What are your experiences with labels

[learnandsay]

Our school sends letters of complaint that the playing field is strewn with unidentified clothing, and would the parents do something about it? I'm not wild about the idea of sewing labels into anything and everything, but if needs must, I suppose. But I was hoping somebody would know of a magical iron on label.

Just buy a permanent marker and write over the washing instructions.

There are loads of iron on labels around.

I use a biro on the labels and refresh it every month or so during ironing. I tried the marker thing, but it ran into the dc's white tops.

The ink transfer ones are not bad (these ones) for socks etc as are the clip on ones (these) - but there is, IME, no substitute for sewn in labels for jumpers, etc.

I have iron in labels from stuck on you and they have been good.

I use iron-in labels and unless I am lazy and don't do it properly (happened when I did it the first time ever) they stick.

DD's pinofortes and cardigans are now 9 months old and the labels stayed. The polo shirt ones survived the dryer.

I sometimes use a pen but DD doesn't like searching for the label at the bottom of the items, she prefers seeing it at the top.

I use the Fab and Funky iron on labels from Easy2name (you get a mumsnet discount too)

I do sew names into absolutely everything and a teacher complimented me on it [teacher's pet ]. Once you sew a few, you'll get quicker and quicker. I can sew a label in a couple of mins.

Oh and I went to a party and 9 x 5yo boys threw their (same coloured) coats in a heap. I could see a name in one of them only and I wanted to scream and had pity for their teacher.

I've tried various iron on, clip in and shoe labels ( I refuse to sew them in), but the only consistently good ones are from StuckonYou. They are so good I cant pull them off so my DS2 who gets all the hand-me-downs bless him, has clothes with his brothers name in there. Unfortunately though, StuckonYou labels are consistently expensive as well...

eeden I got a (virtual) sticker from DD's teacher for naming her backpack as instructed

I used Mynametags, they do a deal on stickers for lunchboxes etc., and iron ons.

The iron ons last about 6 months, but the sticky labels are good and great for waterbottles and lunchboxes. I also use them in shoes and they don't come out.

I can't bear the thought of sewing them in either!

I use labels4kids - vinyl clothes labels - they stick into the care label on the clothes - mine have been in use since sept and looking fine still

items like PE kit, cardigans, jumpers and coats you HAVE to sew them in, they just get thrown in a heap too often!
shirts, pinafores, etc... i use a stick on label or write on with a biro as they don't tend to get taken off so much (only for PE and then my dds are quite good at putting nicely on their chair, in my imagination anyway).

will try the stuckonyou ones, thanks, the easy2name ones i had weren't great.

oh and i never label vests, tights, socks etc... if they get lost or switched during PE then i'm not bothered (haven't lost one yet)

i use the iron on ones and they have never come off - to the point of being annoying if you 'smudge' it during ironing! I also have the sew on ones but the iron on ones are quicker and less likely to come off imo.

I also don/t do underwear/socks etc!

I sew them on and am (very gradually) getting faster at it. I used to be so slow that even my DD said i was rubbish at sewing. I do it because i pass all of DC's outgrown uniform on to other children.

However i don't do underwear or socks and despite the fact that DD is going away with school and we've been told to label everything, i won't be doing all of her own clothes as there's not enough hours in the day!

woven labels UK offer 36 iron on labels for £2.50 - they have always been fab for me so i've just reordered all mine for sept!

Thank goodness for lables!

Only yesterday, dd came hopping out of school, her summer dress up around her thighs... 'pull your dress down', I said, thinking it had got caught up.

Nothing moved down and when I looked in the back, she had a totally different little girls dress on - luckily she was still in school, wearing a very baggy, long dress - neither had noticed and PE was first lesson!

Thankfully, the other little girl is obviously a much cleaner and tidier model than mine, we could for once wear the dress for two days in a row!!!

Beanbagz - I don't usually do socks, pants etc but DS went away for 2.5 weeks with school - so there was laundry involved - and I had to do everything.

I need to order more name tapes now

Another vote for a marker pen...but a red one because just a flash of colour sticking out from the side label of a jumper and DC knows its his!

I went rummaging through the school lost property box last week, and amongst the innumerable (and lets face it, easy to lose) school jumpers and PE shorts, were 3 summer dresses, 2 really nice winter coats and 4 odd shoes which leaves me wondering about the precarious state of undress of some children at 3.30pm

Yes, marker pens are your friend! Even just a mark on the inside collar or something.

I use sew on labels

One pack has lasted us 3 years and I still have some left for September!

No laundry involved in DD's trip away stealthsquiggle but i'll bare that in mind for longer trips. Thanks!

dizzyday07 do you take off labels too? I have only bought one pack for each of my DC's. 10 years and still going strong here.

thanks for that dizzyday - I just re-ordered name tapes for DS at a fraction of the price I paid last time (and I still have a few of the old ones left, so I will be able to see if there is any difference at all!)