll around on the floor or try and climb trees in my £100 winter coat no!!

OP posts:
Ponoka7 · 22/08/2023 11:16

Do you have a local sewing place? Get them stitched. You would have spent the money on something, which would have eventually been discarded, so reframe this. He's getting to an age were all the stocking fillers etc can stop and just buy what he wants. It can seem a lot for one item, but if it is what he wants, then that's all that matters.

HousePlantNeglect · 22/08/2023 11:16

It's hard but I think you have to let it go and accept it will get shabby and torn. For this reason I have my DS in his ALL the time so we get some value out of it. He doesn't notice or care if it's getting dirty or damaged, he just likes wearing it.

Im with you though, it made me wince when he first got it!

musicforthesoul · 22/08/2023 11:19

I'd make sure he's aware there will not be a replacement if it gets ruined, then let him crack on.

I know it seems like a waste if it gets wrecked quickly but it's also a waste if he can't enjoy his present. It's better to just let him play in it and get the enjoyment.

MadNads · 22/08/2023 11:22

I've never had a football shirt that hasn't lasted the season. They're thinish to keep a player cool as the real ones are. They've always washed well. Can you add a couple of stitches - it sounds like the seam hasn't been caught properly - or take them back for an exchange?

CurlewKate · 22/08/2023 11:28

My ds always had the latest kit for his birthday (eternal thanks, MIL!) and wore them loads. They were always in a hand-downable state. They are much tougher than they look!

TheBarbieEffect · 22/08/2023 11:29

Telling kids to be careful is pointless. It doesn’t tell them what to do, it’s not specific enough.

It’s also counter intuitive, because it breaks their concentration. If a child is running or climbing and you shout “be careful!” then you’re breaking their focus and they are more likely to fall/trip/slip, and of course then you feel justified for saying it but you caused it in the first place.

Natutal consequences are important here. So you can tell him we need to look after our things because they can’t be replaced. If he ruins them then it’s an important lesson to learn.

But don’t ruin the fun of his new clothes by being on his case all the time. You may as well have not bought them as you’re taking all the joy out of them.

Original poster
LegoCatLikesTuna · 22/08/2023 11:51

I know IABU, but good to hear it all from you anyway just to reinforce it. Thank you.

OP posts:
Ilovelemonandsugarpancakes · 22/08/2023 11:52

We buy replica kits and you would absolutely never know the difference

ChickenNugget86 · 22/08/2023 11:56

I'm a football fan and like my son to wear football kits. He lives in them to be honest so don't mind paying, they last well just make sure I don't wash over 40 as the names can peel off.
I get the official home kit but use DH gate for replica away kits. Looking at £12 for a full kit, postage takes around 3 weeks.

RoomOfRequirement · 22/08/2023 12:00

If it ripped at the seam it sounds like a manufacturing defect and I would return for a replacement.

You are being massively unreasonable to be yelling at him to be careful though. You just shouldn't have bought it if you were going to be such a bore.

Friggingfrog · 22/08/2023 12:00

Just let him wear it. If he wears it every day then it’s ended up as great value for money! My ds lives in his because they’re so comfy. They wash well and dry super fast. I wouldn’t say he gets 2-3 years out of it due to growing but his little sister often wears his hand me downs and they’re still going strong

lemonyellows · 22/08/2023 12:00

I get replica from DHgate and they are very good copies

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