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Original poster

If you were buying a trampoline for a 3 year old...

44 replies

WhereIsBlueRabbit · 22/08/2018 08:45

....what would you take into consideration? We're getting one for DS's birthday.

We can't decide whether to get a 6ft or 8ft one - we'd prefer the latter but it will take up almost all the width of the lawn near the house. I've suggested positioning it further down the garden but DP has rightly pointed out that that will be a pain in terms of supervising (we want to make sure we can see him clambering onto it if he decides to have a bounce when I've just piped into the house, etc).

I'm also concerned about minimising impact on our neighbours. Our garden is fairly private and is long, but I'm aware the sound of squeaky springs could really get on people's nerves. Our neighbours on one side are lovely but appear rather sensitive about low-level noise (eg our neighbours on the other side using a hot tub). So I don't want to piss anyone off inadvertently.

Any thoughts?

OP posts:
AjasLipstick · 22/08/2018 09:00

6 foot is plenty. 3 is very small for a trampoline anyway...be very careful and don't let anyone bigger than him bounce with him.

LooksLikeImStuckHere · 22/08/2018 09:04

6ft is a great size for little ones. They can climb on and off themselves, the bounce isn’t too massive so they don’t go too high and it’s pretty difficult to get more than one on at a time so easy to enforce the rules when others come over.

On the other hand, it can make it a bit harder to stay away from the edges and it takes a bit more time for them to work out how to bounce in the middle!

cloudtree · 22/08/2018 09:05

I'd get a large one without springs and with a good net.

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cloudtree · 22/08/2018 09:06

Like this
www.springfreetrampoline.co.uk

Original poster
WhereIsBlueRabbit · 22/08/2018 09:08

If we get a 6ft one, it's one child at a time. He's an only so the only scenario with more than one kid would be play dates with kids of the same age, but that would only be with an 8ft.

He goes on the childminder's 8ft and absolutely loves it. I'm just keen to save our bed at this stage Grin

OP posts:
LooksLikeImStuckHere · 22/08/2018 09:13

I would enforce one at a time with any size of trampoline TBH.

Original poster
WhereIsBlueRabbit · 22/08/2018 09:14

Fair point!

OP posts:
Original poster
WhereIsBlueRabbit · 22/08/2018 09:16

Not sure we can afford that, @cloudtree, but thanks for the link!

OP posts:
Walkingthroughawall · 22/08/2018 09:18

If I were buying a trampoline for a three year old....I'd probably research the quickest route to A&E and the best trauma surgeons in the area. Very common cause of broken bones in small children.

schooltripwoes · 22/08/2018 09:21

Regardless of age of child and size of trampoline, you should only EVER use it alone. Children should never share a trampoline.

ElspethFlashman · 22/08/2018 09:21

I'll be honest, I wouldn't. Trampolines are ridiculous for injuries.

I also would question if it would become basically a white elephant. Next door has one and it fits 3 kids. They played with it non stop for the first week but I haven't seen anyone on it in months. They're 3 and 5.

And actually now that I think of it, the neighbours on the other side have one too. They're a bit older but I've literally never seen it used.

It takes up an awful lot of space for a toy they get bored of.

Original poster
WhereIsBlueRabbit · 22/08/2018 09:21

Even with nets and supervision?

OP posts:
3WildOnes · 22/08/2018 09:23

I would get 8ft. You don’t want to have to get a bigger one in a few years and half the fun is jumping around with friends.

Original poster
WhereIsBlueRabbit · 22/08/2018 09:23

Fair point, @ElspethFlashman - I think he would really enjoy it this year as he has discovered bouncing and is obsessed with bouncing on our bed. This is partly why we don't want to spend a fortune - I would rather get a more basic one in some ways and see how he goes. If he's then really into it, we could consider upgrading as he gets bigger.

OP posts:
glitterbiscuits · 22/08/2018 09:24

I'm surprised your childminder lets a 3 year old on a trampoline. I would be surprised if their insurance would cover it. Childminders are usually hot on safety

Walkingthroughawall · 22/08/2018 09:25

it only takes one awkward landing....

delilahswishes · 22/08/2018 09:29

Some quite overdramatic posts on here!

Anyways, we got DC one for his 3rd a birthday (an 8 ft) which at the time was quite big but it's still being used now (also by DC2) and they have plenty of room.

TSSDNCOP · 22/08/2018 09:30

The only way I would have one is to have one dug in at ground level. They are stupidly dangerous and anyone who’s DC hasn’t been injured is in the lucky zone. Your neighbours will silently hate you for the length of time it takes to rot away/get trashed in the next high wind. Even DM who will pretty much let GC do anything they want refused to get a trampoline.

Babdoc · 22/08/2018 09:32

If the trauma theatre team had a pound for every kid that turned up with fractures from trampoline injuries, they’d all take early retirement!
I agree with the PP who said she never sees a kid on her neighbour’s one once the novelty wears off. One of my neighbours had a cheap one where the netting supports rapidly broke, and it’s unsafe and unusable. The other neighbour’s one languishes unused at the end of the garden.
I think kids get a lot more fun from a simple football, if there’s a field or park nearby. Or consider a slide for the garden - probably considerably cheaper, and less annoying for neighbours than heads continually popping up in midair, staring over the fence and invading their privacy!

llangennith · 22/08/2018 09:34

Get the bigger one, all kids love bouncing on a trampoline. Boys often like to kick a lightweight football sized ball around while they bounce. DGS has had a 12ft one since he was 3 and still loves it.
A tiny 6ft one gives very little actual bounce area.
Strictly one bouncer at a time!

wildewillow · 22/08/2018 09:36

Seriously? A 3 year old on a trampoline?! A 3 year old toddler who hasn't fully developed special awareness and balance.
NO child under 6 should be on a trampoline!
I'm a radiographer and we get hundreds of children in with nasty fractures, head and neck injuries caused by trampolining. And you should NEVER just 'pop into the house' while your toddler is clambering round a trampoline alone!

Walkingthroughawall has some very good tips for you!

CurlyWurlyTwirly · 22/08/2018 09:36

Why do my you get one of these mini trampoline

Presume it's just so he can let off steam. You can have it inside in the cold weather if you need to watch him.

prettygreywalls · 22/08/2018 09:38

We had a 14 foot one , ( big garden) it was great fun but after a month it was hardly used plus it was a bugger to keep moving around to mow the grass and it had to be tied down to prevent it blowing away in strong winds

On the bright side it sold easily on eBay the next spring

Original poster
WhereIsBlueRabbit · 22/08/2018 09:38

OK - thanks for the warnings! Anyone with positive stories or is this a guaranteed route to A & E?

OP posts:
Ozgirl75 · 22/08/2018 09:39

To add a dissenting voice - I have two boys, they go on the trampoline all the time together (and always have since they were 3 and 5). They go on pretty much every day. We have a huge 12ft one. They do bump into each other occasionally but it is netted so they don’t fall off.

Mine spend ages playing football on it!