Backpacks and such

[dizzycooks]

I keep seeing people mention needing to buy backpacks and lunch bags.
Do you not reuse these year to year? Obviously they need to be replaced eventually, but I can't imagine replacing them annually. We've been using the same lunch bag for 3 years now. It's not pretty, but it's perfectly useable. Same with the backpack. It's dirty, a bit worn, but not completely unsightly or even close to destroyed.

[abs]

DD is reusing her backpack and lunchbox from last year but if she found something she loves I'd have no problem getting it for her. Whatever gets them excited for the new year!!

Lunchboxes tend to get gross and need replacing every year but since DD buys most days her lunchbox will make it a bit longer.

[jag01]

Maybe it's because I bought a cheaper Walmart backpack, but by the end of the year, DD backpack was worn out, the zippers were shot, clips broke off. Is it worth spending more money on a better quality backpack? Do the expensive ones last longer?

[cjcouple]

Our lunch bags get nasty and smelly by years end from ocasional spills. I try baking soda and different natural cleaners to clean them/wipe them out. I have tossed them into a washing machine and gotten ok results but they are just in poor condition. So those are replaced every year. I only buy cheapy $10 ones though.

Backpacks do get reused. My oldest has a Nike from last year in excellent condition so he will resue it. DS2, had a Lands End one and his zipper tore along the side and it seperated from the bag itself. Lands end cannot find my order and refused to replace it. I am pissed and will never buy from them again!! It shouldn't even matter which email my bag is associated with since I can't FAKE that a bag is from them since it has tags and unique style. So we got a cheap store one to fill the gap and get through 2nd grade that started to tear along bottom so we plan to get him a nice Nike one as well. But overall we have gone 3-4 years with similar backpacks before.

[gastro]

We are reusing everything this year for DS1. We got lunchbox and backpack from llbean and they both still are in great condition.

[momin2013]

We got DS a new backpack and lunch bag this year because he's starting JK; I fully anticipate (I.e. hope), however, that he'll be able to use both, or at least the backpack, for a good few years.

[penguingrrl]

We generally replace those things after 3-4 years.

[expectantsteelerfan]

My rule is 2 years at least for my kids. At the end of 2 years, if they still want to use it longer and it is holding up, then we will keep using. I imagine by the time they are older they will not change what they want/need as often. Ds got a Fila bag last year and it hasn't held up all that much better than the cheapo character ones, and I imagine by next year he'll have a new favorite color/style.

[susiebw]

DD is going into 1st this year, and it'll be her 3rd year with her LL Bean backpack. She started K with a cheap lunchbox from Children's Place, and it needed to be replaced by Christmas. For Christmas, she got an LL Bean lunchbox to match her backpack, and it's still in great shape so she'll keep using that.

[nicolewi]

DD1 used a cheap backpack for kindergarten, and that was trashed before the end of the year. She got a PBK one (small) that she used for 1st and 2nd. It's still in good shape, but she's upgrading to a bigger size for 3rd grade. I plan on DD2 using her old PBK one for kindergarten next year.

DS got PBK last year and will use it again this year and perhaps next. Then he will also need to go up a size.

Both kids get hot lunch a lot so their lunch bags are in great shape. We'll keep using those indefinitely.

[lala]

I don't buy back packs yearly - I get llbean ones and my currently routine is to use the junior size for K-2 and then upgrade to a larger one. The small one can still be used for road trips, carry on, etc.

Lunchbags are a mixed bag. I bought new last year but basically we now have 4 luncboxes that are exactly the same in different prints and all in good shape. So I told them this year we'll use these 4 and they can rotate. They are neoprene and can go in the washing machine, so they don't really get too nasty if washed.

[court26]

We use them for a couple of years, but DD fell in love with a Harry Potter one in Target and I agreed because of the price...and she has an awesome Vera Bradley from last year she can use if it breaks. I made DS replace his this year because I am too fearful that his superhero backpack isn't in line with what the other 4th graders are going to have . We usually replace lunch bags every year or as needed.

[cjcouple]

Aug 14, 2017 9:37:57 GMT -5 @mama2b said:

Aug 12, 2017 18:29:02 GMT -5 court26 said:

We use them for a couple of years, but DD fell in love with a Harry Potter one in Target and I agreed because of the price...and she has an awesome Vera Bradley from last year she can use if it breaks. I made DS replace his this year because I am too fearful that his superhero backpack isn't in line with what the other 4th graders are going to have . We usually replace lunch bags every year or as needed.

Genuine question, no snark intended, but why wouldn't a 9 year old be able to wear a superhero backpack? I see my middle school and high school age nephews wear superhero shirts and socks. My DH got a Superman shirt to match DS1 (3rd grade) and DS2 (1st grade) when they wear theirs. It's not Teletubbies or something specifically geared to a specific age set like pre-k. I am someone who gives my nieces/nephews toys for gifts until they start specifically requesting more mature things, why rush growing up? Some kids go by the beat of their own drummer, if he is ok with it and hasn't had an issue yet, why force it?

I get the concern. The last thing you want is for your son to be picked on for having character apparel. My son is heading into 6th grade (middle school here is 6th-8th) and my sister is taking them for lunch boxes today. I did mention my concern about him picking out a character lunchbox. He had R2D2 last year. She said she was thinking the same and will suggest Patriots or Red Sox, etc.

I will add to court26, 4th graders are still very much into superheros IME.  In fact, the super hero theme was used in my sons last school (4th-5th grade) as a symbol of what to strive to be as a student.
traits like: Courage and Bravery, Selflessness, Hard Work, Humility, Caring
, etc.

They even had the teachers faces photoshopped onto large full sized super hero bodies on their classroom doors...lol. For field day they all tie dyed shirts and every class had a unique color pairing. My sons 5th grade class was black and yellow after Batman.

My point is he would probably be fine but I totally get the concern.   


 

[fancynewbeesly]

Lunchboxes tend to replaced mid year-end of the year. Reese brings lunch most days and usually it is cereal and milk. Well after a milk thermos spill a few times no matter how much I tried to clean it, it still smelled like sour milk.

I buy extra lunch boxes when PBK has them clearanced in January.

Backpacks we don't replace. I told DH that we would replace it after this year. Backpacks I replace every two years---mostly because of the style/design.

[court26]

@mama2b , I always worry about things too much. I shouldn't have said I made him. I encouraged him to get one and he picked UnderArmour which is what his friends have for the most part. I taught the last 3 years across the hall from a 4th grade class and just took note of what kids are using! Other moms have even told me they get their kids all new underwear in 4th because they change for PE! It seems extreme, but I did take note of the size 6 underwear he still fits in with Planes on them. Haha. My son is small for his age, has asthma, food allergies and environmental allergies and I think I feel like he is an easy target for teasing already. We have some snotty kids in our neighborhood (his age) and he will still sit in the front of the bus every morning to stay away from them. He is still very into Imaginex, cars, super heroes, Legos, etc. He has a ton of character clothes and will wear them, I just noticed the trend that kids have "big kid" backpacks at this age. Probably overthinking!  Now you have me re-thinking!  

[nachos]

DD's LLBean backpack looks just as good in year seven(!) as it did the first day. She did ask for a messenger bag two years ago, got one, and went back to her backpack within a month. She's been gifted a couple of other brands as well, but keeps coming back to the original one.

Best money ever spent!