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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to worry about trampoline with nets being safe ?

170 replies

Babieseverywhere · 06/04/2010 08:31

My parents have very kindly offered to buy our children a garden trampoline with a safety net as a joint birthday gift.

But I am worried that these trampoline look very dangerous, no facts or horrible RL stories to base my opinion on, I just think they must be dangerous...AIBU

My DH thinks I am silly for worrying and points out the children love their indoor small, low trampoline and bounce on it for hours (when it is not in the utility room as it takes up so much space in the house when it is being used.)

Our garden is totally paved if that makes a difference to the safety factor.

So what is the Mumsnet verdict on trampolines ?

OP posts:
CarmenSanDiego · 06/04/2010 08:36

I think if they have a net around them, they're pretty safe and great exercise but your children should obviously be careful - not trying to do flips or bounce on their head or something.

ItsAllaBitNoisy · 06/04/2010 08:42

It will be harder to secure it on a paved area. Once it's securely held down it's fine.

Only let one child on at a time.

ShrinkingViolet · 06/04/2010 08:44

if your child needs a net round a trampoline to stop them bouncing off, then they sholdn't be on the trampoline wothout supervision IMO. Actually shouldn't be on a trampoline fullstop. Trampolines are dangerous and the majority of people with them in the garden don't follow the safety instructions (one person at a time, bounce in the middle, etc).

Original poster
Babieseverywhere · 06/04/2010 08:48

Mmm, well I don't think it a good idea based on posts. A garden toy which only one child can use fully supervised will never be used this summer, when I will have a newborn and I want the garden to be a chill out zone not a war zone.

I'll put my parents off until they are older.

OP posts:
biddyofsuburbia · 06/04/2010 08:52

We got an outside trampoline with a net last year and I had the same worries. You don't say how old DCs are but mine are 6 and 3 and stepchildren 14 and 17.

The DCs and their friends, and quite a few grown ups, LOVE the trampoline - it is good exercise if you can't be bothered to go out with bikes/ walking / swimming and the net has kept them in and on.

I would set some rules though such as:

One at a time
Only under supervision
No crazy moves (you shouldn't land on the knees apparently, and clearly the head wouldn't be a great idea)
follow the set up instructions properly.

I think getting in and out will be the most dangerous bit on a paved area so maybe some extra mats

Original poster
Babieseverywhere · 06/04/2010 08:57

Thanks BOS, my kids are very young, 3.6 years, 20 months and bump, so I will leave it a few years.

Maybe look at getting a garden swing instead, they already have a slide (with mats).

OP posts:
CeaselessTurmoilSeething · 06/04/2010 09:03

We don't have one as I worry about the long term effects of the developing brain continually knocking against the inside of the skull with every leap.

This is based on zero supporting evidence, just my own neuroticism

I'd be happy to be convinced otherwise as the dc are desperate for one

Alouiseg · 06/04/2010 09:04

They worry the life out of me. Dc want one desperately but dh and I have researched extensively and decided against it. We have 2 friends who are paediatricians who also think they should be made illegal due to the amount of injuries they see.

ArthurPewty · 06/04/2010 09:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

grumpypants · 06/04/2010 09:13

we have one - huge excitement at the time, lots of squabbling for a turn, now it stands forlorn and abandoned in the garden...

ArthurPewty · 06/04/2010 09:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

cyb · 06/04/2010 09:17

goodness me what bunch of panickers!

I bought our kids trampoline for the express reason that I would'nt have to stand watch over them while they played.

And as for the skull hitting the head while they bounce...you do know you are being daft, don't you?!

Yes accidents CAN happen, but your child could just as easily fall down the stairs...do you watch them descend every time?

babies, I do think yours are a bit young atm

Undutchable · 06/04/2010 09:20

On Saturday I saw, across the way from me, a child of about 4 happily bouncing on a large trampoline, with no nets, 3ft off the ground and right next to (I mean within 3ft) the canal . The Dutch have a very different attitude to risk. If it's still there I'll take a pic of it...

sunnydelight · 06/04/2010 09:35

We have a 16" trampoline in our garden, complete with net, and it is absolutely brilliant. When we had a smaller one in the UK I enforced the one at a time policy, but seriously on something this size 3/4 can play together quite happily. Obviously if you have really rough kids, or kids who think it's funny to use the net as a human catapult things are different, but then the issue is the kids' behaviour, not the trampoline!

DinahRod · 06/04/2010 09:45

If your garden in paved then you might need to put down a protective surface (more for the trampoline!) and also purchase or negotiate included in the price a tie-down kit.

Octagon shaped ones are safer than round because you gravitate less to the centre but land where you take off from. We have one and ds and dd can go on together (although they do try to be sensible and go one at a time) but it means that they don't meet in the middle/avoid the issue of clashing heads which is the main cause of low-key accidents. Ours has a safety net, wouldn't have had one otherwise, and the only one who has managed to look like he might go flying off is dh!

shockers · 06/04/2010 09:50

We have a 12ft trampoline with safety net. We've had it for 4 years and it gets played on at every opportunity.
My 2 DCs play on it together but we have strict rules about what can and cannot happen on it.
Most of the time they use it to kick a ball to each other (the net keeps the ball contained).

If I could only keep one toy, it would be the trampoline.

overmydeadbody · 06/04/2010 09:53

Kids should be able to take risks and live dangerously.

Life is full of risk, I'm not going to wrap my DS up in cotton wool or stop him rock climbing or cycling no-handed or messing about on a half pipe with a skateboard. A trampoline with a net sounds pretty low risk in comparison.

LilyBolero · 06/04/2010 09:54

I think they are dangerous. When ds2 had to have an x-ray at the children's hospital, there were SO many posters up highlighting the dangers of trampolines. There obviously are safety measures - using a net, adult supervision, only one person on at a time - but I wouldn't be happy about having one as you are reliant on the kids either being 100% sensible or having to supervise them all the time.

cyb · 06/04/2010 10:03

overmydeadbody I agree with you

we are risk obsessed
but far better our children are cossetted and supervised round the clock

ShadeofViolet · 06/04/2010 10:09

We have a 12 foot one with a massivly high net around it. My 2 DC's love it and they go on together. I have never been worried about thier safety - sometimes I go on it aswell.

LilyBolero · 06/04/2010 10:15

Some safety recommendations here news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4728645.stm

I know how massively careful they are at the gym my kids go to (gymnastics gym, not lifting weights iyswim!) - they are hugely strict about the trampoline, and always have an adult there in case the children fall backwards when bouncing, as that can result in neck fractures.

LilyBolero · 06/04/2010 10:15

link here

maduggar · 06/04/2010 10:40

My DD fell off a trampoline, that had a safety net, and knocked herself out on the paving slabs underneath. She was knocked out, waking only to be voilently sick. Was rushed to hospital, and had severe concussion. It was terrifying!

maduggar · 06/04/2010 10:41

she was 5 btw

SoupDragon · 06/04/2010 10:42

I suspect the most dangerous thing there was having paving slabs underneath a trampoline!