Experienced mums I need advice on the best lunchboxes, school coat or own coat.....

[mummyneedingahug]

do I sign up for additional clubs ie swimming after school in the first term or will we all be too tired?? I can't believe we all have to get out of the house 5 days a week by 8:30 :( sad times :(

Any tips would be very welcome! x

don't get the school coat

(a) because, from your child's point of view, he/she will have to grab one of 20 identical coats before going out to play
(b) from your point of view, it's more likely to get "lost" and commandeered by another child if 20 kids have one.
(c) why fork out for multiple coats? Your child can't wear a school coat during non-school time, but can wear a non-uniform coat the whole winter.

Best lunchboxes are ones that can be cleaned easily. The soft ones made of fabric get stinky quickly with younger children who aren't tidy with their lunches.

coat - NOT school coat for reasons given below. do go for a coat that is easy to clean, has a generous hanging loop , is waterproof, and name it VERY clearly in at least 2 places.
Do not go go for a white coat, or one with fun fur collar, or one that soaks up water.

Lunch box - lunch and drink inside one container of modest size. child able to open all containers by them-self. lunch box/ bag to be washable inside and out.

after school activities.... hard to say. if they do an activity already in the afternoon ( ie dance/ swimming) you may want to carry on as normal, be cautious about adding new stuff in term one.. most year R kids are knackered by 3.30.

Get the cheapest coat that you think will do the job in a colour that won't look grubby all the time. Label it clearly, but I recommend cheap until you know how good (or should that be bad?) your child is at losing things.

There's no such thing as a "best" lunchbox. Anything that is reasonably sturdy, non-fiddly and easy to clean (and label clearly) will be fine.

I'd leave clubs until after Christmas, and then only go for something if your DC is desperate to do it. The charms of after school ferrying pale very quickly!

We waited until Easter before doing anything after school. The first term takes a lot of getting used to, and the second term it gets dark early.

Not sure if am allowed to post this, but I sell lunch bags. Pm me and we might be able to work something out

Mnhq, please delete if inappropriate.

With lunchboxes, I would heartily recommend

a) one that has a mesh pocket on the side for a water bottle/carton of juice

and

b) one that has a shoulder strap rather than a carry handle, mainly because you can make the child carry it themselves with less hassle.

Try to get a coat in a different colour to the school colour if possible. It's much easier to spot your child in a red coat then if they are wearing blue like 100+ other children!

I like to get one from an outdoorsy type shop, eg trespass etc. they might be a bit more expensive than a supermarket one but they are properly waterproof and wash well. I've been lucky enough to get 2 winters out of the last one I brought :)

Fabric lunchboxes can be freshened up in the washing machine on a delicates/low temp wash cycle so there's no need to avoid buying them. The ones with a mesh side pocket are good for having the drink handy or carting in the classroom water bottle of your school asks that they have a water bottle handy.

I've been a mum for nearly 17 years and I've never thought of machine washing lunch boxes - goes of to try.

Off

I machine wash lunch boxes loads and it works great!

No schoolcoat.

They will be too tired first term, clubs can wait.

Any lunchbox is fine really imo

Thank you for the tip on washing lunch boxes in machine! My kids tend to get a new one at Christmas.

I got a funky keying to put on DDs coat zip. Helps with zipping and also makes it easier to identify. Put same one on school and gym bag.

Own coat

No clubs till Easter

School dinners

Buy a really good coat and buy it one size too big. Ds has always had three winters out of really good quality coats that way (one year too big, one year just right and one year a little small!). But you can't do that til they're about 5, obviously (I didn;t do it when he was a baby!)

well our school doesnt do school coats.

I love look duffles but they bulky and not waterproof.
I like some lovley rain macs but they not warm enough in winter.

The most successful 2type coats we had is

one from outdoors lace waterproof with detachable fleece inside. i wear nf triclimate my best mummy school run coat.

or boden padded anorak I like as warm but waterproof. and not too bulky.

This year im getting a pack a mac in a bag for school as sept/oct can be really warm months.sept eldest wears summer uniform still if weathers nice.

lunch bags-we gone for soft ones-yes have machine washed come up a treat we have 2-3 on rotation
But I fancy trying a bento hard box this year.

label everything we had few lots school cardies and they cost £14 each!

clubs -wait until after xmas unless shes doing clubs already.

when mine started reception she did 2clubs as as already doing those clubs in preschool then after xmas she started rainbows.

Any washable coat.

Lunchbox - get whichever style you want, but I'd avoid any character ones that they might 'outgrow' in the first few weeks. Peer pressure is rife even in Reception Make sure containers are leakproof and easy to open, as all the rubbish will get sent home - messy yoghurt pots, empty juice cartons etc. Teach them to put them in the plastic container rather than loose in the bag.

No clubs.

Def not school coat. Things go walkies really easily in school and the more "individual" your coat is the better. Other point is that its sometimes hard to spot your own child in a crowd of 120 kids wearing the same!

Lunchboxes -we like the bags as you can wash them. I always put a clear sandwich bag in so DD puts the spoons/rubbish in and the yogurt doesn't go all over the bag. But yes - you can machine wash them!

I would wait for activities. Your DC will prob make new friends and want to do whatever they are doing!

I wouldn't get the school coat for a small child, for reasons other posters have said. I'd continue with whatever coat your child already has when starting, and then when it was natural replacement time look for something suitable in a colour that fits in with the uniform colours. The best coats we've had have been the ones with a waterproof outer and a zip on/off fleece inner.

As there is often a late sunny spell in September, it might not be necessary for your DC to be taking a coat at all. Think about getting a cheap cagoule in the school colour in case of showers.

We have school dinners, so don't really know about lunch boxes. If school dinners are an option, think about having them. It will simplify your morning routine, and even picky eaters can surprise you be trying new things when in a new place with new friends.

My elder DCs did no clubs at all in Reception. Youngest did, but that was only because we were already going (for the bigger ones) so she may as well join in. It wasn't a huge success in the first term - she really didn't concentrate and sometimes wouldn't join in. Wait until later, when you know how tired/hungry they are at the end of the school day; and definitely wait until it's something they are really keen on doing.

Own coat - DS has two a padded parka and bright, hooded raincoat.

My ds has two - both washable with handles.

DS's school don't allow YR dc to go to clubs. DS didn't get the 'kids starting school are tired' memo. He was really hungry though.

Best lunchboxes are the hard plastic ones.All other bags/boxes eventually smell and need replacing.You can buy personalised ones on Lunchboxesetc. We've tried the lot and these were the best by far.You just empty and rinse out after use.

Don't sign up for anything in rec they are knackered.

Does the school permit no school coat? If not then ask if there is any in the 2nd hand and get from there.

I have 4DCs and having tied many different lunchboxes would say that the Bibbetta ones are the best,they are made of wetsuit fabric and will easily hand wash or machine wash and then dry overnight.

I have 4DCs and having tied many different lunchboxes say that the Bibbetta ones are the best,they are made of wetsuit fabric and will easily hand wash or machine wash and then dry overnight.

I've just looked for these on Amazon as it sounds like a fab idea, but I can only find a blue slightly flowery one which I don't think my 10 year old will like! Do they make other designs, do you know?

We have Bibetta bibs for the baby & they really smell, don't wash clean - think it is because they are so good at absorbing the food!