CM CLUB - do you have a 'uniform' of any kind?

[FeelingOld]

I am thinking of getting some kind of uniform cos i am fed up of ruining all of my decent clothes.
I have some t-shirts and jeans/cropped jeans I usually wear for work but I find myself wearing good stuff cos my normal working stuff not ironed etc and I am ruining all of my good clothes with paint, glue etc and am fed up with never having any decent clothes left to wear at weekends etc.
I was thinking about getting some polo shirts and getting them embroidered with my name,'registered childminder' and an emblem I use on my stationary etc so that I only wear these for work (like the ones nursery staff tend to wear). Is this a good idea or will it look naff?

I am definitiely looking into that as well, but having been off work for the last 6 weeks due to an illness, can't afford to straight away, hoping to do somewthing similar by the end of the year. I know of childminders who do & think they always look smart & promote childminding in a positive manner.

My dh was in matalan yesterday and they have some quite good quality polo shirts in there which are 2 for £8 (they are mens though as I am a 'larger' lady and I also like them a little longer than they seem to make womens polos) and there is a lady who lives just up the road from me who does embroidery so am going to find out how much she would charge.
None of the cm who are in my local group have them and I didn't want to get them if they would look naff but the more I think about it the more it seems like a good idea.

I also like the idea of these but like you've meantioned worried about looks 'naff', when I was telling another childminder I may do it she laughed!! But it's so true my stuff gets covered.

I also think maybe getting an apron may be a better idea as I could take it off before I go out (make sence) but very useful for around the house and feel a bit more proffesional. I'm sure my parents would laugh at me though, hum, they laughed when I put my reg childminder sticker in my car and front window

Sick of sick and other things on my nice tops.Go for a nice cut shirt and have it embroidered.You ll look pro and feel good!!!

I got a free t-shirt from Vistaprint had to pay p+p but was only a couple of quid its printed not embroidered but still ok, have seen them on ebay too think they were quite cheap too. I think it looks professional dont worry what anyone else thinks! I think I will get NCMA fleece this year as my coat pockets fill up with snotty tissues in winter!!!!

I have had a 'uniform' for over 3 years now. It comprises of a polo shirt (red, or white) with embroidered logo, red sweatshirt with logo (for winter) and I wear black trousers of some description with that. The Red and Black combination I find works well, and White and Black is not too hot for summer.

A childminder in the Poole area used to supply me with clothing, but I can't seem to contact her any more using her e-mail address - so if anyone has any contacts for low cost embroidery, do let me know.

I didnt get mine embroidered but bought in on transfer paper from PC world printed my emblem on them and ironed them on, all the mindees have one to, 'my' colours id bright yellow, than I can see all the mindees amongst the other children and others can see who the mindees are with.

Mine are Matalan ones, I also bought their elastic waisted trousers in black, comfy for getting up and down but smart looking.

But best thing ever is WHERE A APRON, I have one for each day and a spare, no more ruined clothes.

I have been thinking of doing this too. Think it would also help seperate work and home mentally, when uniform on working, change when last mindee goes and relax! If anyone finds any cheap embroidering people let us know.

I have worn embroidered polo shirts for the last 4 years. They do not look naff and I have had quite a bit of work come my way from wearing them. I get mine from a school outfitters who embroider school sweatshirts. I have also got strappy tops for the summer(not needed this year)and smart shirt ones for meetings etc.Word of warning though, dont use your trading name, if you have one, just a logo and the words Registered Childminder, trust me using a trading name is asking for trouble.

And yes they are tax deductable...

why asking for trouble tigerfeeet??

sorry, thinking of primrose vally there..tigersmum

reading through psots, i have been mulling oevr getting t-shirts done for a while as well as rain macs for me and children and umbreallas, i wouldnt give a flying monkey what anyone else thought tbh?, if they want to be THAT childish and luagh then theres something wrong with them??!

You must be reading my mind, I am also going into getting some t-shirts embroidered. I was just reading your posting Tigersmum and you say don't use a logo, why? Nurseries have them and they look more professional.

I have letterheads with a logo 'Lil' Fishies Childminding service' and 'Quality care for your little ones' and my policies have it on them too. Our Childrens Information Service also said it looked professional.

As soon as I contact a local place that will do the t-shirts (probably my son's school fleece supplier) I will have red and black trousers suitable for working in and at the same time looking smart. I wear the NCMA fleece and use the tabard for when I'm feeding the baby(!) or painting with the children.

Some may remember the trouble I had last year when my trading name was used to wrongly identify me as doing something I shouldnt have. Because I was the only childminder wearing a uniform with a name on (babydales) it was assumed(wrongly) that I was responsible for an incident which occured. Ofsted investigated and because the complaint was made in my name (taken from the shirt) the allegation had to go on MY record. Needless to say a lot of shouting later it was removed and since then any unfounded allegations are not held against you. I now only use the words Registered Childminder, although still use babydales on my web site etc.

ah, i didnt see that but what a nightmare for you!