How many uniforms?

[Shleepymummy]

DD is starting school in Sept. How many pinafore dresses do I need? Currently have 2, wasn’t sure if I should get a 3rd. Everything seems to be out of stock everywhere, so thinking do I get a 3rd one now. Or 2 is enough? Thinking 3/4 polo shirts would be enough for the week too?
Honestly, I’m clueless!
Thanks

Depends how messy your child is. One of mine needed a clean jumper every day because it was always covered in food, the other one could go all five days in the same jumper and still look almost pristine.

5 polo tops is sensible to have a clean one each day and I'd go 2 or 3 pinafores.

Also depends how often you want to do a wash, whether you have a tumble dryer etc.

I had a boy, so no specific idea about pinafores, but expect a clean top everyday in reception. We managed to make trousers last two-three days normally. Obviously it depends how often you want to wash, but we went 4 of each kind of top and 3 bottoms!

I had 3 polo shirts and 2 pinafore to start with. I figured wear 2 polo and 1 pinafore wash on a Tuesday night. dry Wed and ready to wear on Thursday.
My kids were quite clean kids so this worked OK. After a while I bought a couple more pinefores or skirts or trousers.
If you have messy kids you will need a set for every day.

She likes to wipe her hands and face on clothes…🫠 So maybe I’ll go 3 pinafores and 5 polos.

We have six of everything. This allows us to do a weekly wash and put clean on every day. It also allows for the assumption that at least one of everything is going to come out with a stain on it... there always seems to be something that needs to go in again. But this is where I've landed after years of frantic mid week washes. It also means where there is an item that I can't get the stain out of that we have a full weeks worth of the item until I can replace it. PE kit we have two sets (but its cheap, non branded white t shirt and non branded black shorts) to again tie in with a weekend wash.

Sounds like you’re a pro. I didn’t really think about stains, don’t know why because nursery is carnage. I’m hoping the grey dresses will hide a lot, and I’ll get fully stocked on white polos. If I knew I could get stuff all the time I wouldn’t be fussed, but for some reason every retailer seems to be out of stock of everything….is this how it always is?!

6 polo shirts. One for each day and one to keep new for school photos day when it happens, because the others will all be stained by then!

I would suggest for reception you have 6 polo shirts, 6 tights, two cardigans and three pinafores/skirts/trousers as most schools request a full set of spare uniform is left in school “just in case”

Does your school expect them to come in in PE kit at least 1 day per week, meaning they’d only need to wear uniform for 4 days max each week? In that context 3 pinafores sounds plenty even stains—allowing

I did same 3 pinnys/trousers. 2 days. 2 days , friday.

And i had a clean polo for each day of the week. Theyre cheap enough.

All washed on a sunday.

Do you mean you bought new uniform if it got a stain on?

If so I really wouldn't suggest you go down that road OP, who cares is school uniform has a few marks on?

Personally I don't see why this is a decision that needs to be made before the current school year has ended. You don't need to buy everything in advance, the supermarkets sell uniform all year round. If it's for budget reasons I'd suggest putting the money aside for later in the year and if you don't need it it's a nice bonus

I think you have enough to get starterd. There is bound to be a school second hand shop (probably run by the PTA) where you can get more uniform for £1/£2 per item. Once term starts, the PTA will bring their wares to school events.

Personally, I have a full set x 5 for reception aged children. They need a full set every day, and I would rather have extra than need to get stuff dry midweek in the winter. But I’m very happy to buy fro the second hand shop, so cost isn’t a limiting factor.

TBH my 14 year old is happiest if he has a full set of uniform for each day. We have managed a few school year with 3 x trousers, but he’d much rather know he can have a clean set each day. Second hand shop still very much in use!

Most primaries wear their pe kits for the whole day now so if they do pe twice a week like our school does 3 pinafores is more than enough I reckon I'd get away with two but I buy three just in case washing is difficult in winter, lack of drying etc. I normally buy 2 packs of polo tops so 4 but again you could probably wash lots and buy two. Also girls only wear the pinafores until spring then most school are in summer dresses then too

If your DC is a messy eater I would say either a clean uniform for every day or be prepared to do a lot of sponging. Also insist on them changing out of uniform before dinner as if it’s escaped a lunchtime stain it surely won’t escape dinner!

However - I’d buy a couple of sets new and then hold out for second hand uniform sales, there may well be one near beginning of term.

I then buy two cardigans and one pe hoodie and two pe t shirts and two leggings/ shorts for pe

Depends how frequently you do washing.
My ds is 13 and still needs a clean pair of trousers every day due to grass stains/food mess/mud.
Okay technically not a need but I’m not sending him in looking dirty.
We always had 6 shirts/polos, the girls had 2 skirts/pinafores each and ds has always had 5 pairs of bottoms. 3 sweatshirts/cardigans.

3
wash wear spare

mon Tue 1&2

wash tue night

no 3 wed

thur and Fri 1 &2

weekend wash 123 and start again

usually have pe /forest school twice a week so 3 uniform and 2 pe tops /shorts

We got a polo for each day and three jumpers to start, we then picked up another two jumpers at a uniform swap, we currently seem to have two polos and one jumper, despite putting names in!!

My daughter needs a school uniform 7 days a fortnight and we started with 2 pinafores, 1 skirt and 2 trousers. I wasn't sure what she would like and she favoured skirts and trousers so we got another 2 skirts and this has been more than enough

We generally only get one day out of a uniform

For the summer term she has 3 gingham dresses, 2 shorts and still wears her skirts and trousers on cooler days. She's not worn a pinafore since Easter!

I wouldn't commit to too many of a certain type of uniform before you know what works for your child

7 of everything other than cardigans we just get 3

We had five of everything to allow for washing once a week and food and paint spillages. We also had a spare polo and trousers in school for the first year. Our school doesn't allow pinafores or dresses but we had a mix of skirts, skorts, shorts and trousers for variety. In winter we always did trousers on PE days as socks can stay on for PE and tights can be tricky.

I get 4 of everything. They have to send in a bag of spares that stays on their peg so that leaves us with one on, one in the wash and a spare so with a midweek wash it’s enough.

I would recommend at least 3 cardigans/jumpers or anything removable/changed into/out of. My eldest lost her cardigan first day of school- never to be seen again. My son lost his trousers changing for PE, again never seen again. Over the years many items will go missing, sometimes you get it back days or weeks later, sometimes never. So you always want a spare or two at home.

Same!

That sounds like my thinking!!

@Shleepymummy if you can afford to I'd go for enough to have fresh daily at least.

but yes, get different things to see which she prefers!