Should you put a phone number on kids’ labels?

Some parents choose to put a phone number on a label, and others choose not to. It’s important to keep your kid’s safety in mind when labeling items. That means putting labels in less visible areas, such as inside tags, and using initials or codes such as hearts or stars to signify what items belong to your child. If you know your child is under constant supervision by adults they know at daycare or school, you might feel more comfortable putting your phone number on a label.

What do you need to label for daycare?

Each daycare is different, but a daycare might ask you to label your children’s bottles, spare clothes, shoes, jackets, and lunchboxes, for example. Kids in the same class are around the same age and size, so things can easily get lost or given to the wrong child. Labeling helps indicate which item belongs to which child.

What school supplies do I need to label?

It depends on how old your child is, but you will want to label any spare clothes, water bottles, lunchboxes, shoes, jackets, backpacks, and other personal items. The label does not need to be fancy; it could be as simple as a piece of masking tape, or you can even write directly onto an inside tag with a permanent marker. If you use a permanent marker, place a cloth or towel under the label before writing your child's name so that it doesn't bleed through to the clothing.

The 10 Best Labels for Kid Lunch Boxes and Clothing of 2023

Labels are a lifesaver to identify all your gear and prevent missing items. They’re also super useful for tagging and identifying toys, gadgets, or toiletries in a house with multiple kids. As kids go out into the world with backpacks, water bottles, sweatshirts, and everything else, it’s likely some of those goods will end up in the lost and found.

Which type you pick will depend on the item you need it for, as not all labels are designed to work on the same products. Some labels are best for clothing while others work better on hard surfaces, like water bottles. We carefully considered design, material, value, application, and purpose when reviewing products.

Find the right solution for you and your family with our picks for the best labels for kids' stuff.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Name Bubbles Pick A Style School Labels Pack at Namebubbles.com

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Best Sew-In:

Label Weavers Woven Sew-On Name Tapes at Amazon

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Best Budget:

Avery No-Iron Kids Clothing Labels at Amazon

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Best Multi-Use:

Label Daddy School Starter Pack at Labeldaddy.com

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Best for the Whole Family:

Mabel's Labels Split Name Label Pack at Mabelslabels.com

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Best Custom:

Minted Terrific Triangle Custom Label at Minted

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Best Fabric Marker:

SHARPIE Rub-a Dub Laundry Markers at Amazon

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Best Stamp:

ThePrintMint Kids Clothing Label Stamp at Etsy

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Best Iron-On:

Label Land Iron On Clothing Labels at Amazon

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Best for Water Bottles:

Lil' Labels Kids Name Labels at Amazon

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In This Article

Our Picks
What to Look For
FAQ
Why Trust Verywell Family

Name Bubbles

View On Namebubbles.com

Pros

Fully customizable
Waterproof

Cons

Not guaranteed to stick if placed directly on fabric
Shouldn't be used on rubber/silicone surfaces

The Name Bubbles Pick A Style School Labels Pack earned our best overall spot because of how easy to use and long-lasting they are. The custom school labels pack comes with 89 labels in six different sizes, including shoe labels, clothing labels, and a variety of other sizes.

Made with non-toxic materials, the waterproof labels are dishwasher, microwave, laundry, and freezer-safe. Not only are they super secure, but there are tons of design options to make your labels any way you want.

Price at time of publication: $39

^{Key Specs:
Application Method: Sticker | Best for: School supplies, clothing | Quantity: 89}

Amazon

View On Amazon View On Kmart.com

Pros

Customizable
Laundry-safe

Cons

Only 30 spaces available

For a classic sew-in label, look no further than this woven option. Available in packs of 36, 72, or 144, they can be customized with a choice of font, color, and motif. Reviewers note they stand up to frequent washings and don’t fade or unravel. A perfect choice if you need discreet labels only for clothing items.

Price at time of publication: $15

^{Key Specs:
Application Method: Sew-in | Best for: Clothing/Fabric | Quantity: 36, 72, or 144}

Amazon

View On Amazon View On Walmart

Pros

Laundry-safe
Budget-friendly

Cons

Must be handwritten
Not recyclable

Save money with these budget-friendly labels that are flexible and easy to use. Each pack comes with 45 labels of assorted shapes and sizes. Simply handwrite onto the labels with a permanent marker, peel, and stick. The labels can be applied directly to fabric, clothing, or other materials, no iron needed.

Washing machine and dryer-safe, they stay put. Some reviewers note that they leave a sticky residue when removed and while you’re saving money with the labels, you will need time to handwrite each one. For younger kids, handwritten labels may be harder to recognize than uniform colorful labels they can easily spot.

Price at time of publication: $9

^{Key Specs:
Application Method: Sticker | Best for: Clothing | Quantity: 45}

Label Daddy

View On Labeldaddy.com

Pros

Microwave-safe
Waterproof

Cons

Can cause injury if applied to hair, skin or fur

Label Daddy’s school starter pack is a great set with multiple labels for a variety of uses. The pack comes with 82 labels in four different sizes from bigger bag tags to extra small clothing labels. They stick on any hard surfaces like a water bottle or pencil case but only the clothing labels should be used for fabrics and clothing. Reviewers note they hold up well and the labels are waterproof, dishwasher, laundry, and microwave-safe.

Price at time of publication: $34

^{Key Specs:
Application Method: Sticker | Best for: Backpacks, jackets, lunch boxes, and more | Quantity: 82}

Mabel's Labels

View On Mabelslabels.com

Pros

Budget-friendly
Additional names can be added

Cons

10 characters each for first and last name

Perfect for siblings, this split-name label pack includes 96 total labels, with 48 labels per name. There’s a large assortment of small labels, so it’s the ideal choice for personalizing any items like toothbrushes, school supplies, water bottles, or whatever else gets mixed up in your house. Super durable, these labels are waterproof, laundry, and dishwasher-safe. If there’s a third kid, add an additional name for just $3 per name.

Price at time of publication: $23

^{Key Specs:
Application Method: Sticker | Best for: Toothbrushes, school supplies, water bottles, and more | Quantity: 96}

Minted

View On Minted

Pros

Stylish design
Made of non-toxic materials

Cons

Cannot be placed directly onto fabric

Designed by independent artists, Minted’s labels are as beautiful as they are practical. Within each design, you choose from color options and all of your personal information for a truly one-of-a-kind label. The dishwasher, laundry, and microwave-safe labels are perfect to customize kids’ clothing, water bottles, food containers, toys, sports gear, and much, much more.

Price at time of publication: $40

^{Key Specs:
Application Method: Sticker | Best for: Bottles, food containers, and more | Quantity: 30}

Courtesy by Amazon

View On Amazon

Pros

Fine tip point
Laundry-safe

Cons

May fade easily

Sometimes the easiest solution is the best. For a quick option, look no further than these laundry markers. The inexpensive pack comes with two black fine point markers. Great for marking fabrics, these fine tip markers last through washing and dry cleaning. Unlike labels, there’s no way to remove the marking once the fabric has been written on.

Price at time of publication: $6

^{Key Specs:
Application Method: Marker | Best for: Clothing | Quantity: 2}

Etsy

View On Etsy

Pros

Personalized
Non-toxic

Cons

Minimal odor
Has not been tested on all types of fabric

Instead of labels, a personalized clothing stamp can work well for some families. With a choice of eight fonts and self-inking or traditional stamps (that will require purchasing permanent fabric ink), you can create just the right label stamp. These will only work on clothing (not plastic items) and unlike labels, the stamp cannot be removed once the fabric is marked.

Price at time of publication: $19

^{Key Specs:
Application Method: Stamp | Best for: Clothing | Quantity: 1}

Amazon

View On Amazon

Pros

Customizable
Round edges to prevent peeling

Cons

Only one font offered
Font size adjusted by letters

Waterproof and laundry-safe, these iron-on labels can be customized with up to two lines of text. Order in packs of 100, 200, 300, or 500. Round edges on the labels prevent peeling. Soft on the skin, they’re strong and stay on any fabrics, but cannot be used on plastic or household items.

^{Key Specs:
Application Method: Iron-on | Best for: Clothing | Quantity: 100}

Amazon

View On Amazon

Pros

Budget-friendly
Bottle warmer-safe

Cons

Must be handwritten

Specifically made for bottles, these labels have a unique seal-n-stick process that makes them dishwasher, microwave, bottle warmer, and freezer-safe while being waterproof and BPA-free. Simply write on the label, peel the overlay backing to seal on the writing, and stick onto your items.

Parents of babies find these to be a great solution for daycare items. Since they are handwritten and not colorful, it may be harder for younger kids or pre-readers to identify the labels (and their items).

Price at time of publication: $9

^{Key Specs:
Application Method: Sticker | Best for: Bottles | Quantity: 24}

Final Verdict

If you’re still on the fence about options, check out our Best Overall pick, Name Bubbles Pick A Style School Labels Pack (view at Namebubbles.com). The custom school labels pack comes with 89 labels in six different sizes, including shoe labels, clothing labels, and a variety of other sizes. There’s also the Label Land Iron On Clothing Labels (view at Amazon), which are waterproof, laundry-safe, and can be customized with up to two lines of text.

What to Look for in Labels for Kid Lunch Boxes and Clothing

Purpose

Before you hit the checkout button for some labels, make sure you know their intended purpose. Some labels are best for clothing while others work better on hard surfaces, like water bottles. You’ll want to ensure the labels will stick to the items you have in mind.

And once stuck, it's important that labels stay put. So for clothing labels, for example, double check that they are laundry-safe. However, in some cases you may want to be able to remove the labels at a later date. If that's a concern for you, you may wish to use sew-in labels on clothing, for example, so that you can snip them out when your child outgrows the clothes.

Application

There are many different types of labels on the market, but you’ll probably notice three main types: Iron-on, adhesive, and stamps. Which type you pick will depend on the item you need it for, as not all labels are designed to work on the same products.

Iron-on/sew-in: These are typically made for clothing, and can be simply applied by ironing over or sewing the piece of fabric. They’re typically laundry-safe and waterproof, so you don’t have to worry about washing them once they're in place.
Adhesive: Adhesive labels are like heavy-duty stickers. You simply peel them and place them on the item. These are not usually the best option for clothing, but work great for lunch boxes, water bottles, and more.
Stamps: Customizable with the name of your choice, you simply put the stamp in ink and then onto fabric. These are usually designed for clothing, You’ll want to use another option for items with hard surfaces.

Water Safety

Because lunch boxes and containers and clothing are washed regularly, you will want a label that can hold up through water. Whether it’s in the washing machine or dishwasher, the label should be able to withstand the wash cycle. A label doesn't add convenience if you're stuck hand-washing everything you've labeled.

Double check the manufacturer’s recommendations for washability. This will also depend on the product, so if you’re using a Sharpie to write on clothes, ensure it’s safe for clothing, too, so that it doesn’t bleed while in the washing machine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should you put a phone number on kids’ labels?

Some parents choose to put a phone number on a label, and others choose not to. It’s important to keep your kid’s safety in mind when labeling items. That means putting labels in less visible areas, such as inside tags, and using initials or codes such as hearts or stars to signify what items belong to your child. If you know your child is under constant supervision by adults they know at daycare or school, you might feel more comfortable putting your phone number on a label.
What do you need to label for daycare?

Each daycare is different, but a daycare might ask you to label your children’s bottles, spare clothes, shoes, jackets, and lunchboxes, for example. Kids in the same class are around the same age and size, so things can easily get lost or given to the wrong child. Labeling helps indicate which item belongs to which child.
What school supplies do I need to label?

It depends on how old your child is, but you will want to label any spare clothes, water bottles, lunchboxes, shoes, jackets, backpacks, and other personal items. The label does not need to be fancy; it could be as simple as a piece of masking tape, or you can even write directly onto an inside tag with a permanent marker. If you use a permanent marker, place a cloth or towel under the label before writing your child's name so that it doesn't bleed through to the clothing.

Why Trust Verywell Family

Maya Polton is a former marketing manager and current freelance writer who covers food, home, and parenting. She’s also the mom of a 10-year-old son, 7-year-old son, and 3-year old daughter. With three kids, most people would think she’s a label expert, but she’s a novice. She relies way too much on a permanent marker for last minute labeling and now she’s considering a sweet family pack of labels that’ll make her go label-crazy on all her gear.