To tell my mum not to buy a trampoline for DS?

[KaraStarbuckThrace]

Mum is looking for Xmas present ideas for DS (who turns 3 2 days after Xmas).

I have suggested an easel, she has agreed to this but then has said she really wants to get him a trampoline. Initially I said yes (DS loves to bouce ) but now am having second thoughts. The reason is after yet another wet summer, I don't think DS will get a lot of opportunity to use it if we have the same kind of summer next year. We have a north facing garden which doesn't get much sun and so when it rains the lawn is soggy for days on end, which means that I can't really let DS go out there - we normally got to the huge park 2 mins walk from our house if he wants to play outside. I've got some garden toys already but they haven't gotten a huge amount of use but at least were very cheap.
Mum lives 4 hours a way, and we only go to visit perhaps once every couple of months and there isn't really any room in her garden anyway so no point suggesting she have it at her house!

mini trampoline? then it's good inside and out.

well you can express your concerns about lack of use to your mum but if she still wants to get him one anyway, then it's her money to spend/waste, so let her do it. Make sure she gets a net as well though.

We did look at the smaller ones but didn't think they would last long. The one she wants to get comes with a net.

I'm going to talk to her tomorrow. The thing is I don't want her to never get one, but I'd rather wait until we can sell the house and move as frankly it is one more thing we will have to pack up. Unfortunately our house is not selling and probably won't at present unless something radical happens in the meantime.

We've got one of those small ones with a bar to hold on to. It has been used over and over and over again for years and years and years. Will you have any more children? It'll get even more use then.

Show her this (or similar!):

^Using a trampoline may be fun, but experts have shown that it is also extremely risky. Only in the UK, trampoline accidents have increased by 50% over the past six years, and there has been a dramatic rise in very serious injuries - such as broken necks, spinal cord injuries, and disabling head traumas - among young children. Even more alarmingly, many of these injuries result in permanent paralysis and even death. Trampolines have also been proved to be responsible for a very large number of less serious but still extremely painful injuries, such as broken bones, muscle damage and various types of dislocations.

As far as trampoline injuries go, children are the most exposed group. Safety regulations regarding trampoline use state that only one person should be allowed on a trampoline in one go, and that they're not suitable for children under six. However, few people know or follow these rules. Doctors warn that children aged six or under do not have the coordination or spatial awareness to deal with an activity as complex as trampolining, which is why they often suffer serious injuries. "Most of the injuries occurred on the trampoline, rather than from falling off. The most common were ankle and neck sprains, followed by upper limb fractures," orthopedic surgeon Richard Sinnerton explained to the Daily Mail. ^

That would be very tempting SeaTrek!

I don't want a trampoline in my house, which is why I don't one of the small one. I can only put it on the soggy grass, or our small patio and neither presents a particularly safe option. My may concern is the trampoline will sink in to the quagmire unevenly, DS gets on and then goes flying.

The truth is I just want to sell my house and get moved to house with a better garden!!

If it was me I would just explain and say it would be better next year when you will hopefully be in a new house with a bigger garden. My parents wanted to get DD a 4ft trampoline but my garden is all different levels and quite small and theres just no room for it, I explained and it was fine as it just wasnt going to fit. I had thought about seeing how I can change the garden to make one fit but after reading SeaTrek's post I dont feel like dd is missing out by not having one now and I expect it would be another 5 minute wonder like the slide and sand pit anyway!

She was fine with it, completely understood and is happy to wait until we eventually move!