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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To get the kids a bouncy castle?

19 replies

SilverLining17 · 09/08/2017 13:45

They are 8 and 1. I could get a reasonable sized castle which goes up to 115kg which would be fine. I think they would love it and use it a lot.

But is it insane? Would it be a complete pain to deflate?! Would I look like I am permanently hosting a birthday party in my garden?

OP posts:
SleepyHeadThisTime · 09/08/2017 13:49

That sounds amazing - go for it!

x2boys · 09/08/2017 13:51

We had one it is a pain putting it up and down although it inflates easily and Quickly and then storing it we got a trampoline a couple of years later much easier imo as you can just leave it.

Mari50 · 09/08/2017 13:54

Depends on the weather where you live I suppose- doubt leaving it deflated in the rain will be nice. The pump will use electricity whenever it's up and there's punctures to repair.
You'd be better investing in a trampoline, which would look better than a castle- inflated or not. A sunken trampoline would be even better for the younger one.
I wouldn't but if you're happy dragging it in and out of the garage between uses then go for it.
My cousin had one, it ended up wrecked with puntures and was a total pain getting it out. They have a trampoline now.

Letstryagainshallwe · 09/08/2017 13:57

Unfortunately I had one and it's was horrible, gets full of slugs and snails if you don't bring it in immediately when it rains. Agree I think a trampoline is better

elQuintoConyo · 09/08/2017 13:59

You need to be super-careful tethering a bouncy castle as they can flip over in gusts of wind.

Trampoline all the way.

dollydaydream114 · 09/08/2017 14:00

Depends on how big your garden is I suppose. Would be a bit overwhelming in a smaller garden but I'm sure it would be fine if you've got plenty of room for it. No different from a big playhouse really, I suppose.

One thing I would say is that it will get wet, slimy and grubby very quickly indeed in British weather if it's left up permanently. My next door neighbours had a borrowed one for about a month once and it looked quite manky by the end.

dollydaydream114 · 09/08/2017 14:01

Sorry I meant left out, not left up - they didn't have it inflated the whole time.

strawberrygate · 09/08/2017 14:02

we've got a bouncy castle and it's great. we store it in a garden bench storage thing. Takes 5 mins. to set up and 5 mins. to put away. It's huge with a slide attached but the kids absoloutely love it.
we only put it up on dry days and never had a puncture etc. in the 4 years we've had.

Original poster
SilverLining17 · 09/08/2017 14:03

Good point re the unwanted wildlife. Hadn't thought of that. I wouldn't leave it up all the time, I'd take it down between uses.
My little one isn't old enough for a trampoline yet but she might be in a few months. We did have a trampoline when ds was 4 but it is small and he's outgrown it really. Dh has a thing about them being dangerous because someone he knows dc bounce against the edge and the zip gave way and they broke an arm. Zip must have been rotten or faulty I guess?

OP posts:
Original poster
SilverLining17 · 09/08/2017 14:04

Ooh we have a garden crate thing. Hadn't thought about it living in there!

OP posts:
Coffeethrowtrampbitch · 09/08/2017 14:05

I had one when the kids were younger but it got punctured after a few uses and we couldn't repair it. It was fairly cheap and lasted most of the summer so I don't regret buying it even though it didn't last long. The kids loved it, they were about 5, 3 and 1 at the time.

The puncture also affected one of the turrets and it looked exactly like a deflating penis, it bobbing up and down as the kids bounced used to send me into hysterics. I am definitely not very mature!

We've got an in ground trampoline and it is great, the only problem is drainage so anything you pick has pros and cons.

x2boys · 09/08/2017 14:06

I think they are a safe my ds2 is 7 and has autism and learning disabilities and somewhat clumsy he's never had an accident on the trampoline .

MooseAndSquirrel · 09/08/2017 14:07

My parents have a castle with a slide (its pretty big when inflated)
It takes them less than ten minutes to deflate and roll up - around 5minutes to set up.
My kids are 9 and 2 and are on it all the time. It was definitely money well spent.
The kids have a fab day but you've not had to leave the house.

strawberrygate · 09/08/2017 14:07

trampolines are very dangerous. The number of injuries is frightening

HurryUpAndWait · 09/08/2017 14:07

Is a cheap (non-commercial) bouncy castle likely to be needed to be treated carefully ie. be a pain in the arse?

Will it be like a paddling pool / inflatable pool which kills the grass and invites all kinds of creepy crawlies (and wose, should you not be in the UK).

WRT punctures - the commercial ones you hire aren't close to airtight but have powerful pumps to eliminate the issue. Assuming yours isn't the same quality, look into replacement pumps when they burn out.

Factor in the cost of heavy duty (15 amp) cabling. No way in hell I'd trust whatever's likely to come with it.

Original poster
SilverLining17 · 09/08/2017 14:12

I hope I get one with a penis turret if I should buy one.

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strawberrygate · 09/08/2017 14:19

go for it. we got this one ( but it was reduced to £100 at the time)
www.tesco.com/direct/tesco-crocodile-airflow-bouncy-castle/205-1922.prd?skuId=205-1922

The pump that comes with it is going strong after 4 years and you don't need any sort of heavy duty cabling. we just have an extension lead and put it away at the end of each day

Original poster
SilverLining17 · 09/08/2017 15:04

Would it be big enough for my 8 year old strawberry ?

OP posts:
strawberrygate · 09/08/2017 15:10

easily big enough I'd say.

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