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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to expect that basic safety rules are followed with trampolines?

13 replies

parakeet · 20/04/2010 19:58

I have heard from doctors that the main source of injuries for children on trampolines is having more than one child at a time on. I know that the guidelines you get with a trampoline strictly forbid this too.

We don't have a trampoline ourselves, but a couple of times now we have been visiting friends who do. They urged on child after child. I felt really mean saying that mine would be the only ones not allowed to do "group bouncing". Eventually I caved in - but felt uncomfortable, and now it's niggling at me.

Is it really common to ignore the basic safety rules in this way?

OP posts:

rocknstroll · 20/04/2010 20:02

We've got a trampoline. My kids all know the rules and won't go on with more than 3 kids on at a time. I wouldn't be bothered at all if another parent was there and said that their kid couldn't go on with my lot - I'd just think they were refreshingly safety conscious and had given me a good reminder to not be so blase about it!

How many kids are you talking about being put on at once? Also I think it depends on their size.

cornsilk · 20/04/2010 20:02

Have you not seen, 'You've been Framed?'

compo · 20/04/2010 20:03

it's not much fun though if only one child is on it at a time is it?

PeedOffWithNits · 20/04/2010 20:03

you are right

i do not allow mine on more than one at a time, neither do i let them out on their bikes without helmets - i am a minority of 1 in our close out of 6 families with similar aged kids

rocknstroll · 20/04/2010 20:10

only one at a time??! O no, mine are allowed with max 3. Maybe size of trampoline relevant also! ours is big. you have to balance risk with fun don't you.

MmeBlueberry · 20/04/2010 20:12

It's even safer for a child to be just locked up in a padded cell.

Original poster

parakeet · 20/04/2010 20:14

I am talking about two or three or four or sometimes five children who are all under five years old.

From what I've seen, even four-year-olds can bounce high enough so that if they landed heavily on another child who had fallen down, they could break a limb - or (possibly thinking wildly here) crush a windpipe.

I think I've just talked myself into sticking to my guns next time.

I don't care if the parents think I'm a fuddy duddy. I just felt sorry for my children missing out on the fun.

OP posts:

wb · 20/04/2010 20:24

I think you are NBU to insist on your standards of safety for your children but YABU if you expect others to adopt these with their own children. We all have different ideas of what is safe or not and apart from the extremes (no seat belt) I think this should be respected.

cat64 · 20/04/2010 20:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

CirrhosisByTheSea · 20/04/2010 21:21

We have quite a big trampoline but I stick to one child at a time. I have on occasion let DS have a friend on at the same time if they're being very sensible about it. But no more. It's patently obvious that the risk for injury is way more with more kids on - more scope for cracking heads, for landing on each other's limbs etc (ouch)

I think it is good for DS to see that rules are there to be kept and to be mindful of. If they were to go to a trampolining club it would be safe and disciplined, not a crazy free for all. So I don't think it's a bad thing at all for kids to realise that trampolining is one of those things that are controlled and supervised.

If you want a free for all, there are other more appropriate forms of play imo.

CagedBird · 21/04/2010 07:00

We have a small trampoline and at first I followed the guidelines and insisted one at a time, but after about a week my dc's both started to get on it together and I just thought "let them play". I don't think they can hurt themselves that badly as they don't seem to do anything that outrageous on it.

I don't think yabu to ask that your own dc follow the guidelines (everyone to their own and that). I wouldn't let friends dc's get on more than one at a time because I wouldn't want to be held responsible for another child's injury however miniscule on my property.

Merle · 21/04/2010 07:08

I think you are not BU - you do what's best for you and your family.

We have a big trampoline and my two boys play on it together all the time. It's great fun and I don't feel I want to restrict them because of what 'might' happen. They have been to a trampoline club before and obviously that was a lot more structured, in the same way that school is a lot more structured - but this is a time to let off some steam and be creative.

They don't wear cycle helmets when they are pavement/cycling. I think this is OTT. They will have helmets once they go onto the road and for mountain biking

kreecherlivesupstairs · 21/04/2010 08:14

YANBU for your children. Our dd would give a kidney to have a trampoline, as we live in a flat it's not going to happen at the moment, but hopefully she'll get one once we move to Belgium. With regard to cycle helmets, she wears one always. Whether on the pavement or, less frequently, on the road.

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