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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To cancel the new trampoline?

368 replies

ChampagneWorries · 01/03/2021 09:49

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?

OP posts:
dottiedodah · 01/03/2021 12:20

RainingCatsandDogs Why is there" so much pressure to the contrary "re girls and exercise ?(genuine question here) I mean maybe some years ago ,but here we now have football at professional level for women. Schools everywhere have girls football .Pip Hare has just completed a round the world Yacht race ,Ellen McArthur before her .These are just a few examples TBH!

Hoppinggreen · 01/03/2021 12:21

I can’t understand the many many people encouraging OP to get a trampoline because of the non trampoline related accidents their dc have had
So what if your child tripped/fell off a bike etc, that doesn’t make trampolines any safer or more dangerous, it’s irrelevant. Why don’t we listen to the medical professionals who say how often they see trampoline related injuries rather than someone who thinks they don’t pose a risk be a their child broke a wrist doing something else?
I’m not saying don’t have one but do your own risk assessment rather than listen to people who think your dc will have no childhood without one.

Puffalicious · 01/03/2021 12:21

We have an inground trampoline , best thing ever. They're more expensive and take digging to get them in the ground, but it's the best thing we've bought for the kids. Look into those.

Roselilly36 · 01/03/2021 12:21

You need to do what you think is right OP, my two loved their trampoline so much they wore the first one out, so we brought them a bigger one, they didn’t sustain any injuries, thankfully. Perhaps a trampoline set into the ground may be a good compromise?

Judetiff · 01/03/2021 12:23

I have only just got rid of my daughter's trampoline, which she had from the age of 8 and used it regularly until the age of 23. No net and the bumper disappeared yonks ago but never did herself any harm on it in the 15 years of use. In fact as she got older it was great exercise and therapy for her. Children need to take risks: it's all part of growing up.

tunnocksreturns2019 · 01/03/2021 12:24

@Puffalicious

We have an inground trampoline , best thing ever. They're more expensive and take digging to get them in the ground, but it's the best thing we've bought for the kids. Look into those.
Us too. Had it 8 years, kids now nearly 12 and 9, no accidents, still used all the time
BirdHedge · 01/03/2021 12:27

You won’t find an orthopaedic doctor with a trampoline for their children!

Chickychickydodah · 01/03/2021 12:30

Most have nets round them or you can sink them into the floor, anyone can trip offa pavement edge and cause serious injury.accidents can happen anytime ! Be cautious but them them have one.

Soontobeseller · 01/03/2021 12:31

How is an in ground one any safer compared to one with a net? I’d guess that the majority of trampolines do have nets these days. The injuries come from awkward landings and whether it has a net or is in ground doesn’t change the chances of those happening.

If you think your children are less likely to have an injury due to it being in ground I’m sorry but I think you’re mistaken.

MuddleMoo · 01/03/2021 12:32

People used to not wear seatbelts when driving and many were fine. Many were not so now it's unthinkable to not wear one.

uggmum · 01/03/2021 12:32

I had a springfree trampoline.

Bought it when my oldest was 6. She is now 21 and I got rid of it this year.

It was brilliant. I purchased it due to its safety claims. No injuries with my dc. We have strict rules for using it.

Both my dc were tumbling gymnasts so used it for practice. It was literally used daily for years.

I would recommend it.

Twisty333 · 01/03/2021 12:41

Let them have the trampoline!! Almost every kid we know has one and they all love it!

dottiedodah · 01/03/2021 12:47

Muddlemoo Yes I remember sitting on my Nans lap front seat(No seatbelt!) Everyone was the same then (late60s!) Shudder to think of it now though!

user1487194234 · 01/03/2021 12:56

I would have got one if we didn't have neighbours,didn't think it was fair on them.Didn't really fancy having lots of kids playing in our garden,I know some people like that but its not for me(bad mum)

FourTeaFallOut · 01/03/2021 12:56

Oh please, I hazard a guess that the volume of children suffering the kind of trauma sustained by being jettison through a car window at 40mph is incredibly rare.

PinkSpring · 01/03/2021 12:56

The fact that so many people who work in a medical background have said they wouldn't have them or have seen first hand some horrific injuries caused by trampolines - would hugely put me off wanting one for my children!

We are not risk adverse, we are pretty happy for our children to do most things and they certainly aren't "wrapped in cotton wool" but having seen some of the injuries caused just by "landing funny" - I don't think it's worth the risk. Those saying broken bones are part of growing up, they really really aren't!

My neighbours got one end of last year for their not even two year old - they haven't even bothered to put a net up and they let her play on it unsupervised - it's an accident waiting to happen.

TheyIsMyFamily · 01/03/2021 12:58

I've never made an orthopedic surgeon willing to have one for his children.

Just sayin'....

Toddlerteaplease · 01/03/2021 12:58

80% of children admitted to my ward with broken arms are caused by trampolines. However one of the orthopaedic consultants children still had one.

BrideofBideford · 01/03/2021 12:59

Never got one, as I could not realistically see them only ever bring on there one at a time

In real life, (friends’ houses) it’s a free for all with too many kids, even dogs and balls all on the trampoline

Seen too many injuries

Everyone starts out with rules, everyone ends up with free for all crazy fun (it IS fun, but just too unsafe imo)

FourTeaFallOut · 01/03/2021 13:00

And the number of firefighters who won't have candle in the house, dentists who won't have dummies for their children, DC of dietitians who have never seen the inside of a McDonald's, physios who won't have a baby walker...and on it goes. Because people judge risk by their own experience and these people see the worst outcome of those decisions everyday.

But most people chug along in life accepting minimal risk in return for short and long term gains.

Buttybach · 01/03/2021 13:01

I am an ex trampolinist. There is risk and reward with trampolines. We have one in our garden but it's not the kind that you use for competitive trampolining.
My daughter does use it as she is a Squad gymnast. She has hurt herself on it once but it was only a finger.
I think the reward of trampolining definitely out weighs the risk.
It keeps my daughter fit when she is locked down and can't get to the gym. It is also a lot of fun!

Buttybach · 01/03/2021 13:02

I think as long as you are strict with the one at a time rule and no wearing of shoes or wellies on the trampoline. You will be golden.
Also ensure they try no tricks like somersaulting without proper instruction

Blabla81 · 01/03/2021 13:04

Years ago, my brother had an accident during his trampoline lesson at school. He landed on his head and broke his spine, had to be air lifted to hospital etc etc. He was very lucky in that his break was in a part of the spine that didn’t cause paralysis. Also luckily he didn’t break his neck. It was an awful time for everyone. This was during a controlled class which made it even more 😮.
4 years ago, my husband and I bought a house and the last owners (pain the arse owners, but that’s a different story) left a 10ft trampoline in the garden. We never got around to dismantling it and our girls loved it and still spend most nice weather days on it. I won’t remove it now as it gives them so much enjoyment and fitness but god I am on edge constantly. I am constantly dictating to them how to use it safely - they probably just hear noise coming from my mouth now as I’m such a nag. Unfortunately there are dangers with so many things - it’s about weighing it up and being careful. My niece fell down a sewerage drain a few days ago as the lid was loose - she managed to hold on and get pulled out. I Feel sick thinking about it.

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 01/03/2021 13:06

Don't buy it if you live next door to me.

Blabla81 · 01/03/2021 13:06

It’s not really just about them being in the ground or having nets unfortunately - it’s how children can land on the trampoline that can also cause major injuries.