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

they do make other designs, my DS was happy with the blue flowery one as it was a surfer dude design I know you can get similar ones from other makers just not sure what the company names are.

Rilla never tried the bibs but the lunch box doesn't smell at all, we either wash it on a quick wash in the washing machine or put it in the dishwasher. Maybe it is because baby food is smelly and messy more than a lunchbox

Buy the brightest coat you can, easy to find if you child uses the after school club. Label everything. Trial school dinners if you can. I wouldn't sign up for any extra clubs, by half term your dc will be exhausted. I remember reading on here someone saying your reception child won't need any make up for Halloween-how true they were. Be prepared for tears and upset for yourself-I felt absolutely gutted when my dd started school.

I use these for sandwiches
www.re-wrap-it.co.uk/

I don't recommend the multi-compartment lunchboxes as they are difficult to get really clean in the corners. I use a lunchbag with a sandwich wrapper, carton of juice and clip lock pot of fruit. I also have food flasks for the colder weather.

No after school clubs nor loads of playdates etc for the first term until you see how they settle.

Own coat.
Sistema lunch cube. I would say NO to lunch boxes with drinks inside because at our school they have to have their drinks bottles on their desks all day anyway.
Yes to afterschool clubs if they are keen.

Clubs

Only you know your child. In my experience school does NOT make them tired.

Never in bed before 8pm DD1 still Never went to bed before 8pm and swam after school quite happily.

Won't go to bed before my sister (despite being 3 years younger) DD2. Was tired either. She swam, did gym and got staged out for DD1s Brownies.

She still got up before anyone wanted to see her.

Still does

The other advice is spot on. Coats end up on the floor and lunch boxes get covered in yoghurt. School won't let them empty them at school.

They say it's so we know they eat, I think they just don't want the hassle.

School dinners rock, if they will eat them.

Simeta cubes dishwash, you can fold them out flat
Other multi compartment things with hinged are very hard to clean.

I'd say:

I wouldn't buy the school coat. I'd go for something distinctive. Someone else will wear it home accidentally and you may never see it again otherwise. We have lost two cardigans this way and I know numerous others who have too.

Lunchbox - the fabric backed ones get grubby, despite washing on low temp. At our school they have to put the lunch box on the floor under their chair and they get filthy. I'm looking for a hard backed plastic one with a handle but I haven't found one yet. Our school doesn't allow any drinks to be taken in - they provide them.

Clubs - mine was exhausted for the first couple of terms. Guess it depends on your child. Also mine's quite shy so needed time away from people to relax a bit. So we didn't start clubs after school until year 1. Even then, she does two after school clubs and generally dissolves into tears after one of them - simply due to tiredness I think. We did a couple of things at the weekend instead in reception year.

Good luck with it all!

I second the fact that school won't necessarily make them tired - it depends what they are used to. Mine went from full-time nursery (8-5) to school hours and so never experienced tha fabled starting school tiredness.

Fab advice many thanks and all points noted and taken on board! Many thanks!

I can highly recommend this as a school coat www.togz.co.uk/warm--dry-jacket-29-p.asp

DS has the red one and it is fab. I agree always buy a size up (in togz there is no need as so huge - DS is 7 and the age 5 -6 is still roomy) and always get at least three years out of coats.

(For younger children the jojomaman bebe fleece lined anorak is ideal - wish they made that past age 4-5 - DS woere that an age 4-5 for three or maybe even four years as the sleeves roll up with fleece cuffs and it still looks good )

When you're labelling whichever coat you select, try to find somewhere in the lining where you can write your DC's name or some other distinguishing mark. Some findee parents are unscrupulous about snipping off labels if any nicer clothes than the ones their kids went out in make their way home accidentally, and then the item can't be identified as your child's if the label has the only identification marks.
I have no advice about how to proceed in the event of any such ownership dispute, mind you.

I recommend this lunch box. My kids one has lasted all year and still going strong. Roomy, easy to clean, they can put their own waterproof stickers on them to personalise.

www.amazon.co.uk/Lunchbox-Pearlised-Plastic-White-Handle/dp/B001ENBC9U