The Best Personalized Name Labels For Kids

FYI: I retouched my phone number on these photos for obvious reasons. Sorry they look so wonky! I clearly need a PhotoShop tutorial bad.

This is scary, but it's time to start thinking about back-to-school prep. (And this year it's not just for my daughter. My son starts school in the fall, which is just CRAZY.)

I'm usually pretty last minute with this sort of thing, but I have gotten a head start on at least part of it: personalized name labels!

For those of you don't have kids in school yet, labels are a must because you have to put your kids' names on basically everything they take there. Cups, clothes, lunchboxes  backpacks--everything needs a name. Sure, you could just scribble them on there with a Sharpie, but labels are way quicker, easier, and of course, cuter.

This year, I went for Minted's customizable name labels and they are adorable. (I've used Minted before--most recently for our holiday cards and my daughter's Valentines--and the quality is always excellent.) There are tons of different sizes, lots of great designs for both boys and girls, they're waterproof and dishwasher-safe, and you can even get many of them personalized with a photo. 

I chose two different designs--and two different sizes--for each kid. For my daughter, I got these mermaid labels and this pencil design. For my son, we did large construction-vehicle labels and this cute lion. (BTW, all of these come in different color options, too.) I even had my phone number printed on some of the designs, which is a smart option I hadn't ever really seen anywhere else.

So, labels are done! Now it's time to actually do some back-to-school shopping so that I have some things to stick them on. ;)

Do you guys go the label route with your kids' stuff? Also, when do your kids go back to school? Mine don't go back until mid September, but I still can't believe it's so soon. SUMMER, DON'T LEAVE ME!

**Update! Just realized that Minted is having a sale right now! You can get 15% off back to school stuff including the personalized labels. Use code SCHOOL15.

Disclosure: Minted provided me with complimentary labels for review consideration, but I was not compensated for this post.