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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not wrap the DC’s presents...?

125 replies

mommathatwearspink · 22/12/2019 21:10

We’ve always wrapped presents from Santa for our DC (5 & 2). This year has been a bit manic and I haven’t wrapped a thing yet. MIL suggested we not even bother wrapping them, just lay them out nicely as she did when my DP was a boy. We have friends who do the same. So, AIBU to not wrap this year...?

OP posts:
northernlittledonkey · 22/12/2019 21:11

Wrap them, it’s most of the fun!

FudgeBrownie2019 · 22/12/2019 21:12

It doesn't sound terrible but isn't something I'd do. Can you enlist MIL to help you wrap?

starrynight19 · 22/12/2019 21:14

Wow even as an adult a wrapped gift is so much more fun

MuddlingMackem · 22/12/2019 21:14

It's environmentally unfriendly to wrap, and the kids just want to get into their stuff, not have to plod through mounds of wrapping paper. Grin Speaking as both the child of parents who didn't wrap and now a parent who doesn't wrap. Not wrapping is so liberating. LOL!

Try it for this year though, and if it doesn't feel right for you then you can wrap next year. :)

Kab30 · 22/12/2019 21:15

Please wrap ...magical xx

beautifulstranger101 · 22/12/2019 21:16

If you arent going to wrap them then you may as well tell them now what they're getting. Its either a surprise or it isn't.
Personally, I think a surprise is much more fun.

Leeds2 · 22/12/2019 21:17

I think part of the fun is ripping the paper off, so I would always wrap.

Set aside a couple of hours when the DC are in bed, and embrace the wrapping with some Christmas music and a glass or two of Bailey's. And, if you have a DP, get him to join you!

CSIblonde · 22/12/2019 21:17

Wrapping adds to the excitement as they wonder what it is. Wait til they're in bed then get nice glass of wine & open chocs for fuel: & get DH or MIL to help.

ineedaholidaynow · 22/12/2019 21:17

We don't wrap presents that go in his sack. So DS doesn't see them straight away.

Longdistance · 22/12/2019 21:19

Wrap them. It takes ages especially if you use loads of sellotape 😂 Christmas morning will be dragged out.

We normally wrap them Christmas Eve, but we wrapped them earlier this year. God knows what they got 🤷🏼‍♀️ Will be fun to watch.

Bourbonbiccy · 22/12/2019 21:19

I couldn't Imagine not wrapping them, it's all part of the magic.

Pipandmum · 22/12/2019 21:19

I love wrapping presents! And the excitement and anticipation of seeing a pile under the tree! Please do it.

CherryPlum · 22/12/2019 21:20

It's a bit mean not to wrap them

pumpandthump · 22/12/2019 21:21

We wrap stockings but have the main present unwrapped, built, ready to play with. For me, as a kid, I loved it. One year I got a Barbie dream house and Barbie and her friend were sat in the dream house lounge having breakfast.

Stocking presents get wrapped

Pixie2015 · 22/12/2019 21:23

As a non wrapper I think the magic of Christmas is the wow factor of seeing everything and been able to play straight away

thehorseandhisboy · 22/12/2019 21:24

At 5 and 2 they won't care and aren't likely to remember.

Do whatever is easiest for you.

You could wrap one largish one each for the 'magical' moment, but life's a bit short otherwise.

Wrapping doesn't have to be an environmental disaster if you use newspaper and pretty ribbon (actually looks lovely and ribbon can be re-used).

MuddlingMackem · 22/12/2019 21:27

Pixie2015 Sun 22-Dec-19 21:23:32
As a non wrapper I think the magic of Christmas is the wow factor of seeing everything and been able to play straight away

Yup, definitely was for me as a child and has always been for my DC too.

PILs were wrappers, so DH was sceptical at first, but too lazy to do the wrapping himself. After the first Christmas he was a total convert though. Grin

BlueJava · 22/12/2019 21:28

Definitely wrap them - much more fun!

RainbowMum11 · 22/12/2019 21:30

I've done a bit of a mix for DDs presents from Santa (they will be in her stocking anyway) - have wrapped presents from me though, as they will be downstairs & not from Santa.

sandyfoot · 22/12/2019 21:31

Weirdest one I heard was a friend doesn't wrap and kids are allowed to look at presents but not touch or play with until after breakfast. Wtf?

Teachermaths · 22/12/2019 21:32

I put them in a stocking but don't wrap.

Walnutwhipster · 22/12/2019 21:32

My mum never bothered. I hated that she didn't, felt it wasn't worth the effort. I remember how it felt to me. I'd never do that to any of my children. I've even wrapped a motorbike before!

Stompythedinosaur · 22/12/2019 21:33

I'm in the wrapping crew. I think it's more magical. I'd also worry the day would be flat if the dc got every present at once first thing in the morning.

I wouldn't judge you if you didn't though.

MutedUser · 22/12/2019 21:36

Magic of Christmas is seeing all the wrapped presents and guessing squeezing etc.

SylvanianFrenemies · 22/12/2019 21:39

I've been converted to not wrapping by DH. PILs didn't wrap for him, he thinks wrapping weird! He has persuaded me that the magic of Christmas is bursting through the door, and seeing "everything laid out like a toy shop". Certainly, the kids seem happy as they shout "Santa's been, Santa's been!" .

We do arrange stuff for maximum excitement, it isn't all dumped in a pile.

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