To cancel the new trampoline?

[ChampagneWorries]

Dd 8 has been asking for a trampoline for around 2 years. I’ve always said no due to the injury aspect of them but then i came across springfree trampolines. They claim to have eliminated 90% of the injuries children have on trampolines so i decided that maybe i was being over cautious and i should let her have one.

I also have a ds who is nearly 4 but his head is larger than the proportion of his body and he is 30cm smaller than dd.

I know they will be arguing about the one person at a time thing and i am worried about one of them landing funny and causing a significant injury to themselves (more so ds due to the proportion of his head and body)

I know plenty of children have them with no injuries etc.

I ordered a springfree trampoline last night and then after a few hours i decided it wasn't a good idea and have rang to cancel it this morning.

The lady on the phone wanted to know why i wanted to cancel so i explained about ds and the worry about one of them landing funny and causing a significant injury to themselves.

She said there was alot of misinformation online about trampolines and really did the hard sell!

Am i a kill joy?
Am i being over cautious?

Just been to collect our new trampoline for dc numbers 8-11...
Oldest dc have managed to get to adulthood without trampoline mishap...

Did you get any bonus heroin for them on the way home?

A life worth living is not risk free. Damage limitation is great ( helmets, safety belts etc) but if your children are really keen on something and you can afford it why on earth deprive them? Yes there are loads of injuries from trampolines ( often from the trampoline parks, badly supervised parties where kids all pile on) but so there are from sports ( rugby, horse riding, skateboarding etc) roads etc. Bouncing is fantastic exercise and very invigorating- as a reluctant purchaser also , can say my DC never had injury despite +++jumping , and trampoline then went to neighbours who also loved it for a further 5 years with no injuries. Give your kids the chance to enjoy a sport/ activity they are keen on - if they flout your rules ( eg 1 at a time/ no somersaults etc) then you can take it out of action until they learn!! Enjoy.

We had a trampoline for many years in our garden with 5 children no accidents and basic rules in place even when children came over to play !

you are the parent and its your choice. Its not going to blight their lives forever not to have a trampoline. Once out of lockdown is there somewhere they could do proper supervised classes?

if you have a trampoline you supervise use - one child at a time always & I drew a circle within the area so they weren't allowed to jump near the edge
I had one when I was cm years ago - because I was so careful & made sure there was plenty of room around & every stood back - no broken bones
Roller skating however... & lets not even think about football or my own (ancient) school history with cricket bats (head injuries) ... & cycling... (ds was our health & safety check devise - many a summer holiday spent having a kind of unofficial coffee afternoon meeting with other dm in a & e
Can't help but wonder if there has been an increase in garden accidents with dc in a & e this past year?

You do what you feel comfortable and as you don't feel comfortable best not to have one
We had one years ago and no major incidents but a friends daughter hurt her foot on theirs and said a & e were kept busy with Trampoline incidents
My ds broke his finger which needed an op playing at school with a soft sponge ball somehow though , yet ok on trampoline luckily ,but have heard how many accidents happen on trampolines, I got rid of ours because our ds's started using like a wrestling ring and that was an accident waiting to happen.

I pob wouldn't have one now , knowing about how many injuries happen

So they have a helmet on a bike. What if they fall into the road. What if they break an arm, what if they get hit by a car reversing out of a driveway. What if they crash into another bike/a wall/ go over the handlebars and break a rib.

Honestly, if you feel youd need to supervise the whole time or enforce a one at the time rule (which given the difference in their sizes you would have to) I wouldnt bother. It will just be an endless source of hassle and arguments.

Due to my daughters profession and my friendship circle I know a fair amount of people who work in A&E. They are all vehemently against trampolines, and DD made me promise never to get one for her younger siblings. She neednt have worried as I never would, but the amount of horrible injuries they see is quite eye opening.

I'm a children's A&E nurse - no trampolines in my house!

We don’t have a trampoline because we have a tiny garden that wouldn’t fit one in. Am I a kill joy? No, I’m just a parent that hasn’t bought my kids a trampoline. If you don’t want one then don’t get one. You shouldn’t feel guilty about it.

I wouldn't have one anywhere near young children. My own daughter broke her arm falling off a climbing frame, and the damage life changing and she has a permanent disability with her arm. She is a professional actress, singer and dancer, but her dance will always be affected. Adventure sport is great if its properly supervised. But trampolines are an avoidable risk, and as said many times, most A&E doctors, orthopaedics and Paeds won't let their kids have one. Bouncy castles are another unnecessary hazard.

most A&E doctors, orthopedics and Paed doctors wont allow their kids to have them

I guess it depends on your perspective. My friend is a gp and so spends a lot of time dealing with people with lifestyle induced health problems. He's a huge proponent of getting children outside and moving as the basis of a healthy life and his do all sorts of injury inducing sports, birthday parties at trampoline parks etc.

I don’t think your being over the top. A friend of mine had a life changing injury from a trampoline at school. It’s so easy done.

I have dd 7 and 9. I was worried about the risk too but during lockdown last year my dd 9 was v sedentary and gained weight and the trampoline is one exercise she likes. It was the right decision for us. They don't use it loads but it's always there and is the only activity they do in the garden!

We’ve had a trampoline with a net around it for 6 years with 3x dcs and no injuries here.

However last year I severely sprained my ankle walking down the stairs, so by your logic should I get rid of my stairs?

All this landing "funny" like when falling down stairs, off a bike, scooter, skateboard, swimming pool edge, diving board.

YABU to the extreme

Like other people have said I haven't had one as work in health care and have seen lots of really nasty injuries.
My friend is a dentist and also won't for the same reasons. She's sen a lot of lost teeth.
My sister in law bought one, got rid of it 6 weeks later after DN broke his arm in 2 places and needed surgery.

Don't worry so much. I think you all live in an age of fear. I know horrid things are and I cut up my granddaughters grapes and follow every rule my daughter wants. We live in a world were we hear scary stories from around the world! We only used to have information from our families the local paper or school. You are all doing a great job but to much information = anxiety chill relax

Having trained children and coached trampolining, I'd not let my kids have one. The absolute focus it takes to keep each child from injury, it takes your kid thinking they're capable while your back is turned for just one second. I've seen kids come so class to landing in absolutely awful ways, it doesn't take even much. I'd let them get one after taking lessons for long enough to be competent and if we had a crash mat. Trampolining classes are brilliant for learning body control and discipline and I completely recommend taking classes. But they're not toys imo.

I wouldn't have one. Thankfully our garden is small so I can use that as an excuse.

I'm 29 and we had a trampoline when I was a child. When I was about 12 I landed funny and my head went too far back as I landed, damaging the ligaments in my neck. I've ridden horses since I was 10, and fallen off three times that I remember well (probably more that I've forgotten about) and the trampoline injury wasn't far the worst pain I've ever had. It used to reoccur even two years down the line if I slept funny. I had DD last year via c section, and that was also a breeze compared to the trampoline injury!