Mumsnet Guide To Trampoline Safety

Summer is coming up and with warmer weather on the way we’ll all be thinking about ways to have fun outside in the sunshine. And with the cost of living crisis still in full swing, finding ways to keep the kids entertained at home will also be a big priority for parents. Investing in a trampoline for the garden might not be an obvious choice as they can be quite pricey, but when you break down the cost per play they’re actually great value.

The best trampolines also offer a load of benefits to children of all ages. They help to improve cardiovascular fitness, coordination, and gross motor skills, as well as being a great fun way to burn off some energy and boost your child’s overall mood. They’re also an outdoor toy that will get a huge amount of use over the years and are great for only children and those with lots of siblings too.

There are however some risks involved in letting your child bounce on a trampoline, with minor injuries like bumps and sprains being quite common and the risk of more serious injury there if proper precautions aren’t taken. So you do need to consider a few key things and lay down some ground rules if you buy one to make sure your child doesn’t get hurt.

We’ve researched best practice, guidance from experts like RoSPA (The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) and real-life experiences from the Mumsnet community to bring you our ultimate guide to trampoline safety. Here's our run down of the features to look out for and the steps you can take to make sure trampolining is both fun and safe for your child.

Are trampolines safe for children?

There’s no denying that bouncing on a trampoline is great fun and a brilliant way to let active children let off some steam in the comfort of your own garden, but there are a few things you need to consider when it comes to safety.

RoSPA advise that children under the age of six shouldn’t go on trampolines because they don’t weigh as much as older children and are not physically developed enough to control their bouncing, so they’re much more likely to get hurt. Amongst older children RoSPA report that the most common injuries are caused by awkward landings, often when children are bouncing together, and include sprains and fractures to the wrist, elbow, and collarbone.

Unfortunately trampolining can also result in far more serious head and neck injuries, life-changing compound fractures, and spinal injuries. A lot of people in the Mumsnet forums say that they’ve been told by Doctors and hospital staff that they personally won’t let their children on trampolines because of the injuries they’ve seen from them, especially as the broken bones they see tend to be more complicated than other, clean breaks.

These serious injuries are quite rare and with the right precautions and rules put in place trampolines are generally safe for children and offer so many benefits.

Trampolines can be used all year round and are a great way to get children active and exercising while still having loads of fun. They also help improve coordination, balance, and posture while also teaching children with siblings about taking turns. Getting active, especially out in the fresh air, is also amazing for children’s overall wellbeing and mental health and bouncing in particular is thought to be a real mood-booster.

Whether or not to buy a trampoline really is a personal choice and involves weighing up the risks and the benefits and considering if there really is more risk with a trampoline than there is with, for example, riding a bike or climbing to the top of the climbing frame at the park.

How can I make sure my child is safe while bouncing on a trampoline?

If you have weighed up the potential risks and decided to go ahead and get a trampoline for your family then there are lots of things you can do to reduce the chances of accidents happening and to keep your child safe while bouncing.

First of all, there are some important features to look out for in a trampoline before you buy to make sure it’s as safe as possible, like:

Safety pads: RoSPA recommend that you choose a trampoline with safety pads and that you make sure that the pads properly cover the springs, hooks, and frame of the trampoline. They also point out that the colour of the safety pads should be in contrast with the frame too.

Safety netting: Trampolines should have safety netting around them that stops children from being able to bounce or fall off the trampoline. The netting should also prevent bouncers from hitting any hard parts like the frame or the springs.

Safety standard: If you’re buying a newer model trampoline then RoSPA advises that these should meet the European Standard EN71-14:2014 ‘Safety of toys - Trampolines for domestic use’

What's the safest trampoline to buy?

If you have the budget for it then lots of parents recommend Springfree Trampolines as being the safest option thanks to their special design with no springs, no hard edges, flexible enclosure, and hidden frame that’s impossible to fall on.

“We have a Springfree. No injuries so far. Feels much safer than a normal one as there is no way to trap your leg in the springs” - Brand recommended by Mumsnet user Andwereback.

Once you have a trampoline there are also things you can do to make it as safe as possible. They should ideally be positioned on energy-absorbing ground like a soft lawn and you need to make sure the ground is nice and level too. If you need to put a trampoline on a harder surface like patio slabs then get some rubber matting to put underneath it.

Wherever you place the trampoline in your garden you can boost the safety levels by anchoring it securely in place. This will stop it being able to shift around as your children bounce and will also stop it potentially blowing away in high winds.

It’s also best to have a ‘safe zone’ of around 2.5 meters around the trampoline that is clear of trees, washing lines, fences and so on. And even with a safe zone in place you need to have netting around the trampoline and make sure your child zips it up fully when they get on and before they start bouncing.

“Have had one for 8 years and it has been used even on dry cold days in winter. I’d recommend them for easy exercise for most kids BUT it must have a net and the children must learn no bouncing till net done up”

- advice from Mumsnet user GoHackYourself on always using the safety net properly.

The number one rule for staying safe on a trampoline though is that only one child should be on there at a time. Most accidents happen when more than one child is on a trampoline at the same time as they end up bumping into each other or double bouncing. So enforce the rule that children have to take turns and never try bouncing on the trampoline at the same time. And don’t ever give in to the temptation to get on the trampoline and bounce with your child. In accidents that happen with more than one person bouncing at once it’s almost always the smaller, lighter person who gets hurt.

You should also make sure your children know not to try any somersaults or risky complicated moves when they’re bouncing unless they’ve had lessons with trained professionals, and never let them attempt bouncing exits.

The final thing to keep in mind is that children shouldn’t be left to bounce on a trampoline unsupervised, so make sure you can always keep an eye on them while they’re having fun. And make a point of regularly checking the trampoline for signs of wear and tear.

As long as you do your research when it comes to buying a trampoline and make sure that ground rules are put in place (and followed) then your child should be able to enjoy hours of bouncing fun in the garden to keep them active and happy all year round.

About the author

Poppy O'Neill is a Content Editor at Mumsnet and a mother of two. She is also the best-selling children's and parenting author of books such as Don't Worry, Be Happy, The Extraordinary Book That Makes You Feel Happy and Mother Power. She specialises in children's mental health and her books are used by therapists, teachers and SENCOs across the UK. She won the Kate Betts Memorial Prize in 2019, her books have been translated into eight languages and her writing has featured in The Guardian, The Sunday Times and The Sun.

After earning a BA in Creative Writing from the University of Leeds and a PGCert in Fashion and Lifestyle Journalism from University of the Arts London, she worked in fashion for most of her 20s. When her children were young, she undertook an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Chichester and re-trained as an author and freelance writer. When she's not working, Poppy enjoys Pilates, hunting for sea glass on the Sussex coast and playing with tarot cards.