Not to buy new wrapping paper for SC?

I use the same roll until it's run out. And I like seeing the old favourites come back. I will reuse nice paper if it's in good condition too.

Doing all in one paper for each child is a practical thing that only makes a difference when you are all there together and there's a mountain of parcels. So no need to have a third roll for someone who will be elsewhere opening them.

Wrapping paper is wasteful and using leftover bits for the child who gets presents at a different time is fine.

YANBU, it doesn't matter what lumps of coal are wrapped in as it all turns black anyway.

It is just wrapping paper. I really do not think anyone cares that much about it as it goes in the bin afterwards.

Mumsnet users hate step mums OP, so you won’t get a balanced response here.

It’s just wrapping paper. Kids don’t give a shit. You could wrap it in a tin foil or a bin bag, and they still probably wouldn’t give a shit. Just keep doing what you’re doing.

I think the confusion here is that you said you use "new" paper for your own two children, and the "leftovers" (suggesting old or previously used paper) for your SC. If you'd said every year you buy "specific" or "different colour" paper for your children who can then tell the difference on Christmas day, and use a mixture of the two plus other rolls for the SC who will open them on a different day, it wouldn't feel as unfair.

As long as your two children don't see "their" colour wrapping paper on your SCs presents and think it's one of theirs I can't see the harm, but for the sake of a few pounds I'd honestly just buy a new, totally different roll and call it the SCs wrapping paper.

Well i just assumed they would be wrapping the kids presents before Christmas and before the husbands kids came, but its fine they will know by who's is who's because of left over paper. It isn't the practicalities really it is the intent of the paper, and anything will do because they won't know.

But she’s only using different paper for her children so they know who’s present is who’s - not for some sort of special treatment. If the step child isn’t there on the day then it’s irrelevant what wrapping paper they have surely

This is such a non issue. Why does your friend even care? I’m guessing her kids have a stepmum, or she did, so she’s overcompensating in her head?

Laugh it off OP, you have done nothing wrong at all.

No, they won’t know, because they aren’t actually together in the same house when they open their presents.

I think it is perfectly fine.
Each year you need more wrapping paper, so you buy 2 different rolls and use most of them up on your DC.
Then everyone else gets whatever left overs you have from previous years.

No one knows this system except you (but you foolishly told friend).
No one probably cares or notices either.

I do think that's an issue then- not the paper but the attitude of "my kids have new, SC have what's left". I appreciate you're doing it for practical reasons but it's not great.

I get what you mean, my kids get a roll each to save labelling, leftover bits then wrap all labelled gifts. I don’t really see an issue tbh so long as dsc gifts are labelled. I’ve wrapped the dcs gifts in “another child’s wrapping” as they were having big gifts whereas teenagers have small ( expensive) presents.

But the only reason the OP’s own kids get different wrapping paper for each child is so they can tell whose presents are whose on Christmas Day - eg, in a pile of gifts under the tree, Child A’s presents are the ones wrapped in red and Child B’s are the ones wrapped in green.

Child C isn’t there on Christmas Day, so their presents don’t need to be wrapped in a third colour because they’re not going to be mixed in with Child A’s and Child B’s. C’s gifts can be wrapped in either colour because they’re not in the same pile as A’s and B’s and there’s no chance of confusion.

I thought you bought new paper?

If their dad doesn't care then wrap the presents how you like, bit you are also dismissing his children as unimportant, it doesn't matter if they don't know about the paper tradition you and their dad know.

The opening line of your post is "Every year I buy new wrapping paper"

As long as the SC is being treated the same more broadly, in terms of spend etc, I cannot see what difference thr paper they are wrapped in makes. Only OP knows Paper A is child 1, Paper B is child 2. SC isn't there when they are opening theirs, and quite honestly what child cares enough about the paper to even notice. Having different paper per child is the odd thing in the first place. Use the leftovers - otherwise what gets done with it? Thrown out?

Surely if the point of the different paper is to differentiate presents when multiple people receive them at the same time, but the SC is the only one opening them when he or she is there, it’s fine.
I reuse old Christmas wrapping paper for both kids and put labels on the presents though, I’ve never thought it needed to be different papers!

I think it's totally irrelevant - she's not buying new paper as a special treat, she's doing it so she can wrap all of one child's presents the same and not have to label every single one. If SC's presents aren't going to get mixed up with the others, it doesn't matter. No child gives a shit what paper they get.

You don't need different paper, just labels.
I don't care either way, I just wouldn't personally choose to waste paper every year.

Maybe it doesn't make a difference to wrap SCs presents in any old paper logistically, because they open theirs the day after, but if you buy special new paper for each kid each year, then it seems wrong to treat SC differently.