Disguise second hand gifts? Help!

[Alohoho]

Nc for this as I feel a bit shitty I can't afford to get the kids all new gifts this year.

I have 2c, 3 and 5. 3yo will be oblivious I think but I'm worried my 5yo is going to realise that alot of her presents aren't boxed like new toys.

Just looking for ideas for how to present them or cheap ways to make them look like they're not second hand. It's things like dolls with accessories, my little ponies etc.

Any ideas welcome!

I done the same last year with my 6 year old. Ordered some personalised boxes on eBay with his name on and he loved it. Didn't even question the original packaging being missing

Honestly I doubt your 5 year old will notice, I’d just wrap them nicely. If you’re really worried you could put them in a clear sandwich bag? But I gave mine second hand toys all the time and they’ve never questioned it, great to get them into the habit young. Also please don’t feel bad about going secondhand - it’s much better for the environment anyway!

That's a good idea. I'll see if I can find some!

I once left a note saying the reindeer had squashed the box by mistake but not to worry, Santa had checked the toy was ok and thats why the gift was in the Christmas sack instead of it's box. The note was the highlight of Christmas and DC speculated for ages over what the reindeer had been up to to squash some toys!

When mine were little I often took them out of the box to save the time cutting the ties/ plastic ties on Christmas morning. Done this with Barbies etc. I still give second hand and use small boxes wrapped in Christmas paper with tissues/ shredded paper inside. My kids are none the wiser and when little saved me the hassle of them wanting the toy straight away while I was struggling to get them out of the package.

100% nothing to feel guilty about. The idea of getting all new stuff is pretty icky when you think about it. SOOO wasteful for a few hours of fun. Much, much better to keep toys in circulation in the community. My DH and I are both high earners, but many of our DCs’ toys and clothes are second (or third or fourth) hand on principle. Wear it with pride. :-)

You should have massive pride in giving your DC a sustainable and planet friendly Christmas, compared to some folks who buys piles of tat just so the 'stack' looks substantial and their Christmases are insta-worthy.

You're setting a wonderful example for your DC, tell them you are re-using with pride!!

when My kids were little, most of their toys came from nearly knew sales or car boots. I’d use variety of things, shoe boxes or nice packaging, cellophane wrap and a bow, gift bags and tissue paper, for things that would need some kind of container for storing, I would buy a storage box and then wrap it in the box. I bought a heap of Lego one year, and spent hours sorting it into those little draws that are used in garages to store nuts and bolts etc. lol!

I do agree with the sustainability aspect of it and it's definitely the better option for the planet. I buy most things second hand and don't have an issue with it normally. I've just been looking at the toys though, and whilst they look in lovely condition, they're just kinda plopped down on my bed looking a bit sad.

I love the idea of the note though, that would definitely add some christmas magic!

I have a massive box of toot toot driver things that I bought from Facebook marketplace for DD2 and, like you, I’m wondering how to wrap it nicely. I’m thinking a large gift bag or box that’s personalised or something.

Your 5yo won’t care that it’s not in the box at all!

I wanted to add that my kids have the same stocking filler toys each year too - they love it (they are older teens now)
it started by accident when they were little, they had paid no attention to the stocking fillers one year, after opening their main gifts. So I gathered them up and put them away with the decorations. I then put them in their stocking for the next year, and then every year since. most of the things are the same but slightly different, but I always add sweets and a couple of new things to do with their current interests.

A roll of cellophane? It’s not very environmentally friendly though.

Old baskets, second hand tubs, or even wrap up some plain boxes, then get a roll of white spotted cellophane wrap. Cut large pieces and tie up with a nice Christmas bow. If you buy good quality cellophane and don't use tape, you can fold it up and use it year after year.

Or, if it's a doll house or a play set something, set it all up and sprinkle snow over it with some Santa footsteps (flour) to make it look like Santa set it up for them.

Your children won't notice though. I still do it with my 8 year old. He's not looking for the boxes, he wants what's inside!

For the children, it's usually more about the anticipation and surprise of what's inside the wrapping paper than about whether or not it comes in a box/is new. For years when DD1 was younger, we'd sometimes wrap up a couple of her existing toys because she enjoyed the unwrapping so much. She loved trying to work out which toy had been hidden in the paper and when we finally stopped, she started wrapping up her own things to unwrap!

My DCs are older teenagers now but they still receive preloved items for Christmas or birthdays if that's a way of them being given the expensive thing they are after but at a more reasonable price. It's just how we've always done things so when they give ideas for Christmas, they will often mention that X is really expensive so only buy secondhand.

Last year DS's toys were pretty much only second hand. He's small (only 2 last Christmas) but he was so happy with the toys. I expect older kids would be similar. They get the fun bit. The packaging isn't the best but after all.

I was utterly penniless Xmas 2008 and had a 3 and 5 yo. I spoke to a woman at the park I kind of knew and we actually swapped 3 of our DC toys so her DC got mines old scooter, lego truck and playmobil castle and mine got hers doll and parm, lego treehouse and a playmobil dinosaur set. All DC happy, none noticed or cared and when I told them last Christmas they were very proud of me. Do what you must, and keep smiling and being jolly, that's what they notice most.

One year I got a large box, wrapped it and the lid in Christmas paper, then scrunched up some tissue paper and put loads of secondhand (many with chipped paint, they were quite old) Britains farm toys in the box. DD1 was delighted as it was 'just what I wanted'

Stocking is from Santa with a few bits and bobs and you guy everything else, being open that some is second hand.

I've always told my DD that it's second hand and so it's normal rather 'inferior'. Schools teach them so much about reusing and recycling I don't think they feel the same about it as our generations.

This seems like possibly something specific to some areas of the north but we have gifts delivered by santa already open, out, set up and ready to play with... it really does look magical like walking straight into santas toy factory (and obviously boxes dont matter doing that).

Then a few gifts from us are wrapped under the tree.

Get a gift box?

When I was 4, I asked for sticklebricks for Christmas. Mum must’ve found some, secondhand (probably a jumble sale in those days). She painted a biscuit tin in dark red gloss, and stuck Magic Roundabout stickers on it, then put the washed sticklebricks inside.

I absolutely loved it, and I’ll always remember that present because it was so personalised.

That was 52 years ago.

What about getting one of those cheap cardboard suitcases, I think the works sell them, for the dolls clothes and accessories. You could carry on the theme by making a little passport and plane ticket for the doll.
suitcase (sorry, they are not as cheap as I thought)

I like @rosiebl 's ideas.

Another suggestion: start collecting 'nice' boxes, paint them inside and out with leftover house paint or primer, then decorated with glitter, potato stamps or channel your inner impressionist with some acrylics. Add some colored tissue paper, pop in your gift and wrap it in colorful Christmas paper and ribbons. Et voila!

You can make hampers with cellophane and ribbons but I really doubt they’ll care. Mine are older and don’t care

My five year olds main present last year was second hand, she wanted this big plastic thing that we couldn’t bring ourselves to buy new. It wasn’t even in the best condition but she loved it and didn’t notice. To be honest I prefer giving toys out of boxes anyway as they can play with them immediately. If they ask why it’s not in a box as new (which I’m betting they won’t) then say it’s so they can play with it right away?