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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be annoyed that DS1's little trampoline is obviously dangerous for him

27 replies

acebaby · 05/04/2009 09:20

A year ago I bought a little bouncer for DS1 - one of those ones with a bar to hold on to. It looked small, but was rated safe up to 18kg and 3 years. DS1 is 3, weighs 12 kg and is small for his age. He is still in either 18-24month or 2-3 clothes. He is not one of those really physical 'turbo boys' if you know what I mean.

He had a go on the trampoline and bounced so high that it tipped and would have gone straight over if I hadn't been there.

I am annoyed that it is clearly dangerous even though he is well within the supposedly safe range for the tramploine. It makes me wonder how carefully they test this equipment. Boo.

OP posts:
compo · 05/04/2009 09:22

i think the up to 3 years is because they don't bounce as vigorously as a 3+ child would do, not so much the weight issue

Trinityrhino · 05/04/2009 09:30

tisn't about weight
tis about smallel kids not bouncing as high

why would you get him a tiny trampoline for small toddlers when he is three

HSMM · 05/04/2009 09:39

My sister gave my DD one of these for her 2nd birthday and when she let go of the bar to get off, she fell and chipped a tooth on the edge! I hate them.

Original poster
acebaby · 05/04/2009 09:58

Trinityrhyino - I got the trampoline for him last year when he was almost two and he was fine on it. I just got it out again to see if it would be ok this year.

I interpreted the guidelines as being including children of 3 (actual wording being for "suitable for children aged 1-3 years"). I guess I interpreted it wrongly.

Sorry to hear about your DD HSMM. I will be throwing the trampoline away and not relying on (my interpretation of) equipment ratings in future.

I guess I was being unreasonable. thanks for the replies.

OP posts:
carrielou2007 · 05/04/2009 10:09

YANBU!!!!! I wanted one for my dd and my mum bought it for her for christmas. Prob same one from ELC, dd was 2 in Jan and she can't use it as it just tips as soon as she bounces.

As she had used it about 2 or 3 times and it happened everytime I took it back to ELC who just told me I'd used it so they couldn't do anything. They also said that everyone finds this and suggested I bought an outside one with an encolsure insted. I felt very strongly that I wanted it sent to their manufacturers to have it investigated but they pretty much laughed at me.

Mine is not sat in the garage as if I take it to the tip I worry that someone will take it home for their lo and suffer the same thing!!!

carrielou2007 · 05/04/2009 10:10

oops now sat in the garage!!

Original poster
acebaby · 05/04/2009 10:12

thanks carrielou. I'll write to ELC. Perhaps if enough people do, they'll revise their guidelines or clarify them

OP posts:
LIZS · 05/04/2009 10:36

We've got a tp versionand our much older kids still use it as still within the weight limit. Have you got the front legs at the correct angle to support the bouncing or maybe the elastic isn't at the correct tension ?

Original poster
acebaby · 05/04/2009 10:48

The tp version looks a lot more substantial and better quality. I might order one! I don't think you can adjust the one we have. It is more like www.boots.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10052&productId=45443&callingViewName =&categoryId=33353&langId=-1&catalogId=11051

I ideally want something for DS2 (10 months) to be able to use that isn't a complete hazard to DS1, because I would like DS1 to have the freedom to play in the garden without me hovering!

After seeing some of the posts here, I am getting a bit cautious about trampolines in general though. Maybe one of those plastic seesaws would be a better idea!

Thanks everyone

OP posts:
thean · 05/04/2009 21:29

My 7 and 4 yr olds still use our ELC one with no problem althought they don't hold the handle so that maybe why it isn't tipping as weight not on one end. Is you child safe enough to let go of handle?

Onlyaphase · 05/04/2009 21:34

We have a TP toddler trampoline as well and it hasn't tipped once, and DD is a very vigorous and dedicated bouncer. Think the angle of the legs helps it to not tip over.

Original poster
acebaby · 05/04/2009 21:53

thean - DS does hold onto the handle still. His bouncing is a bit wild! I may well order the TP trampoline because DS is really keen on bouncing.

thanks again for all the input.

OP posts:
Loshad · 05/04/2009 22:02

i would be more tempted if you want a trampoline a little one can use to bury one in the ground so the mat is at ground level - no chance of falls - have seen it doen very successfully. you do get less bounce but doens't sound like your DS would mind that.

blametheparents · 05/04/2009 22:07

acebaby I hit my face on a seesaw when I was little and cut my upper lip really badly with my teeth! Not sure any toy is entirely safe, and children will always find a dangerous way of paying with it (DD was 'caught' today trying to tie a skipping rope round her neck, I didn't have that down as a particularly dangerous toy )

Original poster
acebaby · 05/04/2009 22:08

sounds like a great idea Loshad. We are in a rented house at the moment, but as soon as we buy I'll do that. Less bounce is good IMHO - my DS probably wouldn't aspire to somersaults, but some of his friends might given half a chance...

OP posts:
ronshar · 05/04/2009 22:11

We have just sent our little trampoline to trampoline heaven(the tip). We have had it for 3 years. Both DDs have used it DD1 is 9 DD2 4. We have not had any accidents, but when DD2 jumped very hard the back legs did leave the ground.
I would get a small enclosed trampoline that can be sunk into the ground. They are great fun but children always need to be supervised on trampolines and they should always be enclosed.
See-swas can be dangerous if one person gets off suddenly and the other end hits the ground.
All out door play can be dangerous. That is the way children learn about boundaries and there own physical limits.

CarGirl · 05/04/2009 22:13

Put it on grass and peg the legs down.

ChippingIn · 06/04/2009 02:10

LO is only 22 months and ours has already been put away, when she bounces it tips forward and I am worried she'll tip it right over and bang her face on the handle as it hits the floor we are getting an outdoor one this summer with enough mesh and mats to make it near enough a padded cell!!

Our little one is a round one - not sure where it came from and the brand isn't familiar (it's in the loft so not going looking!!)... some of the others sound like a better buy.

Original poster
acebaby · 06/04/2009 12:17

Ronshar - good point about outdoor play inevitably being 'dangerous'. I think I can be a bit overprotective sometimes!

Cargirl - whatever trampoline I get, I'll do that.

ChippinIn - love the vision of the outdoor padded cell. Just what I need for DS2 (10 months)!

OP posts:
Baisey · 06/04/2009 17:44

CarrieLou207 I work for ELC they should NOT of refused to do anything about it, what store was this? At best they should of exchanged it as a goodwill gesture regardless of it being used, I also bought the same trampoline for my son for his 1st birthday, when he was first using it I was there with him so the slight tipping forward motion was no problem because I was holding the handle with him. However if you had a problem with the item and you felt there was a safety issue the staff should of took that seriously!

Baisey · 06/04/2009 17:49

Infact Ive just noticed you still have it. Take it back again and say that child was bouncing on it and it tipped forward, and they fell off. If, again, they say no, then demand that they fill in customer complaint form and send the item to HO for a review, you should then get Gift vouchers sent to you. You should also email a complaint about the staff refusing to do anything. (seriously hopes this wasnt her store now)

carrielou2007 · 06/04/2009 18:04

OOh thanks, I still have the box upstairs so I'm going to pack it away and take it back in tomorrow - I live in Weston-super-mare so hide if you see me marching in with a box saying 'well someone told me on Mumsnet...'

Baisey · 06/04/2009 18:12

Lol phew not my store! Just stand your ground and tell them youre not happy and they NEED to do something about it. Good luck.

carrielou2007 · 08/04/2009 17:43

Just as an update, I asked again in my store yesterday and got a not very bothered response, I took it back today. I had the box and the receipt and was expecting prob a 'gesture' of goodwill of a ten pound gift card type thing.

I was 'told' I wouldn't get my money back even though I had my receipt (of which I was not execting) and implied how lucky I was they were allowing it in the first place. I was given a gift card of 35 pounds.

I left smiling as if anyone had actually asked to see my reciept they would have seen at the time it was 30 pounds and I had used a 20% off voucher so had only paid 26 pounds.

Thank you Baisey for giving me the push to do something more and OP I hope you have also returned yours!!

Original poster
acebaby · 08/04/2009 18:22

glad to hear that carrielou. I won't be taking mine back because we got a year and a bit's good play out of it, which seems reasonable. I have written to the customer services department about my concerns about the wording on the age/weight range recommendations.

OP posts: