How to wrap a kids bike for Christmas

Christmas is just around the corner, and while some are still doing last minute gift buying, others are getting started on the all-important job of wrapping. After all there's nothing more gratifying than watching our kids gleefully tearing open their presents on Christmas morning!

Wrapping smaller gifts can be a doddle for many, but what do you do when you're faced with a bike? Even the most confident wrappers might be left scratching their heads at the prospect. So if Father Christmas has tasked you with a challenge this year, we're here with a few tips for how to wrap a kids bike for Christmas.

These tips come from years of buying bikes for growing kids, as well as outsourcing ideas from other parents of cycling sprogs.

Whether you've got a couple of minutes or several hours we've got lots of great ideas on how to gift wrap your child's bike ready for Christmas Day.

If your bike is still in the box check out our guide about how to assemble a kid's bike first.

And if you're still looking for last minute stocking fillers or main event presents, check out our collection of Gifts for Cyclists guides.

How to wrap up a kids bike this Christmas - a guide for busy parents

We've all got different levels of artistic skill, patience and time so we've tried to cover lots of different ways of wrapping a kids bike.

We know most people are very hassled in the run up to Christmas, so we've tried to concentrate on quick, easy and cheap ways to wrap up a bike late on Christmas Eve, that have worked for real parents.

We're very grateful to followers of the Cycle Sprog Facebook page who have kindly shared their photos and advice on how they've covered up and wrapped their child's bike.

Article contents

• How to wrap a kids' bike with wrapping paper
• How to wrap a kids' bike with a Christmas bike bag
• How to wrap a kids' bike with a blanket
• Easy alternatives to wrapping a kids' bike

• The most precise method: Some people choose to wrap each individual piece of the bike separately (e.g. handlebars, pedals, wheels, saddle, etc.), which can lead to great success but is very time-consuming. Give yourself several hours if you choose to do it this way.
• The least time-consuming method: A more time-effective way is to use wrapping paper to create a big bag around the bike, which will also disguise its shape. You can either do this with the bike standing upright and wrap the paper around it, or very carefully lie it flat on top of the paper before enveloping it
• The middle ground method: A good compromise is to wrap each section of the bike separately (e.g. the front, middle and back). It does take a far bit of patience though! You may still need to break it down into individual parts in places, like the handlebars and saddle, but you could wrap around the whole middle section without bothering to wrap the cranks and pedals.
• Top tip: Use good quality wrapping paper because really cheap and thin paper will tear easily.

Jodie told us on Facebook that one year her son's dad was determined to wrap his BMX up for him. He went for the middle ground method, and it was obviously worth the effort come Christmas morning!

If you're really going all out on the wrapping you can even order personalised bike wrapping paper.

Easier ways to wrap a kids' bike this Christmas

If you don't have the patience, time or artistic flair to wrap the bike using wrapping paper, then here are lots of easier ways you can surprise your child with a new bike on Christmas morning.

Use lights instead of wrapping paper

Another good way to make the gifting of a bike special is to wrap it in fairy lights - if there's a basket you can even use this to store other presents too.

We think this would work particularly well if you have the lights off and curtains are drawn (let's face it, they'll be up before dawn anyway!). They'll come into the room and see the bike glowing in the dark - magical!

Memorable alternatives to wrapping a kids bike

Here are a few lovely ideas from Cycle Sprog readers on how to create that perfect Christmas surprise.

Some are incredibly easy and others require a little bit more effort, but they all had the exact same result: huge smiles come Christmas morning.

They can be very useful if you aren't able to leave the bike beneath the Christmas tree.

"My step dad and mum in the 80s did the best thing!  They left arrows around the house from my bedroom together with Santa snow feet.

I followed them until I first found a bell and then a shiny new bike!  It didn't matter that it wasn't wrapped because it was such fun!" Sally

"We had a piece of ribbon attached to the bike which trailed from all the way up the stairs!" Anna

"My experience as a kid, and we’ve done the same with our kids, is to let them open all their tree presents first. 

Then when they are out of the room wheel the bike out from a place of hiding and act all innocent when they spot it. Don’t forget to have the mobile phone video going..." Stuart

Don't forget to share your Christmas Cycle Sprog wrapping with us - you can tag @CycleSprog on Instagram or find us on Facebook. 

Before you go..... 

If you've also bought for your child a new bike helmet for Christmas, their safety is really important. Read our guide: Is your child’s bike helmet fitted correctly?