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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To get a bouncy castle for DD's birthday party?

17 replies

bandontherun · 23/04/2008 13:31

Was debating on whether to get a bouncy castle for DD's 5th birthday party.

Just been listening to Jeremy Vine and they are debating whether they are dangerous or not.

What does mumsnet think?

OP posts:
LadySanders · 23/04/2008 13:33

i have had one for ds1 (now aged 7)birthday every year since he was 1. never had any injuries and keeps kids of huge age range entertained for hours, for some reason. not to mention the adults.

LadySanders · 23/04/2008 13:34

last year we had one in the pouring rain (in june, grrrr) so it was a proper mudbath which added even more to the enjoyment, evidently

YohoAhoy · 23/04/2008 13:38

Think as long as an adult keeps an eye out it will be fine. We've generally hired one that isn't completely open, so less chance of bouncing out.

Went to a party a few years ago with a mix of ages, and a bunch of children developed a new game - the little ones would lie down, and the bigger ones would try and bounce them off the castle. Some of them went an impressive distance before landing!

Would add that the game was stopped pretty sharpish and no injuries were sustained

Twiglett · 23/04/2008 13:40

I got one for DD's 3rd and have one booked for her 4th

we get it for the whole day .. it's covered so dd has her party in the afternoon then DS brings some friends back after school

crossing a road is dangerous

PrimulaVeris · 23/04/2008 13:41

Yes yes yes do it, brilliant for that age

bamboo · 23/04/2008 13:44

We just had one for dd's 6th. About 18 children. It was brilliant but we did ensure it was supervised by an adult constantly because I think there is potential for injury and I would have felt terrible if anything had happened. Esp as one of dd's classmates broke her arm falling off one at a leisure centre party a year ago.

Dh reckoned the fact that it had a small slide meant that most of the kids used that rather than bouncing about violently on the castle bit so if we hire again would definitely get a slide one.

Original poster
bandontherun · 23/04/2008 13:45

Thanks for the replys.

There seemed to be so many people againest them on the phone in.

Am sure DD will love it and will hopefully keep the children amused for a while.

OP posts:
Original poster
bandontherun · 23/04/2008 13:47

We are having about 19 children to the party,so will make sure only so many go on at a time and that someone is supervising them.

That's DH's job sorted for the afternoon.

OP posts:
muppetgirl · 23/04/2008 13:48

but then surely you would never let your child learn to ride a bike, climb a tree, swing on a swing etc..

Many things have their dangers but it doesn't mean children should never be aloowed to do them.

TheDuchessOfNorksBride · 23/04/2008 13:59

We hire bouncy castles 2 or 3 times a year - they are high-sided, have crash mats along the front and sometimes have a small slide off one side (with more crash mats for landing on). We've never had a bad injury, a few knocks and bumps but nothing more than you'd get playing other party games.

As long as you get one that is suitable for childs age & number of children at party and there is always an adult present, then it should be fine.

A good company will run through a list of do's & don'ts when you sign the insurance document - ie. no shoes (or swords, sticks etc!!!), no eating whilst bouncing etc.

ByTheSea · 23/04/2008 14:05

I've had the bouncy castle and bouncy slide for at least five or six of my children's birthday parties for right around that age and they've all been huge successes with no problems at all. Have fun!

LIZS · 23/04/2008 14:42

Definitely . We had one for dd's 6th and it was great . You do need to supervise and limit numbers on at onece though. The supplier can give you na idea of how many should be on each size one and supply crash mats.

Tommy · 23/04/2008 14:44

DS2 fell off one and broke his foot
But it didn't stop him enjoying them again. I think they are great and would get one except that out garden is too small

bozza · 23/04/2008 14:49

Neither of mine have sustained injuries on a bouncy castle. DD has however in the last week managed to fall out of a ball pool head first, fall down stairs and go over the handle bars of her bike. I would have to ban a lot of things to keep her safe atm.

Anchovy · 23/04/2008 14:54

We've had one quite a few times - think they are brilliant. Children love them and they are loads cheaper than entertainers.

You need a bit of common sense re not letting too many children on at a time. We also try not to mix up age ranges too much - at our last party we kept 6 year old DS and his mates away from DD's 3 and 4 year old friends.

Also we always had an adult or 2 watching - easiest thing in the world to do for a 15/20 min stint with a cup of tea or glass of wine and IMO parents who stay at parties actually like to have things to do. I put stickers with their names on on the childrens fronts, so you just shout "Oi, Mathew, calm down or you will have to come off" and you are sorted.

In 4 years of having them our only incidents have been a very light nosebleed; someone switching the plug off and a minor bit of subsidence; and someone having a huge bouncing session, running off, throwing up in my kitchen bin and then getting back on again!

branflake81 · 23/04/2008 15:47

What?! I've never heard anything more stupid. Of course they're not dangerous - well, no more dangerous than riding a bike etc. Get one!

southeastastra · 23/04/2008 15:49

heard the case on the news of the 15 year old.

agree with keeping the ages together and make sure the area surrounding it has adequate protection. matresses or old quilt type things.

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