Do you replace everything for a new school year?

[DocBunny]

Uniforms except maybe jumpers or p.e. shorts still in good nick I replace every year (I've already bought September's). School shoes always.

But what about rucksacks, lunchboxes, pencil cases, p.e. bags etc?

Do you replace these regardless of wear and tear? Is it unfair not to when their friends have all new? Is there a social norm? I should really know by now but it still baffles me. There doesn't seem to be any reliable logic to it.

Never did this.

A mixture. I am generally not inclined to replace things unless necessary but the definition of "necessary" will change according to the time in the school year. So in May it will not be necessary to replace a polo which is outgrown or stained. But in August, I'd replace it.

Thanks for the replies, I'm quite surprised actually as it always seems to me come September that all the kids stuff looks brand spanking new. I thought maybe I was just tight for not replacing everything.

One thing I always replace is school shirts/polo shirts. The polo shirts always shrink and no matter how much whitener I use the whole lot looks shabby by halfway through the year, at a push. So they get replaced twice.

This year dd has left school (hallelujah), ds1 has wrecked his schoolbag, shoes (he wrecks them almost monthly, I could throttle him), shirts, trousers and pencil cases, whereas ds2 has kept all these in really good nick (except polo shirts, which have shrunk). Is it still fair to replace what needs replacing?

Fair enough Scoose. If I just had the one I might well do the same.

DS has this amazing ability to ruin his uniform within about a term. His shoes at the moment are scuffed to high heaven, he's on his 5th pair since September. I usually have to buy new trousers 3 times a year as he rips them. Have to replace his jumpers each year as he's always lost them by the end of term or outgrown them. His school bag which was new at Christmas is ripped. Won't be replacing lunch box as only just bought a new one.

They've changed the uniform for September this year so have to buy all new anyway.

I'm hoping that as he gets older (he's 8) he'll become a little less destructive and will stop growing so fast!

Oh MrsFizzy, I feel your pain, I really do. I always have my sewing kit to hand for ds1 (14 now!!) as he somehow manages to wreck everything. I sometimes suspect he does it on purpose. How do you split a school jumper down the seams??

Conversely, ds2 (9) keeps his stuff in good nick! I just don't get it.

Erm I am astounded that people would replace things that don't need replacing- why? I am generally baffled?
I think this type of behaviour is what increases pressure on our children- to have things that look 'perfect'- no wonder we have increase in rates of anxiety and stress when as parents we inadverdantly dump a whole load of pressure on them as well. I think it's really sad actually 😔

I buy as and when they need things. I do a sort out every summer so throw stuff out/give to charity and then buy a few things to replace them. I do try to get as many of the new things on them and the smartest of their old things, on them for day 1.by day 2 they're looking bedraggled again.

Ds 14, couldn't care less whether anything is new, so long as it fits and it's too old fashioned.

Dd is just at the end of year 1 so I'm hopeful that in future years it will be different, but so I've had to completely replace all her uniform. She seems to grow in the summer months so nothing fits in September, the summer dresses for this term have no chance of fitting next summer. I've literally today replaced everything I don't however replace her bag/book bag, and she downy yet need her own pencil case and stationary.

The only item that covered reception and year 1 was her coat (and that was a bit of a squeeze). Her uniform still has a lot of life in it so I've passed it onto our neighbors girls so at least it will still be used

Milky I buy stuff because it needs replacing. Maybe other people's kids mumsnetters kidsdon't grow a size a year but mine do.

• mumsnetters kids

Of course it's fair to replace stuff that needs replacing .

Mine are getting new jumpers and shoes as have bust out of them. New bags as they are looking tatty and then skirts/trousers when they get too short!

Is it awful for children to wear things that have been repaired or look a bit tatty?

Drspouse (autocorrect tried to change that to despots ), I don't have a problem with it, I just worry about the kids getting picked on or feeling somehow 'less than'.

I almost always look a bit tatty

No drspouse it's not awful if you can't afford to replace them then it's fine. If clothes are tatty and you are spending money getting your nails done etc it's not fine.

rAndNowItsSeven- I wasn't questioning people replacing things when they needed too - of course I buy my children new uniform when they need the next size up- and if that is once a year that's fine. Op was asking about replacing 'everything' whether it needed replacing or not- and many said they did- that is what I find baffling

I see , well I replace things like bags and stationary that would be fine because I always had new as a child and my dc love the annual ritual.

Usually get new shoes, trousers (to replace worn out ones)
Keep jumpers
Buy new polos
New indoor shoes

So mostly new but keep bag, coat, jumpers.

Dd won't get new nursery uniform tho as it all still fits and only gets covered in paint! She will get new indoor shoes and trainers tho

Only what needs replacing, though that is usually most of the uniform and shoes. Water bottles, bags etc keep going until they fall apart.

No drspouse it's not awful if you can't afford to replace them then it's fine. If clothes are tatty and you are spending money getting your nails done etc it's not fine.

What if things are serviceable and showing signs of wear and I don't think things that can still be used should be thrown away because I think it's a waste and bad for the planet?
And what if I can afford to, but don't, and I do get my nails done and DH goes first class occasionally on the train but we actually have money left over and we still don't buy all new every September?
Is that awful?

Dd is a summer baby but she grows out of her age range around January this year, so she had the next age range stuff in Feb which will do her until next year.

I always wait for the sales (20%off Tu, M&s) and I'll pick anything up from a charity shop too.

Not unless it needs replacing.

I tend to buy new uniform but If eldest dc uniform still has wear left in it I'll keep as back ups for dc2. Pe kits probably only changed every 2 years ( I buy bigger sizes). Lunch boxes and pe bags changed as an when needed whether it be 3 months or 2 years. I do buy new school shoes for September but often end up replacing throughout the year.