What's the Most Useful Back to School Combo for Your Child?

What's inside each back to school combo

We get asked this more than anything else about combos, so here are the numbers straight from the product pages.

The Back to School Combo in the Rainbow theme is Rs 899 and holds 8 embossed transparent stickers (3 x 3 cm or 3 x 3.5 cm), 24 waterproof book labels (7 x 5 cm) and 1 silicone bag tag (9 x 5.5 cm). Every piece carries your child's name.

The Starting the School Combo in the Rainbow theme is also Rs 899. It keeps the 8 transparent stickers and the bag tag, drops the book labels to 12, and adds 40 iron-on clothes labels (7 x 2 cm) that are washer and detergent safe.

So the real choice is simple. You're trading 12 book labels for 40 clothes labels. That's the whole decision, and it's worth making on purpose rather than by which theme looks cuter.

Which combo suits which class

Here's how we think about it, after packing a lot of these orders.

Playgroup, nursery and KG. Small children lose clothes, not books. Sweaters come off in the afternoon, socks vanish after PT, and every jumper in the class is the same navy blue. Books are few, and often stay in school. The Starting the School Combo fits this stage much better, because 40 clothes labels cover two sets of uniform, socks, a cardigan and a cap with room to spare.

Class 1 to Class 4. Now the book list grows. A child can carry eight to twelve textbooks and as many notebooks, and the school wants every one labelled. If last year's clothes labels are still holding, the Back to School Combo with 24 book labels makes more sense. If the notebook pile outgrows the combo, top up with a pack of customised name slips rather than writing names by hand.

New admission at any age. A new school usually means a new uniform. Start with the clothes labels. We'd go with the Starting the School Combo here, even for an older child, because the uniform is the one thing you'll be buying fresh.

Honestly, the theme matters less than the label count. Your child will love the unicorn for a week. You'll love the 40 clothes labels all year.

The detail we almost missed

When we first set up these combos, we thought the bag tag was the filler item. Something to round out the box. It turned out to be the piece that does the most work at the school gate.

Think about dismissal time. Thirty bags in a heap, half of them the same brand from the same shop near the school. A silicone tag hanging off the zip is the only thing a child (or the didi helping at pickup) can spot from a few steps away. A label inside the bag doesn't help anyone at that moment. So if you're comparing a combo with buying labels one by one, don't skip the tag. Put it on the main zip, not a side pocket, so it shows when the bags are stacked.

How we'd decide, step by step

When a parent writes to us unsure, this is roughly the thought process we walk through together. First, does the school have a uniform, and is it new this year? If yes, clothes labels matter most. Second, how many books come home? Count the list. If it's above twelve, the 24 book labels start to earn their place. Third, is there a younger sibling? Siblings share uniforms, so a clothes label with only a first name can be a problem later. In that case we'd suggest the surname on clothes and the first name on books. Finally, let your child pick the theme, because a child who likes their labels actually looks for them.

Both combos and all nine themes (Space, Mermaid, Unicorn, Rainbow, Zootii, Colorful Cars, Planes, Construction and Jurassic) are on the label combos page. If you only want the book-and-bag set, the back to school combos collection shows just those. For the clothes-label version, see the starting school combos.

Putting the labels on so they last

A few points from the product care notes that make a real difference:

• Transparent labels go on smooth, dry surfaces such as bottles, tiffins and notebook covers. Clean the surface first. Don't use them on fabric, leather or rubber.
• Book labels go on covers, diaries and folders. The adhesive is strong, so place them once and leave them.
• Clothes labels iron on to cotton uniforms, socks and inner wear. Use butter paper while ironing, and don't wash the garment for 24 hours. Skip silk, rayon and synthetics that can't take heat.
• The bag tag clips to the bag zip. Don't yank it on hard.

For which label goes on which item, our guide to name stickers for kids covers it item by item. And if you're putting together the whole kit, bento box and all, read the personalised school kit guide.

Our nine themes, side by side

Every combo is personalised with your child's name and printed after you order. We think a combo is the easier buy for a first-time parent, simply because it stops you from forgetting one category and placing a second order in week two.

Orders above Rs 399 ship free, so any single combo qualifies. Delivery takes 8 to 12 working days across India, which means ordering about two weeks before school starts is the safe window. We'd rather you order early and wait than order late and send your child in with a marker-pen name on the tiffin.