to think that the people who design packaging for toys

[Portofino]

are either sadistic bastards, or they really believe that Toy Story is true and that the toys have to be so securely tied to the boxes to prevent them from escaping. I speak as someone, who after dd's birthday party, spent 30 minutes trying to liberate some littlest pets from their prison packaging.

That is half an hour I will never get back! Half an hour I could have spent drinking wine and MNetting doing something useful!

I'm sure it was on mumsnet that someone recommended alwayshaving a "toy opening kit" for christmas morning, containing:

Industrial strength scissors (+ possibly a saw)
Impossibly tiny sewing/nail scissors for fiddly bits
Wire cutters
Pliers
Tweezers
Screwdrivers (both types)
Paring knife for fiddly battery covers
Batteries of every possible obscure size
Gin (this one vv important)

I second gin as being very important, Bertie. Sadly my mum doesn't have gin in the house, but does have sherry - and the memorable christmas where dh and I had the great idea to give each of the boys a Harry Potter Lego model for christmas, it was only a large glass of sherry proffered at the right moment that prevented me from hurling the half-completed model of Dumbledore's office across the room!

The toys may be safe for under 3s, but the rubber bands/twisted pieces of wire/small pieces of plastic that litter the floor after opening the package are not safe.

And what is with sewing doll's hair into position in the packaging?

Oh the sewing thing is truly ridiculous.