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?! 🙈

This is just sensible in my eyes.

My DD wanted a Barbies dream house and so I got her a second hand one. It was good condition and I got the furniture online cheap. She loved it and it was wrapped “set up”. Given their price new I don’t care at all it was second hand and it didn’t affect DDs joy at receiving it.

Congratulations on saving yourself from a Christmas morning battling with packaging. I set my daughters Barbie van up with all accessories and dolls so that she could play with it all straightaway ( it was new I just took it out the box Christmas Eve) she didn’t care about the absent box. I doubt any child would.

My kids have never had new toys for Christmas. We can afford it, but I just don't see the point.

One year DS wanted a paw patrol look out tower was £170+ with all the cars and character. I got it for £80. DS couldn't have cared less about the lack of boxes.

Last year DD wanted a Barbie dream house £250 new, got it for £85 already built, in perfect condition and with a bundle of dolls, accessories and clothes thrown in. She came down Christmas morning to the set up dolls house with posed Barbie's in it. She loved it.

Both know that when you go to a toy shop, the toys are in boxes but neither cares, they just want the toy. Both find Amazon boxes much better for crafting with 😂

I think it's fine op.

We used to have a really Green Santa
we sent unwanted toys/ gifts to Santa to gift on, while Santa would bring us pre-loved items - after all, his elves can’t make brand new toys for every child, when there are so many unwanted toys around. One of their jobs is to fix things, so another child can love it.

If you get a lovely gift box they probably won’t give it a second thought. You can also tell them that it’s out of the box because you wanted them to play straight away instead of batting with plastic ties.

I buy second hand wherever I can. I'm honest with both of mine and I've explained that by buying second hand it's better for the environment and we save money that can then be put towards other things.
Either just wrap them as they are, or buy Christmas bags/boxes and pop them in those.

When dd was younger, she loved Sylvanian families but they're really expensive so one year, I bid for a couple of lovely 2nd hand sets on Ebay.

We were going to spend Christmas with my Mum and Dad so I put their address as the delivery address and Mum and Dad wrapped them for me.

On Christmas morning, dd opened her present. That's when I discovered that all the writing on the boxes was in Chinese!

DS 5 is really into Octonauts. He knows you can’t buy them new because the cartoon is fairly old now. He loves that another little boy or girl has given their Octonauts up for him to have. We just do a cool display for them; we don’t bother with boxes at all.

I had this with my DGD 5 last year. I did the same and picked up a huge bundle from Vinted in fantastic condition.
I made a special Christmassy box and she was thrilled.

We've done this before and had them climbing the tree branches hiding behind tinsel kids thought it was amazing.

I think it’s a brilliant idea. It’s kinder to the planet and your purse, and it means you can give more than you’d otherwise be able to. Could you also buy the beds/buggys - that sort of thing with some bedding and maybe some clothes, pose the dolls, and then put the whole thing in a well decorated cardboard box?

Perfect ages to teach them about buying pre loved. We always did for our children and each year before birthdays and Christmas they would help me clear out their own unused/outgrown stuff to sell or give to others. My youngest is 16 next week and tomorrow we are doing a car boot sale to sell her outgrown stuff. I always used to tell them it was to make way for new stuff and make sure others can get the things they want that my children had once wanted. We won’t make a lot of cash tomorrow but we will have a fun day together passing on some lovely bits.

I get most of their presents second hand. I've asked family to do the same. Some do, some don't. My parents will get them a little something like a toy or a game for £1-2 from a charity shop and then put whatever extra money they would've spent into a savings account for when they turn 18.

I did this and put them in a gift box and my two were happy.

I did think about starting a tradition where at the start of December we leave some toys out for Father Christmas to collect and give to other children.

Mine never questioned the lack of boxes. In fact pre built was an advantage as it is straight into playing rather than impatiently waiting for it to be prized out of the box having been attached in a ludicrous way.

Or, when my son wanted avengers stuff and I got it second hand I bought big Avengers boxes in The Works and some of the packing stuff like you get in a lucky dip. I wrapped the figures and the box and he thoroughly enjoyed hunting for them.

The Works do some really good boxes and they are still used in his cupboard for storage.

@Awcw1234 What brand is it, if you don't mind sharing? Sometimes people sell Bratz, Lego, Sylvanian Families packaging on Vinted, Ebay, and other similar websites. You may be able to buy the boxes on their own on Ebay, Vinted, etc.

Santa wrote a lovely letter last year explaining that some of the toys were pre-loved as Santa knew that DC like to be environmentally friendly, and pre-loved toys created less waste and were better for the planet. Santa will be continuing the trend this year!

It's not a problem with my kids (older primary and teen) as we're honest about it (either in a Santa recycling toys way when younger or straight up honest as they've got older). I find that as we've made it normal, it's become normal with our kids. We also sell on our outgrown, good quality toys so they see both sides. They also get really excited to know other kids might have a lovely Christmas playing with toys they've also really enjoyed.

I've always done this, I buy pretty Christmas bags and tissue paper, wraps them to look like care has been taken, have a good Christmas

Don't feel bad at all, the boxes would just get chucked out anyway. My son was massively in to Paw Patrol 2 yrs ago and all their trucks were about £50 each (without any pups to go in them) and I think there are 6 different pups who all have thier own vehicle, then there was the pup tower that was about £150 and there was no way I could afford that so I bought a secondhand bundle for £120 and honestly there must have been easily £300 worth of stuff in it. If its in good condition all u need to do is give it a quick wash and spray with a detol spray and ur good to go. Xx

Not Father Christmas presents though. They are usually set out ready for play.

Second hand all the way - better for the planet, cheaper, and they get more dolls than you could afford new.

I choose second hand about 80% of the time! For me and my DD.
Dont even question it, it makes perfect sense. Personally I’d tell my kids, I’d say ‘yes someone else used to have them and they let me buy them! How cool is that. I think their name was Peter, he loved them but he’s 12 now so doesn’t use them anymore and he said he wanted someone cool and fun to have them next. That’s why it’s important to take care of things so someone else might be able to use them again after’ with a big excited face.

My almost 7yr wouldn't even think about if it comes in a box

She's wanted a Barbie camper and at £90 I balked at it last year

Got a second hand one for £15

It's wrapped in a black sack at the moment just to hid it but will wrap in Xmas stuff

Nothing wrong with second hand /pre loved