Persuade me not to get a trampoline?

[RunningOnHope]

I've wanted a trampoline in my garden since I was a kid. Not possible when I was.

Now have a large flat-ish garden and soon to be two small DCs - seems to me to be the perfect thing to do, both for my own inner child and for them!

But having recently borrowed a pool for the garden and found it so much hassle to empty and dry and store that I will never do it again, I need to know the downsides to getting a trampoline. Why would I regret it down the line?

I dont have a particularly strong or practically-minded partner, and I am neither of those things myself, if that helps 😂

My cousin broke her neck on one at a supervised sports centre.

She was very lucky that the staff acted appropriately. Had it been on a home trampoline the outcome could have been far worse. I would never alliw my own children on one.

Sorry but my kids 4 & 2 love ours.... I'm almost certain they'll break a bone one day though but it's definitely been worth the money for us. 8ft one!

13 years and on trampoline number 3 here, so far no accidents serious or otherwise. The grass underneath is completely dead and looks a bit messy, but best thing ever for the DC.

Had one and was very happy when it got broken in a storm (ended up in a tree - luckily no neighbours too close).

It was hard work as you have to supervise them closely all the time. The temptation of going flips or having more than one person on at a time is almost irresistible.

I have taught lots of kids with trampoline injuries.

We got ours when the kids were 18 months & 5. They are now 8 & 12 and it’s definitely our most used outdoor item. Whenever there are kids over they are on it, bouncing, wrestling, doing gymnastics or just hanging out. It’s big and we do have rules about staying on the edge if someone is doing flips etc and no double bouncing. It’s also one of the few things my kids play on together. In all the time we’ve had it we’ve only had one injury, which was a fractured nose for my son when he & 2 friends ignored the no double bouncing rule. I can see it from the kitchen window so will go out if things are getting wild but was taking delivery on this occasion!

Wtf. You know broken bones or pulled ligaments etc can cause lifelong injuries? What a ridiculous way to think.

We've had ours for 7 years and it's about due to be replaced but is still find. I think for cost per use it's probably one of our best buys over the year. If you work out cost vs use it's an absolute bargain. We've had no accidents and it's been blown into no gardens. We do close it up and take the net down though in the winter because we live in a very storm prone area I know they are supposed to be awful and break all the kids legs but it has had so,so much use. People spend similar amounts on Lego sets which get broken and lost (and built by dads)

Can't you pop over for a trampoline
session 😀

Do you have a strong pelvic floor? 😄

A friend who is an orthopaedic surgeon told me never to get one.

Having done a lot of surgery on kids with trampoline injuries!

Sorry to do this but this is my daughter’s x-ray from the day she snapped both bones ( sorry anatomy not my thing!) on her trampoline. She was in awful pain and had to have her arm re-broken and set in theatre. It didn’t ruin our Summer but it certainly had an impact. I have never seen our trampoline in the same way again. If you do get one, I would say that your DC are not allowed to do ‘flips’.

@Lovemybunnies wow! Hope she made a full recovery

Trampolines were my favourite thing as a kid and my kids equally love ours now. I wouldn't be without one.

One at a time, no flips
And get someone else to build it if at all possible, it can ruin marriages.

•Almost everyone I know with a trampoline has had a child with a broken bone from using the trampoline.
•It's very annoying for neighbours
•the grass underneath it dies
•it takes up a lot of the garden
•your garden will become the go to place for the local kids
•at some point it'll end up in next door's garden, further pissing them off (possibly on top of their greenhouse)

Igloo entry is much safer than zips and less likely to break. I followed our A&E guidelines (I work at the hospital and respect the consultant who put the rules together for safest bouncing) waited until dc were 6 and only allowed one at a time for big bouncing. Dc still use it age 13 but the dog uses it most. He loves it and the igloo opening means he can access it 😂

Oh and I remember building it involved sewing with a massive needle. That wasn’t expected.

Yes she did thanks ☺️. It put her off the trampoline too though!

food for thought @RunningOnHope?

https://nypost.com/2023/12/11/lifestyle/im-an-er-doctor-and-you-should-never-buy-kids-these-christmas-gifts/#

Mainly depends upon how much you enjoy spending time in A&E.

Friends of ours went to a trampoline park and saw a boy of about 12 who’d just sustained a horrible compound fracture to his leg (a bone was sticking out and there was profuse bleeding). An air ambulance took him to hospital. There was no mention of this incident in our local paper, so I wonder how often these accidents happen.

Best money we ever spent. The risk of injury is far outweighed by the exercise they get, the developing of muscles, balance, co ordination, stress release and fresh air. I also let my kids climb trees and play in ditches and scale walls, all potentially dangerous but similarly, the benefits are worth the risk.

We have had our 12 ft TP trampoline for 16yrs & it is still in good condition. We have needed to replace the netting once & will do next yr if the older dc are still living at home.
My dh would love to get rid of it but it is still used by our 24 & 22 yr olds, especially as they have finished uni. The younger dc doesn’t use it.
We don’t know anyone who has broken a bone using one, however we know plenty who have broken bones playing football & cycling.
I can definitely say it was money well spent. Exercise, socially, fresh air… perfect.

I would happily get a large trampoline for me to jump on

We had trampoline for about 10 years. Definitely the best outdoor entertainment for the kids ! Trampoline survived many birthday parties and teenagers just hanging out .
I felt quite sad when we dismantled it for house move .