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Original poster

Trampolines - benefits v. dangers

54 replies

SigmaPi26 · 04/11/2018 20:36

We're thinking of buying a trampoline for the garden. If you have one, would you recommend one? What benefits have your child/children gained from having one? Have you experienced any injuries?

OP posts:
Ozgirl75 · 05/11/2018 11:08

@xiaoxiong that’s what we used to call them too - gruesome but true; young healthy men killed in their prime.

HairyToity · 05/11/2018 12:05

Brother in law is a surgeon. He is laid back on most things but won't let his children have a trampoline. He says it's because the fractures it causes are often compound fractures. Apparently a clean break is much easier to fix than a compound fracture from a trampoline.

There's risk in everything though, and most children don't break anything.

dangermouseisace · 05/11/2018 13:21

We’ve had one (TP) for 3 years. 3 kids, no injuries. Ours isn’t huge though and we have rules.

  1. Only 1 child bouncing at a time. Most injuries are where multiple kids are on, particularly where a bigger kid squishes a smaller one.
  2. No somersaults or attempts at somersaults. When I was a kid doing trampolining, those learning to somersault did it in a harness with a rope attached until they got the hang of it. It’s not something you learn by yourself on a trampoline.
  3. Net is zipped up when bouncing.

So far, so good! Ours gets used all the time.

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Original poster
SigmaPi26 · 05/11/2018 20:19

@xiaoxiong - Sorry to hear your son broke his leg on a trampoline. Can I ask how it happened?

OP posts:
Original poster
SigmaPi26 · 05/11/2018 20:20

@lovingliving - Sorry to hear that your son broke his leg, too? Can I ask how it happened?

OP posts:
Original poster
SigmaPi26 · 05/11/2018 20:24

Thank you everyone for your comments. I'm usually quite risk averse, so all the stories of broken bones are very worrying...

OP posts:
PhysaliaPhysalis · 05/11/2018 20:52

My son broke his leg on his friend's trampoline - it wasn't multiple kids - he just landed oddly.

Probably very outing but the worst bit was the mum's an ex nurse and she said he was just crying for attention Hmm

IWantChocolates · 05/11/2018 21:14

I don't have kids yet and no trampoline in my garden but I did trampolining properly with a club several years ago. I was practising a back somersault and for some reason didn't prep properly and landed on my neck/head. I am very, very lucky I did no further damage than bruising and muscle strain, just landing slightly differently could have resulted in a broken neck, but it still put the fear of God into me regarding trampolines. Even trained people can make mistakes. Yes, there's danger in many hobbies and everyday activities, but I definitely won't be buying a trampoline for my children.

LovingLiving · 05/11/2018 21:16

Yes he was on the trampoline with an adult for a few minutes, not even messing about, just enjoying themselves and there was a double bounce. He broke his ankle in two places and didn’t walk for three months.

Millie2013 · 05/11/2018 21:26

I’m gung ho about many things, but DD hasn’t got a trampoline. I have 2 friends who work in A&E depts and they treat so many trampoline injuries, especially over the summer their stories really put me off!

pinkandstripey · 05/11/2018 21:35

Google your local trampoline park and read their waiver. Or go and hang around your local a&e dept for a few hours.

Ticcinalong · 05/11/2018 21:39

A family I know, their son is paralysed from a trampoline park so sadly it’s a no from me these days.

Starlight345 · 05/11/2018 21:42

Can I add . I broke my leg falling over at primary school accidents do happen

lljkk · 05/11/2018 21:44

We got ours about 13 yrs ago. Well used in all weathers & seasons. Nobody ever injured (ok, the occasional bash & bruise, but no bones broken or dislocations etc.). My rules are no animals & no hard objects or wearing shoes on it. Multiples are fine.

Ours is sunk in the ground kind of like pic which probably reduces injury risk. I just bought the... 4th ? new protective padding for the springs. The springs are looking rusty so maybe they will need replacing next.

Trampolines - benefits v. dangers
NagNagN4g · 05/11/2018 21:59

My DD has two friends who both broke their legs on trampolines. Both from there being a ball on there.

I have one but am selling it as they’ve lost interest now they’re older thank fuck

purplecorkheart · 05/11/2018 22:01

I have one family member who is an orthopaedic surgeon and another who is an a&e consultant who both said that they would make them illegal, given all the injuries they have seen children have on them. Mind you they both would ban bouncy Castles too.

jacksonmaine · 05/11/2018 22:05

The accidents caused by trampolines are quite complex and not worth the risk in a suburban setting. DH is a Trauma and Orthopod Doctor.

ShowOfHands · 05/11/2018 22:09

Every doctor I know, plus a good friend who is a paediatric radiographer are vehemently anti. They are not toys and when it goes wrong, it goes badly wrong. They see heart breaking cases every week. I would never have one.

ShowOfHands · 05/11/2018 22:10

I don't let mine on bouncy castles either.

Doubletrouble99 · 05/11/2018 22:13

We had one - ours are mid teens now. Both our 2 had ADHD and one has ASD as well. It did both of them no end of good and was extremely good at getting their hyperactivity out of their system. We never had an accident. We were careful not to allow children of vastly differing weights on it together or children too young or too many at a time.
My Sil has a severely autistic son in his 20s and he still has a trampoline which they find extremely beneficial for him to be able to regulate himself. He even took it with him to the sheltered accommodation he now lives in!!

WhyAmISoCold · 05/11/2018 22:55

We have one as they promised they would use it loads. They don't and I regret buying it. Massive waste of money and it only goes under a massive tree that constantly sheds leaves and twigs all over it so always needs sweeping first. After reading this though I'm not sorry and wish they would just agree to get rid of it, but they won't.

bananafish81 · 05/11/2018 23:22

I broke my back on a trampoline! Well, on the metal edge of a trampoline. This was in the days before health and safety, was bouncing around on a trampoline in a friend's garden - no netting or padding over the springs / metal bar.

Smashed my back up, needed surgery to remove my coccyx and some of my sacrum 8 years later, a lifetime of chronic pain, strong opioids daily, lots of ligament and nerve damage

Please please make sure you buy one with the relevant safety features!!

bananafish81 · 05/11/2018 23:23

My biggest regret in life is 13 year old me getting on that bloody trampoline. Absolutely ruined my life.

AliMonkey · 05/11/2018 23:36

I resisted for years but eventually gave in when DC were 8 and 10. However, we paid £££ to get a springfree large oval-shaped one, and rules are that if have two on there they have to stay at "their" end, have to be two of same size and no somersaults allowed. So not as safe as not having one but safer than smaller one or one with springs. Good exercise, gets them out of the house away from the PS4 etc, but still a definite risk.

jacksonmaine · 05/11/2018 23:44

So sorry bananafish.Sad