Second hand toys for Xmas?

[Awcw1234]

Kids are massively into a particular doll brand and their items are at the top of their Xmas list. Problem is, everything is so so expensive!

I have picked up a fantastic bundle this weekend on Facebook marketplace… all in great condition but not new in boxes obviously!

I’ve got more than I’d be be able to buy them new but am I being a tight Mummy?

Tips on disguising the lack of boxes?! 🙈

I always buy secondhand everything; gifts and clothing.
This thread is so encouraging. When my DC were little and this subject was occasionally raised on MN, people would be quick to shoot you down as a tight kill-joy if you suggested pre-loved is kinder to both purse and planet.
To me, it feels amazing to know that I'm not contributing to any further manufacturing of stuff or depletion of finite resources. Hell, I even buy make-up and personal care products second hand. You can get pretty much any brand of any product as barely used ex-samples or customer returns online. Super satisfying.

I think you're forgetting that they're going to
believe Santa gave them the toys so won't expect reuse/recycle to be a factor.

@Awcw1234 nothing wrong with second hand Xmas gifts imo. I would try and get some nice Xmas gift boxes, card factory sell them. I do like the idea of it being set up ready too. In fact I've bought something brand new that I'll be unboxing and setting up

Absolutely nothing wrong with second hand. My son is 9 now but when he was younger, he loved Thomas the Tank and wanted the little die cast trains/Tidmoth sheds etc.

It would have cost literally hundreds to buy it new.

I got a big bundle off Ebay - loads of trains/track/Tidmoth sheds and other things for £30. A lady selling because her children had finished with it.

It arrived in great condition and has been well loved and played with here. He still plays with it sometimes!

If the things are in good condition, I think it's great to get 2nd hand. Better for the environment and cheaper!

I've always bought 2nd hand for the majority of DS's Christmas presents. I then open any new ones so everything is out of the box.

I then wrap everything individually and mix it all up on the sofa (santa brings all the gifts here).

One reason I wrap is that he is an only child and I think it prolongs the Christmas morning excitement- whereas when I was a child my sister and I had all morning to share looking at each others presents.

But it also covers the fact nothing is in an original box.

Large items I've packaged in santa bin bags from poundland - or a white sheet with a ribbon on it.

This is the last year we will have Santa, I have an inkling he knows already - but will keep up the pretence for this last Christmas and have the talk before High School.

He's junior school age and thinks you don't get him anything for Xmas? When other kids says oh I got this from Mom or Aunty Jane or Nan doesn't he wonder why you never buy him anything?

You could get gift boxes of different sizes or one big one and fill with tissue paper and hide the dolls inside then your DC have to hunt to find them through it. You could even wrap them if you wanted them to "open" them

No, you are being a considerate and responsible parent. Children need to learn about appreciating what they get, and being mindful of the planet

I’m going to go against the grain here. I’m a huge fan of second hand for all the reasons but for me, there was a tricky stage where my dc still believed but were old enough to notice things and ask awkward questions. It’s very easy to not notice a missing accessory or a tiny blemish that eagle eyed dc pick up straight away. I felt that it added too much stress to Christmas for me.

Before and after that stage, pre loved gifts featured at Christmas. We got the OG school set one year, and set it up with a note on the black board from the elves, wrapped up in paper with a big bow.

Getting vintage Lego sets that aren’t available in the shops was a huge hit Christmas for ds.

I always bought some stuff second hand for my girls. Love a bargain and is more eco savvy.

It paid off as by the time they hit their teens they were shopping on depop, vinted and eBay and saving a fortune. Prom dresses included.

You are so doing the right thing OP I have always done this too. One of the ways I hid the no box thing when my dd was little like yours was to do a santa trail! I know I am major bonkers but on Christmas eve after she had eventually gone to sleep I got the talcum powder out! Then my husband (god bless that poor man putting up with my crazy ideas!) walked on it to make santa foot prints,,I know barmy right?!! We positioned the dolls or prams or kitchens whatever we had bought for months on market place etc round the house for dd to find! The big stuff like prams .kitchens we just put a big red bow around it and placed it in the kitchen for her to find! Took bloody ages but she was never disappointed..maybe try something like that? You could turn it into a treasure map from Santa with easy clues? So much work but my dd loved it. Shes 12 now and its all tech so way harder to do but when she was your childrens age it was so much fun for her, One time we even had the dolls we had picked up having a tea party with some teddies we had got too...Yes I need my head read but no boxes and no problems!!!

I've bought plenty of second hand presents before. It just makes sense when some things are so expensive brand new.

Dd got a new barbie dream house last year but we assembled that before hand and stored it in the shed so that dd could play with it immediately. Same with dd2's toy kitchen, we put that together before Christmas Day, so I don't think it's odd at all not to have things in boxes. I wrapped a bit of paper round both so they could unwrap them. They never questioned if they were new or not.

Honestly, anyone who doesn’t buy second hand is daft. Why would kids care about boxes?

If you really want a wow factor (sounds like these toys alone are already exciting, though!) buy the giant gift boxes (from card factory?) and fill with that shredded paper stuff so they have to dig through (ie make an enormous fun mess) to pull out toy.

I bought DS a huge secondhand Lego set for this year, and I've gone through sorting the pieces into the various stages, and think I'll do them in colourful paper packets. He is 9 so will know it isn't brand new, but it can still look festive!

Personally think normalising buying thing second hand (within reason) is better for the planet, better for the wallets and if they like Toy Story well then it means the toys continued to be loved - Andy and Bonnie ❤

I would set the toys up on Christmas Eve like you would do Elf on the shelf, could be really fun and then write a note from the toys previous owner

I'm going away now. I need someone really special to play with them... You've gotta promise to take good care of these guys

And maybe they can gift on some of their toys 🧸

I can't believe people don't buy 2nd hand. Why ever not? Mean?

I also meant to say this year is all done too, I have bought a few new bits but my daughter wanted a gym membership and no way could i afford the time or money to facilitate that and shes too young at 12 anyway so we spent all summer doing her christmas right under her nose and she has not got a clue! We got a shed 10 x 8 from freecycle for 0 cost.We painted it and refelted the roof, We carpeted it and made her her very own gym! In it will be a rowing machine 15.00, a spin bike 25.00 a treadmill 10.00 some bell weights 8.00 for 4 and a hot tub for 2 people 50,00 She knows nothing of this all the stuff is hidden away at my mums to collect. She will love it I know and its cost literally nothing.All the stuff was great and admitted its not a peleton but its what she uses at school and loves so happy days happy mum who isnt skint and happy her for having her own gym! The shed will be wrapped in a huge bow with a tiny box holding the key for her.

Not 'mean' at all - sensible!

When ours were little, I often bought their latest obsessions 2nd hand on ebay etc - just wiped them with Dettol spray, checked for damage, wrapped them up & we were good to go!

I used to tell them that we/Santa had taken them out of the boxes to make it easier/quicker for them to play. Then, when they could understand, I told them they were 2nd hand & they were cool with it - we were selling their old stuff by that point, so they 'got it'.

That is brilliant!

I'd say 70% of the Christmas presents this year are second hand. I can get much more for my money and the kids don't care. The only things I'm buying new are things they've asked for that I haven't actually been able to find on vinted/ebay/charity shop.
My mil and sil are always horrified but the kids themselves love a good root round the charity shops so I think I'm teaching them well.

Totally behind this, kids don't need the box to play with the toys. Perhaps tie a gift tag around each doll and give her a back story e.g. my name is xx and I've just been to the Maldives on holiday with my girlfriends. We swam with dolphins and went ziplining and it was the best, now I can't wait to play with you!

@SleepingStandingUp

If you are referring to me?

My DS is 10 and I have always told him that he is our child and we are his parents and the way we parent can be different to the way his friends parents might. Eg he goes to bed at 8.30 'Frank' might go to bed at 10. But Frank is not my child so if he was he would go to bed at 8.30 if he was.

So he knows he doesn't get Christmas presents from us as through the year he gets other treats that other children might not get, like piano lessons or a new wetsuit if his is too small without it being a big gift.

Also we live in N Ireland and I don't think it's as big a thing here for parents to buy gifts. They all tend mostly to come from Santa. Or at least that's the way in my friend group.

So this is definitely the last year as I will have to tell him before he goes to Grammar or High school next year. I remember a girl in my 1st form class breaking down in floods of tears when the teacher mentioned nice lies, like Santa being real. So humiliating for her.

I think that's perfectly fine. Not only are you 1. Getting them a gift they really want but 2. You're being sensible AND 3. This is the way forward for a more sustainable way of living, both in a mental health way and a planet-friendly way. Much more effort has gone into this than just ordering online.

Go for it, and feel good about it too. Xx

I bought my then 7 year old second hand Lego for Christmas last year. Was fine.

My daughter is 6 and we have normalised secondhand. She has new things too but often she gets secondhand. I always tell her that another little girl or boy loved the toy / dress before and then they got a bit older and are now interested in different toys, so their mummy and daddy decided to sell their toys so another child could enjoy them and use the money for some new toys. My daughter seems to like this idea, and it is a good narrative for getting rid of our own things too. I don't think she cares about packaging - it normally just makes it harder to get at the toy inside that she wants to play with.

I'd rather allocate some of her birthday money to her savings account and if secondhand allows me to do that whilst getting exactly what she wants anyway, it's win win.

My ds is coming up 2. All the toys I’ve bought for his bday are second hand from Vinted. Brilliant condition and I’ve spent about a quarter of the amount brand new. Which means I afforded to get more. A few things are new. Maybe get 1 brand new and a coupe second hand?