Every parent who has labeled a full school wardrobe, daycare bag, and camp trunk has learned the same thing the hard way: ordering labels is not a one-size-covers-everything situation. The label that goes on a water bottle is not the label that goes on a care tag. The label that goes on a baby bottle has different fields than the label that goes on a shoe. Order one type and try to use it everywhere and you end up with labels on the wrong surfaces, peeling off things they were never designed for.
The good news is that once you understand what you actually need — which label type, which fields, which size, which situation — ordering is straightforward and most families find they order the same core set every year. The guide below covers every product type we make, what each one is for, how to customize it at order time, and the timeline that gives labels enough cure time to hold before anything gets washed or worn.
This is the post to bookmark before August. Whether you're labeling for back to school, the first day of daycare, an upcoming camp session, or all three at once — here's exactly what to order and how to think about it.
From the founder of Sticky Monkey Labels
I'm Dodie — founder of Sticky Monkey Labels, boy mom of three sons, two with food allergies and one with special needs, and 15 years in business since 2011 in Little Rock, Arkansas, BBB accredited. We ship all orders within 1–2 business days. If you're not sure what you need, call us at 1-888-780-7734 — we'll get you sorted before you order anything.
What's in this guide
1. Our Full Label Lineup — What Each Product Is and What It's For
Heat-activated adhesive that bonds into fabric fibers permanently. For any tagless clothing where the imprint is too small for a stick-on label, for socks and underwear going to camp or daycare, and for all fabric items going through communal institutional laundry. Cotton setting, no steam, 60–90 seconds total pressing time. No raised edge — completely flat against the fabric. Super soft with no rough edges. Sensory-safe when correctly applied. Permanent — cannot be removed for relabeling.
Specially formulated super-sticky adhesive that bonds to care tags and the largest flat area of tagless imprints. Also works on smooth hard surfaces. Peel and press — no iron needed. Lasts for years with home laundry. Not for commercial washers, dryers, or dry cleaning. Removable — peels cleanly from care tags for hand-me-down relabeling.
Waterproof name labels — available in multiple sizes and shapes
Pressure-sensitive adhesive on durable synthetic stock. For all smooth hard surfaces: water bottles, lunchboxes, food containers, school supplies, daycare gear, toiletry bottles, and more. Dishwasher safe. All sizes and shapes conform to curved surfaces — large rectangle, slim rectangle, extra small rectangle, large round, medium round, and small round. Alcohol prep required. 24-hour cure before first wash. Last for years.
Waterproof labels in fun cutout shapes — animals, stars, vehicles, and more. Come with a built-in clear laminate for extra durability and longevity — no separate overlay needed. Sized for large insulated bottles like Stanley, Hydro Flask, and YETI. Kids spot their own bottle instantly in a lineup. The option that gets older kids on board with being labeled. Great teacher gift alongside a Stanley.
Waterproof labels with your child's name pre-printed and a designated write-on area for daily information — date, ounces, contents, or whatever fields your daycare requires. Choose 1–3 customizable headers at order time; more headers available if needed. Contents can be pre-filled if your child always has the same formula or milk type. Wax pencil add-on: write and go, don't rub, wipes clean before nightly washing. Matching lid labels included with solid shapes; animal lid labels available as a separate add-on. Lasts for years through daily home dishwasher and sterilizer use.
Specifically designed for the inside heel — rated for sweat, friction, heat, and flex that shoe interiors experience during daily wear. Every order includes a clear overlay that goes over the name label — required, not optional, protects the print from heel friction. Both shoes of every pair. For shoes with material insoles: clean of loose fibers and ensure dry before applying. Laundry safe for household machines. 24 hours before first wear. Not for rubber soles, exterior surfaces, or Crocs.
Transparent protective layer that applies over a name label. For sunscreen and bug spray bottles at camp — active ingredients gradually degrade label ink over a full session without overlay protection. Also for lids using extra small rectangle or small round labels where extra protection is warranted. Not needed on die-cut labels which have a built-in laminate. Not needed on water bottles handled with clean hands.
Allergy labels and medical alert labels
High-visibility labels designed to communicate specific allergen information — "PEANUT ALLERGY" not just "ALLERGY." Place on lunchbox exteriors, daycare bags, water bottles, and camp trunks where staff sees them before any container is opened. Bold, high-contrast format that signals urgency at a glance. Always pair with written allergy action plan documentation submitted to the school, daycare, or camp before the first day.
2. What You Customize at Order Time
Every label we make is personalized at order time. Here's what you control:
- Name — pre-printed on every label. You never write the name by hand.
- Design / color — choose a color scheme or design that suits your child's personality.
- Write-on headers (bottle and food container labels only) — choose 1–3 headers: Date, Ounces, Contents, or others your daycare requires. More than three available if needed.
- Pre-filled contents (write-on bottle labels only) — if your child always has the same formula or milk type, we can pre-print the contents field so you only write date and ounces each morning.
- Die-cut shape — choose the shape your child will love on their water bottle or lunchbox.
- Allergen (allergy labels only) — specify the exact allergen: "PEANUT ALLERGY," "TREE NUT ALLERGY," "DAIRY ALLERGY," etc.
3. What to Order by Situation
Back to school
- Iron-on labels — tagless clothing where the imprint is too small for a stick-on label
- Stick-on clothing labels — jackets, hoodies, and outer layers (the most commonly left-behind items at school — left on the playground, in the gym, at after-school activities); everything else with an accessible care tag
- Waterproof labels — water bottle and lid, lunchbox, food containers, school supplies. Size to the surface.
- Large die-cut labels — for Stanley, Hydro Flask, or any large insulated bottle
- Shoe labels — both shoes of every pair
- Allergy labels — if your child has food allergies, on lunchbox exterior and water bottle
Daycare — first drop-off
- Write-on bottle labels — for every bottle, body and matching lid label separately. Add wax pencil at checkout.
- Waterproof labels — sippy cups, food containers, daycare bag, lunchbox
- Stick-on clothing labels — daily outfit and required change of clothes
- Iron-on labels — socks and any tagless clothing
- Shoe labels — both shoes of every pair
- Allergy labels — if your child has food allergies, on daycare bag exterior and every bottle
Overnight camp
- Iron-on labels — all clothing and bedding going through communal laundry. Every individual sock. Every piece of bedding separately.
- Waterproof labels — water bottle and lid, lunchbox, food containers, all toiletry bottles, trunk exterior and interior lid, shower caddy frame
- Large die-cut labels — the water bottle
- Clear overlays — sunscreen and bug spray labels; also for lids with extra small rectangle or small round labels
- Shoe labels — both shoes of every pair going to camp
- Allergy labels — lunchbox exterior, water bottle, daypack, and camp trunk if your child has food allergies
4. How to Estimate Quantities
The most common ordering mistake is underestimating — lids count separately, socks count individually, shoes count per shoe. Quick method:
- Clothing items — count every individual item × 1 label each
- Socks — count every individual sock (not pairs) × 1 iron-on label each
- Shoes — count every shoe (not pairs) × 1 shoe label + 1 clear overlay each
- Bottles and containers — count every body × 1 waterproof label + count every lid × 1 label separately
- Bedding (camp) — count every piece × 1 iron-on label each
- Add 20% across all types for replacements and new items through the year
5. Add-Ons Worth Knowing About
Wax pencil
Add-on at checkout — not included automatically. The writing tool for write-on bottle and food container labels in wet environments. Write and go — don't rub. Waterproof once set. Wipes clean before nightly washing. To expose more wax as the tip wears: pull the string near the tip slowly downward, one coil at a time. If wax build-up accumulates on the label: a small amount of cooking oil on a cloth removes it. Both the wax pencil and semi-permanent marker have been tested and neither sets permanently under heat — which is what makes them the right tools for dishwasher-safe labels.
Semi-permanent marker
Add-on at checkout — not included automatically. For dry environments: label surfaces, bags, folders, school supplies. Many parents also prefer it for bottle labels — works well unless there is significant condensation. Note: standard permanent marker sets into label surfaces and is not fully removable — use the semi-permanent marker or wax pencil on write-on fields, never a standard permanent marker.
Animal lid labels
Available as a separate add-on purchase alongside write-on bottle label sets — not included with the standard set. If you want something more fun on the lid than the solid shape lid labels that come with the write-on set, add these at checkout. Your child's name is printed on the animal shape.
6. When to Order — The Timeline That Works
We ship all orders within 1–2 business days. Every label needs 24 hours of cure time before the first wash or wear. Build both into your timeline.
- 3 weeks out — ideal. Labels arrive with time for relaxed labeling sessions, full cure time, and packing with days to spare.
- 2 weeks out — comfortable. Full time for two labeling sessions and 24-hour cure time before packing.
- 1 week out — workable. Order early in the week. Labels arrive midweek. Dedicate a weekend to labeling. 24-hour cure before first day.
- Less than a week — call us. 1-888-780-7734. We'll tell you exactly what's possible with your timeline.
7. Personalized Labels as a Gift
Personalized name labels make a genuinely useful baby shower, new parent, back to school, or end-of-year teacher gift — especially when paired with something the recipient is already going to label.
Gift ideas that work
- New daycare parent gift: A set of write-on bottle labels personalized with the baby's name, a wax pencil, and a note about the daily routine — or a gift certificate so the new parents can choose exactly what they need. Everything they need before the first drop-off.
- Back to school gift: A full label set covering clothing labels and waterproof labels for the school year — personalized and ready to apply.
- Stanley teacher gift: A Stanley cup with a gift card inside and a sheet of our waterproof name labels (plus die-cut labels for fun) tucked in alongside. The teacher will label the Stanley anyway — give them the labels that actually hold.
- Camp send-off gift: A set of camp labels for a child heading to their first overnight camp — iron-on for clothing, waterproof for gear, shoe labels, clear overlays for sunscreen and bug spray. Everything a first-time camp parent genuinely needs.
Browse our full product range at StickyMonkeyLabels.com — iron-on labels, stick-on clothing labels, waterproof labels in every size, die-cut name labels, shoe labels, and camp label packs. We ship within 1–2 business days. Questions about what to order? Call us at 1-888-780-7734.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I order just one type of label and use it for everything?
No — and this is the most common ordering mistake. Iron-on bonds into fabric fibers and won't work on hard surfaces. Waterproof labels bond to smooth hard surfaces and peel immediately from fabric. Stick-on clothing labels bond to care tags, tagless imprints, and smooth hard surfaces — but not directly to fabric. The surface determines the label type. Most families need at least two types (clothing and waterproof) and often three (adding shoe labels). Our complete back to school checklist walks through the full system.
How long do your labels last?
Iron-on labels are permanent for the life of the garment when correctly applied. Stick-on clothing labels last for years with home laundry. Waterproof labels last for years on correctly prepped hard surfaces — parents regularly report labels holding after two or three years of daily dishwasher use. Shoe labels last through the life of the shoe with the clear overlay applied. Correct application to the correct surface determines longevity in every case.
I'm ordering for multiple children. Do I need separate orders?
Yes — each order is personalized with one child's name. If you have two or three children to label, place one order per child. Many families order all labels at the same time before August and appreciate the separate, clearly identified sets for each child. Questions about ordering for multiple children? Call us at 1-888-780-7734.
What if my labels arrive and I realize I ordered the wrong thing?
Call us at 1-888-780-7734. We'll figure out the fastest path to getting you what you need. If you have questions about what to order before placing your order — please call first. It's much easier to order correctly the first time than to sort it out afterward.
Are labels a good gift?
Genuinely yes — especially when they're personalized and paired with something the recipient is already going to label. A Stanley cup with a gift card and a sheet of our waterproof name labels is a thoughtful, practical end-of-year teacher gift. Write-on bottle labels personalized with a baby's name are an excellent new daycare parent gift. Anything personalized is always more memorable than a generic alternative.
I've never ordered personalized labels before. Where do I start?
Start with what you're labeling and why. If it's back to school, use our complete back to school labeling checklist. If it's daycare, the core answer is write-on bottle labels plus clothing labels. If it's camp, call us — camp setups vary enough by session length that a two-minute phone call is the fastest way to get you the right order. Call us at 1-888-780-7734. That's what we're here for.