To not let 4 year old go to trampolining party?

[thegreatestgiftthatipossess]

My 4 year old (with hyper mobility) has been invited to a trampolining birthday party. He's never been to one before because I've read it's not safe for under 6s. I've also got a few doctor/nurse friends who said they would never in a million years allow their children to use them.
I wouldn't be able to go on the trampolines with DC, as I will have recently given birth.
Am I being over cautious in missing the party? Also not sure if I should be honest with the mum (a good friend) or say we already have plans.

I think if you have concerns then he shouldn’t go. Is he already aware of the invitation? If so, it may be difficult to explain to him why he can’t go, but that shouldn’t be a factor in your decision. As for what to say to the other child’s mother, I’d probably just be honest unless there’s a really good reason not to be.

God no. They're a deathtrap for anyone with hypermobility.

I have a hyper mobile DD aged 4, and have turned down a couple of party invitations to a trampoline place for the same reasons. I was honest the first time, but saw the mum’s eyes glaze over, and felt I was being seen as overly-precious/an illness bore, so the second time I lied and said we were already doing something else.

I personally didn’t think it was worth the risk - apart from the generic risk with trampolines for little ones, there is no way DD will be able to be careful about not over-extending joints when bouncing excitedly on a trampoline.

I'm worried it will hurt her feelings if I'm honest, and it's almost like criticising the appropriateness of her choice of party for 4 year olds.

We’ve declined trampoline parties before for similar reasons. And our DC don’t have a physical condition like hyper mobility.
I was honest about why we were declining, the hosts seemed understanding.

Incidentally, the bit where you say you wouldn’t be able to go on with your DS - as I understand it, it makes it a lot more dangerous if there’s an adult on the same trampoline as a small child.

I wouldn't let mine go, they don't have hyper mobility and they're 8. Way to many injury stories from our local one for my looking. I would let them go to one at a leisure venture they're one on one on a trampoline but not a trampoline park. Many local councils are refusing planning to build them at all because of liability insurance and any a and e doctor will tell you that trampolines are one of the biggest causes of broken bones.

@SingingSea I've never been to a trampoline park, so ignore me! I don't really know what it involves other than the risk of broken bones.

The website for our local trampoline park shows lots of small trampolines set in the floor next to each other, plus a few larger bouncy bits.

Aside from any inherent trampoline risks, it’s the kind of setup where it looks very easy for overexcited children to bounce into each other. Which is especially risky for the smaller children, if they’re letting different age ranges in at the same time.

We have just been honest and said too risky due to hypermobility. If they are a good friend maybe could ask if they could come to yours for a play at a different time and give them a present.

The only time dd did go, before diagnosis, she ended up injured. In fact it was the beginning of the road to diagnosis. Pain in wrist for months.

I didn’t let mine go because of the same reason. I just told the friend that we were busy and told my child it’s unsafe. Just because other people are doing it doesn’t mean that we have to pressure our selves to conform. Go with your gut instinct

You don’t ever need to give a reason OP, not ever. I’ve declined party invites sometimes because we’ve had so many or because we’re skint. Honestly just decline and say thank you for the invite.

I won’t let my son go to one either - a friend of mine’s dd really hurt herself on a trampoline - she was six at the time and it really frightened her. If you’re worried then it’s not worth it, you won’t enjoy it and will be fretting the whole time.
Your DD doesn’t need to know why she can’t go either imo.

I take my two all the time (almost 3 and almost 6). But obviously I stay with them and closely supervise. A four year old on their own, probably not.

At the end of the day if you are just going to be worried then I'd not bother letting them go.

I have as grandson, Who does trampolining, as in seriously.like competitions. I don't like this really, and avoid saying anything to my daughter about it. I know someone who had a child as such, who sustained a spinal injury doing this. But I have an adult son who has serious spinal injury, and will never walk again, so its always on my mind .

OP I'd got with your gut on this.

You can tell the mum why if you want but you really do not need to be honest with everyone about things like this. People do not need to know about a child's condition or why you cannot make the party, just that you cannot.

Do something nice with your child on the day, if you can afford it, and try not to worry. I would always go with my gut and knowing someone who had a nasty accident on a trampoline I would never expect anyone to comply with something they didn't feel happy to do.

YANBU I've heard of lots of broken arms etc because of trampolines. Have also seen this post doing the rounds, not sure if it's real or one of those made up viral things.

YANBU. There's no way I'd have agreed to one of my DDs going to a trampoline party when they were that young. DD1 went to a seventh birthday party, and all the children loved it. 4/5 year olds are a completely different matter, however.

But, as it's your child your rules, I wouldn't say anything more than that your DD can't make it.

Trampolining parties are my worst nightmare, I’d just not be available thst weekend. The one and only I attended for my friends sons 11th birthday one of the kids knocked his entire front bottom teeth out - well them shattered into pieces when he accidentally kneed himself in the face. Bleh. It was HORRIBLE. The kids were all confident but were showing off to each other trying stupid moves...... put me off the parties for life!!!!

Two hyper mobile kids. Both been to trampoline parties. Never an issue. Loads of areas with little bounce and balls to throw etc. You don't have to jump you can just go down and walk round. Literally no issue at all. Children break bones doing all sorts of things, if you think like that you'd never let them do gymnastics or go to the park or swimming or climb a tree or ride a bike. Just as likely to fall down the stairs at home.

If someone told me their child couldn't go because of hypermobility I'd be FINE with that. I'd also remember it for future.

Ok, I think that's decided then, we're not going. I can't even necessarily keep an eye out if I've got a newborn too. Thanks everyone. Thankfully DC doesn't know about the invitation.

if you think like that you'd never let them do gymnastics or go to the park or swimming or climb a tree or ride a bike. Just as likely to fall down the stairs at home

We were specifically told at diagnosis that the only two sports definitely out were trampolining and contact rugby. The risk from trampolining is that all of you is completely off the ground and it is hard to control your landing. The risk from contact rugby is fairly obvious. For a child without hypermobility an injury is annoying, for a child with hypermobility the recovery can take ages. Having said that my teenager occasionally does trampolining in school but that is under supervision and she is not prone to injury as much as her younger siblings. Every week she said someone was injured. Now she has options she chooses not to do it. Do check with your physio as all dc are different. We were told that it was a complete no go for one dc but another one could go occasionally for a party as they had stronger ankles and generally less prone to injury. They all climb with a club so it is not as if they don't do dangerous sports. Climbing is really good as it builds core stability and strength, plus their flexibility gives them the edge. They wouldn't want to risk injury at trampolining as it would affect their climbing. Swimming is also excellent sport for a hypermobile child, although we have had swimming injuries too.

Utterly, utterly ridiculous. There are few things better for kids in terms of exercise, gross motor skills and fun than trampolining.

I used to take my some regularly at 4 and they have sections for even smaller. The rule at the one I go to is, if you can walk, you can bounce.

It’s up to the parent how much help and supervision a child needs but a party at 4 is absolutely fine.

No one I know sticks to the safe trampoline rules. They allow more than one kid at a time, they leave the safety net entry open, they have trampolines with defective or exposed springs, they leave heir trampolines outside all year long, etc. Getting my kids to stick to the safe trampoline basic rules is my ongoing project, so no I would not let them go to this party, even with constant supervision it would be a nightmare.

I don’t know about the complications of hyper mobility but i can see it would make things even more dangerous so definitely no.