How to inventively wrap second hand presents for one year old?

[duke748]

Hi all,

I have been buying bits and pieces for my almost 1yo DS from car boot sales and Ebay for a while and hiding them under my bed! Its his birthday on New Year's Day too.

I know he doesn't get the idea of gifts and doesn't really care what the presents are. But I quite like the idea of him enjoying unwrapping them. As well as the gifts not looking like a load of old second hand tat to family/friends who will be there to see him open them!

All the toys are second hand so don't have boxes. They are things like a HappyLand stuff (rocket and moonbase), books, soft toy, shape sorter, wooden train set, Matey bubble bath.... you get the idea.

I have been keeping hold of any boxes I have been using (mostly bloody Pampers!). But other than that I don't really have any ideas.

Can any one help? Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!

Don't bother putting things in boxes. They'll look far more interesting to a baby if they're irregular shapes.

If you remake the boxes into pull off lid type, and glue bright paper to them so they're a presentational thing, then just wrap the outside in a single sheet of tissue paper and scrunch a sheet or two inside the box. Tissue paper is easier for little ones to unwrap themselves; if the boxes survive you can use them again; and the hand made, thematic aspect will disguise the second-handity, if you think that it will make you glum.

(I hope though that, in real life, no one is actually judging the presents you give your one year old child!)

Thanks for ideas so far. Any others at all?

ps- the bubble bath isn't second hand... I'm tight, but not that tight!

I gave DS1 a 2nd hand happyland farm when he was 1yo and decided it was easiest to lay it out as if it was being played with and lay a large sheet of wrapping paper over it (slightly scrunched at the edges to hold it down!). He has never been very patient and it avoided the wait while I assembled it. He was very happy to just get on and play after ripping the sheet of paper off!

Otherwise, maybe you could put gifts in a large box (which you can decorate if you want, ribbons etc) and get some streamers & balloons (possibly helium if you're feeling up to the extra effort!) and put them in too. When he opens it then it'll look all fun? Of course, if he's like my boys then he'll just want the balloons

Just tell everyone you have already taken them out of the boxes. When they are that little they dont want to wait while you try unpacking it, cutting cable ties etc. Its just unwrap and play! Toddlers dont DO patience! :)

I do this with things that need assembling or look like a lot of faffing about will be needed before playing. I know friends who also undo ties and insert batteries etc before wrapping the toys to save the hassle on Xmas morning.