Names on bags… yes or no?

[Truedot]

Is a first name on a personalised backpack a genuine safeguarding concern? I can completely see why some have their reservations, but is it different if you’ve a child who is younger and the bag just goes from the car into the childcare setting etc? I just can see many reasons why having a name there would be easier but then I suppose you could use initials instead

Mumsnetters thoughts please!

Personally, I would keep the name on the inside. Otherwise anyone and everyone knows your child’s name. The likelihood of anything happening is low, but I would like to avoid random people being to approach my child saying ‘Hi XXX, I’m friends with your mum/dad ….’

It isn't something that's needed really.
A name tag inside is needed or if it's a school bag that there will be 30 identical ones children usually put a key ring or something as a way of identifying which bag is theirs.
No child "needs" a bag with their name printed on.

Surely if the child is that young then a responsible adult is with them at all times between getting in and out of car and entering their nursery/school.

Nope, no visible names on clothes, bags hairbands etc

Bags with names on the inside are annoying at camp, it feels like we are invading their privacy if we have to open the bag to look for a name inside.

Beavers are much better than Cubs and Scouts because they all seem to have vastly different bags, but once they are bigger function is the biggest requirement. Decathlon is a favourite because certain sizes just work well but their popular ranges often only come in 1 or 2 different colour options.

A name label attached on the inside of the shoulder strap or bottom of the bag also work if you want something less visible. Honestly, the bigger issue is not labelling any bags inside the main bag, because they assume what comes in a bag stays in a bag, so for us that is sleeping bag storage bags, inflatable pillow bags, dry sacs with clothes, but for schools might be lunch bags, pencil cases, p.e bags, spare clothes bags etc.

We use a luggage tag on the outside attached with a velcro cable tie to make it harder for it to just fall off, easy to flip and see the name but not on permanent display and easy to remove if we want to, which is useful with kids who all have the same initial, same surname and same bag like mine.

No. The wrong person could hear a child’s name at any time just as they may catch a glance of their name on their school book bag or yes, a backpack.

The risk is teeny tiny.

Absolute nightmare trying to sort out 30 unnamed bags at school, I could honestly throw the whole pile out of the window!!
As another poster, children are permanently Velcroed to their parents so I honestly don’t see the problem of a small written name on a bag.

Put it on the side that goes against their back.

My ds1 has had a bag with his first name embroidered on it since he was at nursery. He's about to start y5 and i'm surprised he was still using it because the design is quite "young". I bought him a new backpack this year partly because at some point he may well start walking home alone (plus this one is bigger). I didn't see an issue with it when he was with a trusted adult at all times but I can see the risk if he was alone.

It was so so handy - it never ever got misplaced or left behind!

Name inside, not outside