Trampoline yes or no?

[SweetPeaPods]

DC (ages 7 and 6) have been asking for a trampoline for the garden since Christmas.
Those that have one is it worth the money?
Any recommendations on ones to avoid or to look at? Happy to spend up to £250 if they are going to get the use out of it. TIA

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MNHQ

Yes. Bigger than you think you need. Friend has a big oblong one and her boys still use it all the time at 16&14. We got a 6ft and at 10 it’s too small.

Go for it life’s too short

I stay in a flat and I wish I had my own garden, I’d definitely get one

If you do get one, the safety netting is an absolute must. And also go for the biggest one you can fit / afford

We resisted it for ages as they are an eyesore and I worried about safety but in the end I gave in and haven't regretted it.

I think ours is 8ft diameter round. DD who is 13 still enjoys it and DS (9) is constantly on it. It was a godsend in lockdown.

It does take up half the garden but they get more use out of it than I would if I was using it for anything else and I can reclaim the garden when they don't use it anymore.

Thought of getting a sunken one to lessen the visual impact but it was too expensive and apparently water can collect underneath.

I do insist on the safety netting being up and zipped up. The one time we had an accident (and no harm was done) was when DS was idiotically climbing around the outside and got knocked off. Riot act was read.
I think it should be safe enough if you ensure they do understand safety rules.

Only if you hate your neighbours.

Absolutely worth the money.

As others have said, the biggest you can fit/afford - well worth a few extra quid.

Unfortunately you'll get the MN Doom squad telling you how dangerous they are & detailing all accidents & rules etc).

Yes it happens, but kids have accidents tripping over fresh air.

I'd buy it now though so they get max use out of them as little ones like yours don't tend to get much use out of them in the winter.

& if your bladder is up to it, they're great exercise & a comfy place to read etc.

We got one this year, definitely worth it. We went for an 8ft and a high weight limit (100kg), we all get use out of it!

Definitely worth it but 12ft diameter is the absolute minimum for value for money . Also make sure it’s not too close to any neighbours houses as they can get very annoying .

If you do get one please have a 'no screaming' rule. My neighbours children could speak in normal voices until they got on their trampoline when suddenly everything had to be shouted at top volume punctuated by screams. Thank God they moved.

DS2 is currently wrestling a space hopper on a 10ft trampoline

Well worth it. It does dominate a small garden, but it's the best energy burner. I'm also partial to a bounce if I'm wearing appropriate undergarments

They like their slide too. Mainly as a lookout tower.

4yo with a broken leg. Hell no.

DS2 is also surrounded by a 6 inch golden halo of hair like a medieval icon of a saint Who needs Van de Graf generators?

Last time DS1 was in x-ray, it was because he tripped over a chair in his classroom. After several rounds of x-rays it was confirmed sprained rather than the initial suspected fracture.

Injuries can happen anywhere, and better that they have good bone density and muscle strength from high impact exercise outdoors.than being hyper cautious and getting broken bones in old age from osteo arthritis like their grandparents.

I think the size you purchase should actually depend on the size of your garden. Small gardens look ridiculous with huge trampolines swamping them.
The only place a trampoline is suitable is in a huge garden in the middle of nowhere.
Please do not put it against your neighbours fence.

Consider a sunken one if you can afford it. It definitely helps with neighbourly relations.

Get a properly fitted safety net and be properly strict (especially at first) with safety rules. Most of the trampoline injuries I've ever heard of were because of something not being done properly; no safety net, safety net not zipped up, 25 kids on the trampoline at the same time etc.

I was also really, really strict on screaming and shouting in the first week (I was told my a stroppy 12yo that I was "Dragonian" in a strop that still comes up now whenever getting words wrong is mentioned". Even my teens still use the trampoline now, but there's no screaming from any of the kids and that also helps massively with the neighbours.

Unless you have a massive garden keep it close to your house so you can monitor the noise. Too many people stick them as far away from the house as possible without giving a shit that that puts them right next to the neighbour.

We're on our third one now and the kids all still love it.

Yes!! Will be a life saver if there’s a winter lockdown as well!

Perfect thanks everyone. I'll start searching now. Had a quick look on Smyths but delivery times aren't great. Don't want it arriving just as they go back to school (if schools actually open!).

Argos have a 12’ with enclosure for £150 which sounds very reasonable .

It's worth checking the weight limits as well as the size, we found they varied quite a bit. If something is going to take up that much of the garden we adults wanted yo be able to use it too we have a TP one where the net is inside the springs.

Our biggest issue has been frie da comming over who have rather more relaxed trampoline rules, we have stuck to one child at a time and no somersaults which has been fine for our kids but proved tricky for others comming over.

It has been well used over the years and we've certainly been glad of it the last few months.

Oh, and get a tie down kit, those things move alarmingly in high wind!

Got an 8ft one for DD(6) during lockdown. She loves it.

DSis and I had one when we were 10/13 onwards. Still using it at 18 when we had friends round.

In stock and reduced due to damaged box...great company.

www.adventuretoys.co.uk/prodpage.asp?ProdID=4257

Lots of other trampoline choices too.

Yes definitely

Of all of our garden toys it’s the most used and good for ALL ages.

Sunken ones are only good if you are prepared for many trips to A&E

Just make sure it's secure. One of my friends found her neighbour's trampoline in her garden after a gale.

And as for sunken ones, another friend discovered the hole under hers was harbouring rats

I'm just jealous though, I wish we'd had one when my three were little. Can't really justify it now they've mostly left home.

My kids have had them for years, touch wood, they've never had any accidents on them, but the majority of problems come from not having / using the net around the sides (or not doing it up properly), having the trampoline too close to something or having more than one child bounce at a time I've always been strict on one child bouncing at a time especially as that causes most problems.

At 16 and 13, they both still love the trampoline and use it regularly. Both had trampolining lessons for a while.

Have had lots of brands over the years, but I would really recommend the oval jumpking. We've had ours a few years now, and when we got it I said it would be the last one, but this bloody trampoline seems to keep lasting forever!