As Christmas is just around the corner, many parents will be scrambling to the shops to get their children their much-anticipated presents.
The excitement of Santa's arrival is surely building around the country. However, one parent had an urgent message for all parents shopping at Smyths Toys this Christmas.
Taking to Twitter, she said: "This is your seasonal reminder that Smyths plastic bags are still SEE THROUGH".
Sharing a message from last year, she said: "Warning to anyone using the click and collect service from Smyths – they put everything in a clear bag. I repeat, the bag is CLEAR".
The warning was followed by other parents sharing their close calls and sheer disasters after their Christmas presents were revealed.
One said: "a colleague here has Amazon Alexa which announced 'your package will be delivered in 30 minutes'… to which the kids responded 'Alexa, what's in the package?' and were duly told".
Twitter users were quick to offer advice on how to avoid this issue in the future.
They said: "You probably know this, but you can set alexa to be more discreet about those things."
If you wish to change the settings on your Alexa to stop anything being given away, do the following.
Open Alexa on your phone.
Tap Settings.
Choose Notifications.
Select Amazon Shopping.
Uncheck the box titled "For items in delivery updates" under the section "Let Alexa say or show titles for items you've ordered."
Parents also warned to keep an eye out for deliveries as they may not come in packaging at all.
One person said: "I've had smyths toys delivered with no box, just address sticker slapped on them – would have been disastrous if the kids had seen".
A second said: "The Lego online shop was shipping all their stuff last year in big Lego-branded boxes. Pure grace of God none of our kids came to the door when DPD delivered it."
Others shared how they were forced to spring into spy mode as they strategically stole their neighbours delivery to stop the surprise from being revealed.
They said: "I recently broke into* my neighbour's house and kidnapped a delivery and hid it in my attic. They were out with the kids, but a helpful tradesman doing some work for them had taken it in and left it right inside the front door. It was an exciting few minutes.
"*Used the key".
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