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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:
SylvanianFrenemies · 22/12/2019 21:41

we do have stockings, and use sacks for some bits.

Yolande7 · 22/12/2019 21:42

I "wrap" in cotton bags, which I reuse for Christmas and birthdays every year. Takes only a few minutes to do, but the presents are "wrapped". Maybe you could do something like that? Friends of mine use gift bags and reuse those. To me unwrapping is half the present. Seeing what it is straight away just isn't the same.

gottagetbetter7 · 22/12/2019 21:44

Wow, you are never too old to learn stuff, as I didn't know not wrapping presents for xmas (or birthdays?) even existed. But how absolutely miserable! FGS it's xmas, wrap the presents! YABVVVVU

teentree · 22/12/2019 21:45

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

This is weird. It's not about what they might remember, it's about the enjoyment they get out of it Confused

Wrap them OP. Yes it's a massive pita, but it does make it more enjoyable!

Cloudyyy · 22/12/2019 21:47

People don’t wrap their own children’s Christmas presents?! Wow that’s miserable!!!! Unwrapping is half the fun for the two year old!!

Likethebattle · 22/12/2019 21:49

Hate seeing presents not wrapped it’s just a bit meh! Most of the magic is in having things to unwrap.

herecomesthsun · 22/12/2019 21:50

We have big re-usable sacks. We also have some wrapping paper and tissue paper going on,but the sacks help a lot in making the wrapping easier,reducing the amount of waste and being more sustainable. The kids are very happy and excited and don't really seem to mind.

IWouldLikeToKnow · 22/12/2019 21:50

Santa presents are never wrapped in this house. And they never were when I was growing up either. All the other presents are though

heartsonacake · 22/12/2019 21:50

Yes YWBU and rather lazy. Make time. Your children will remember and appreciate it.

firstimemamma · 22/12/2019 21:50

Another vote for wrap!

I just knew there would be someone pointing out how "environmentally unfriendly it is" but there are plenty of ways to lessen the impact e.g brown paper.

Legomanships · 22/12/2019 21:52

We used to just get ours set out on a chair when we were kids, it was still fun to see everything and poke through the pile. Just do what makes life easier right now, I think kids just go with the flow 😁

TicTac80 · 22/12/2019 21:53

I've stashed a load of Amazon cloth gift bags, and I keep those for wrapping presents :D Otherwise, I'll wrap pressies using normal wrapping paper. I think it makes it more fun.

coconutty101 · 22/12/2019 21:54

Oh wrap wrap wrap , that's the most exciting part for kids!

SkateAway · 22/12/2019 21:54

Just wrap them in basic paper with a sticker on. Its faffing with all the fancy ribbon etc that's time consuming.

ILearnedItFromABook · 22/12/2019 21:54

I think it's a personal decision. We always had our presents wrapped, and unwrapping them was part of the fun. Even now as an adult, I prefer a wrapped gift to unwrapped. However, plenty of children grow up with unwrapped Christmases.

Do what works for you. I'm sure your children will have a wonderful time and happy memories, either way.

gonewiththerain · 22/12/2019 21:55

For speed you could just put things in pillow cases and tie the top up with ribbon

Doubletrouble99 · 22/12/2019 21:57

We have always had Santa's presents unwrapped in a sack for each of them and presents under the tree from us and relatives all wrapped.

Christmaspug · 22/12/2019 21:59

Wow
Lazy parenting,poor kids

jackwhitehallsdad · 22/12/2019 22:02

Not wrapping is more environmentally friendly, I suppose. Good compromise could be a gift bag taped shut? You can get big ones for a pound or two

WaterOffADucksCrack · 22/12/2019 22:05

Wow
Lazy parenting,poor kids Oh yes what poor kids having so many presents the taak of wrapping them is too daunting! Someone call childline! I say that as a wrapper!

Aged 2 my sons found unwrapping a chore and not fun at all. OP you know your kids best and what their reaction is likely to be.

gamerwidow · 22/12/2019 22:06

I "wrap" in cotton bags, which I reuse for Christmas and birthdays every year
Love this! Environmentally friendly but still preserves the excitement and mystery.

user32564567 · 22/12/2019 22:08

Don't be so bloody ridiculous. Of course you wrap them.

Fishcakey · 22/12/2019 22:10

Wrap!!! Don't be a spoilsport just cos you can't be arsed.

justcly · 22/12/2019 22:12

We don't wrap them. They each have a big Santa sack. So it's like a lucky dip Christmas morning. If it's a big present we hide it and give them clues.

MuddlingMackem · 22/12/2019 22:17

OMG, judgemental much - that not wrapping is miserable and my poor kids have been deprived. Trust me, if I had to wrap everything they'd get a fraction of what they generally get because I have much better things to do with my time.

Other people's presents are wrapped, and their presents from other people are wrapped, but (as another poster termed it) the toy shop effect of everything from us / Santa thoughtfully arranged is a definite wow for our kids. :)