Grey socks that DS1 can put on without crying. Please help!

[MeAndMySpoon]

DS1 is 5, about to move from Reception to the next class up. We started last year with two new sets of school grey socks - one set from M&S and one from Sainsbury. Both seemed fine for a few weeks. Then after repeated washing the socks - shrank?? became a lot less pliable, anyway. He went from being able to pull them on himself to needing adult help - they really were that stiff. Said socks don't seem to contain lycra as they were just standard cheapy school socks. M&S and Sains still stock them and no stretchier alternatives. Where the hell can I find lycra-rich socks that can be tugged on by a 5 year old without affording a huge amount of histrionics/swearing by adult helper because they are unstretchy and too tight? Thank god they keep their school socks on for PE, that's all I can say. He has two pairs of pale grey Gap socks that are lovely and stretchy, but too pale for school apparently. And about ten pairs of utterly useless school socks.

(and I need them by next Wednesday. shit)

(Sorry, v trivial post, but all the same, he does need socks!)

Tried Mothercare? John Lewis?

Try girls socks? DD has no such probs with M&S socks but hers are knee length.

Go up to the next size? Don't put them n the tumble dryer, it is sock death. Or you could buy some white ones you know will stay stretchy any dye them w dylon.

If you've been tumble drying that's your problem. M&S ones have been fine for DS because I decided not to tumble them after ruining a bazillion pairs of socks that way before.

my DD had this problem... I always brought socks at least one size to big, and never tumbled them on hot.
it did the trick...

I get ds's from John Lewis and they have shrunk a little. His previous batches have been from M&S and have been fine. Have you tried Next?

DS' socks were from Next and were comfy and easy to get on and off.

Asda! 5 pairs for 2.50, ds wears them for nursery. Wash well and are nice and fitted

I recommend Asda too. DS had the same socks for Reception and Year One. I tumble dried them too - pretty much every week thanks to the very long winter.

I hardly ever tumble stuff, though I suppose these might have been tumbled at some point. Mostly just slung over the radiator! Thanks, will try Next. No Asdas nearby though. I'm going to double-check the uniform code and see if pale grey will do, as I swear by Gap toddler socks, which go up to 5 but seem to fit forever. Would be good to get him socks he can put on himself!

DS's Matalan cheapy socks have been very impressive - still lovely and soft after much washing.

I have a 6 year old daughter who is fanatical about her socks being pulled up properly (and staying up) - I have found John Lewis the best for this. She has green and I am pretty sure they are unisex rather than girls.

Use fabric conditioner in the wash.

Also, when the socks are dry, roll them down into doughnut shapes so they can just be rolled up the foot and leg with a tug when they get to the top to make them nice and tight. Store them in the drawer like that.

You can do the rolling into the doughnut thing by pulling them onto your arm or onto DS's arm and then rolling them down.

GAP socks are wonderful (if expensive) they are much thicker and don't shrink - they survived DS1 and are DS2's favourite ones and always worn on PE days when he has to take them on and off himself.

next ones are lovely and stay soft even in the dryer.