What kind of labels do you recommend?

[Selki]

My son is starting school this summer and I am totally perplexed with everything that needs labelled and all the different types of labels available. Can anyone give me advice on what to get and where?

I haven't ever found iron-in labels which actually stick (they all say they do, but I've tried a few brands and no luck so far) so I got the old fashioned Cash's name tapes and spent an evening sewing them in. The shoe labels are worth getting - I think I used easy2name.

I bought a stamp - saves so much time - alos used a permanent marker pen when couldn;t find stamp.

One tip if you have 2 kiddies and are getting labels is to get them made as "Adam Smith Susan" then you just fold over or cut the wrong first name off.

For clothes I don't think you can beat sew in labels, they are a bit more work than just writing names in but they don't fade in the wash and they are easy to read so you can find lost stuff more easily.
Try cashs
For lunchboxs, water bottles and sundry stuff I use these.
It is worth making sure everything is labelled as at my DCs' school lots of children have the same stuff.

Yes, I have a stamp and laundry label as well - having heard horror stories about people nicking clothes, I stamped all light coloured clothes on the side seam, or wrote the name with a laundry marker on the label, as well as sewing in a label.

Oh yes, notapizza is right about more than I DC, I should have said I just have my surname on the labels, luckily there is no one else with the same name in the school and it means you can hand down stuff more easily.

Thanks for your quick responses, Think I'll be getting a marker pen and some sticky labels for pencil cases etc too.

I got mine on ebay for about £4 iirc

I use the transfers from easy2name for clothes but instead of putting them on the garment labels I iron them into the clothes below the collar. As they are more like tattoos they cannot be peeled off. I use their labels for bookbags, shoes, water bottles and everything else.

I bought a load of iron-in labels for ds1 from www.minilabels.co.uk. However I am too lazy busy, so didn't iron them on. I used a permanent marker pen in the end, which was fine.

We use the following labels for things like lunch boxes/shoes, water bottles, DD has been at school nearly a year and we still haven't had to re-label anything, they even survive the dishwasher and are fairly cheap.

cgi.ebay.co.uk/50-Waterproof-PVC-SHOE-Name-Labels-School-Name-Tags-/310080541840?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Boy sClothing&hash=item48323d9490#ht3498wt1137

For shoes we use the link below, doubly useful if your DC can't tell which foot each shoe needs to go on, as the label is in the shape of left/right foot. Again these have lasted the life of the shoe.

cgi.ebay.co.uk/10-PAIRS-PRINTED-SHOE-NAME-LABELS-TAPES-TAGS-/260609439140?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Clothes ShoesAccessoriesBoysShoesBoysShoesJN&hash=item3cad8875a4#ht3271wt_1137

For clothes we use Cash's sew in labels (I only sew each end of the label) and I keep a permenant /dvd marker to hand for last minute labelling or writing on the bottom of PE socks.

If your school has a theft problem , then it's worth writing your childs's name in inch high lettters on the inside of the sweatshirt/ jumper ribbing round the waist (test first to make sure the ink doesn't run through).

The new stuck on you iron-on labels actually stay on! They sort of weave into the fabric and stretch with the garment. Even better, you can add a phone number if you want to!

www.stuckonyou.biz/unitedkingdom/index.asp

I label EVERYTHING!

I use these www.name-labels.com/index.php

They just stick on to the label inside the clothes and to shoes. Had no problems and DD has had them on her uniform since Sept. Not sure how they meausre up to the other options regarding value for money though.

I've got stuck on you labels. I got a value pack for each of my DTDs a while ago, and they've never come off anything - they've gone in the dishwasher (on cups and things) in the washing machine on clothes and the shoe labels have stayed put too. I've just used sticky ones on clothes - put them on the care label and wrap the edges round - nothing has ever come unstuck.

I'd say permanent marker in the label and across the inside of the neckband/waistband.
It makes it SO much easier to identify at a glance for both adults and children. It's also a quick way to name socks by writing either initials or symbols on the sole. Boys socks are usually grey and unidentifiable!

I've always used easy2name as well. Lots of types of labels, tags etc.

cat I'm the same as you, I have colour coded sew in name labels on the DC's school uniforn so that it is easier to tell which is which. DD has pink, DS2 has blue and DS1 has red.

Although DD is the smallest child in the school by far (the school sweatshirts and polos normally only go down to a size 3-4, I had to go to the shop and have size 1-2 ones done specially) so anyone stealing her uniform will soon bring it back as it won't fit!

I have 2 boys which are always loosing bags, coats the works!! Nightmare! Found these on google www.attachatag.com - little expensive for both boys but totally worth it! The boys attach them themselves and my mum doesn't have to sew all their labels in the clothes!Really impressed with the quality. Will be buying them again for the one due in January!

I don't like the look of those at all kat! It's relatively quick and easy to cut out the label from clothing, so the attachatag is no more secure than writing on the label with a permanent marker.

I think sewn-in labels are the best solution.

I personally love the sew-in labels. I quite enjoy sewing them in - as long as I spread it out and do no more than 5 at a time. Only sew the ends though, and loop them for socks, goggles etc.

Has anyone tried labels from John Lewis?
These:

www.johnlewis.com/230485469/Product.aspx

Cash's sew in ones are the best. Stick on ones do fall off but are useful if for example you are sending home clothes to school for a trip, a home clothes day, school play, etc. They dont fall of immediately and are quick to apply for something that is only ging to school for a day or two.

Also get a Sharpie indelible marker pen from WH Smiths which is very useful for sports kit, rulers, water bottles, etc. I never found the shoe labels any good that you stick on the insole near the heel. They fall off as well. Best to use an indelible marker pen on the inside of trainers. For school shoes that are generally black inside I use a Tipex pen. It produces a nice white mark and is nearly indelble as it soaks in to fabric.

I'm afraid I'll have to disagree with you, the attach a tag is great and I put it in the boys blazor on the inside pocket so now I attach them to places which would be stupid to cut out, Luke was putting them on his school uniform and tried his football boots and it went through on those.

I am paying my dd's friend who likes sewing, to sew ds's name tapes in ready for secondary school.
I cannot sew, or see to thread a needle even with varifocals- so it's money well spent.