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Original poster

WARNING! trampolines.........

32 replies

handsomeharrysmum · 04/05/2008 07:54

My 7 year old has just broken his finger on one.We have a trampoline and he is an only child. Had it 3 years, he's never been injured on it. When his friends come to play we only allow one child on at a time, boring I know, but we are very hot on safety.He went to his friends house who have 2 boys one is a big lad of 12 the other same size as my son. My friend let all three on together, other boys are very, very rough when they play.I wasn't there otherwise wouldn't have allowed it. My son was bounced up in the air by the heavy boy and came down full weight on his finger which bent back to touch his palm.You can imajine the pain he was in.He had it manipulated under General Anesthetic and so far all seems ok.This accident could have been avoided, yes we know it could have happened on our trampoline but a survey I found shows more accidents happen when there are 3 jumpers at the same time. So be careful if you allow multiple bouncers.He is glad about the fact he will have to have a scribe for his SATS, he hates writing.

OP posts:
Doodle2U · 04/05/2008 08:07

My 7 year old DS broke his elbow on our trampoline last week. He was bouncing on his own.

Yes, I agree, they are/can be dangerous but the benefits outweigh the risks I think. Don't know if you'll agree.

Hooray for the scribe! My DS would LOVE one too but he broke his left arm and he's right handed - so tough luck all round really, DSDoodle

trace2 · 04/05/2008 08:23

tbh i dont like them, i used to be a gymnatic coach and saw many accidents on them(and they new how to use properly) and then you could only buy if you had a license! i can not understand why they sell them to the public?.

and yes i have small children but i wont get one, but what bothers me no matter what i saw when he goes to freinds house he gets on with other kids

Walkthedinosaur · 04/05/2008 08:33

DS1 broke his leg on ours last year, he was on with me and just bouncing gently (I was standing at the side watching). It was the freakiest of accidents. He still plays on it now, and I must confess my heart is always in my mouth, but I do think they have great benefits too. I always maintain the one at a time rule too.

2sugarsagain · 04/05/2008 08:39

When my sister told me her friend (who's a lawyer) had so many cases of people sueing for broken bits having let their child play on one, I felt the time was right to allow just one child on at a time (unless it's my own two, of course!)

But they are fab and the only major play equipment we've had that's still in use.

tortoiseSHELL · 04/05/2008 08:42

I don't like them either - there is a horrific poster in our childrens hospital xray dept showing the things that can happen. Factsheet on trampoline safety.

When I see how careful they are at ds1 and dd's gym when the children are on the trampoline, it really makes me wonder why they are on sale at all - the trampoline is sunk into the floor, so at floor level, only one child at a time is allowed on (and this is a BIG trampoline, there would be space for more children), and there is always a coach there ready to step in if the child looks like they are going to fall awkwardley - they are particularly careful of the children not landing as if for a seatdrop, but leaning back iyswim, so not landing on their necks.

CrackerOfNuts · 04/05/2008 08:44

Oh no

I ordered one from Argos yesterday.

ruksak · 04/05/2008 08:58

we have one and it has a net but we have strict rules aout it...

only one person at a time
never ever go underneath it, even if no one is on it. Use a brush to retrieve the ball.
always stop bouncing before you get off.
no flips

crcaker of nuts ---if you haven't got one yet then it is easier to make the rules before they even get on and be strict about enforcing tem

ruksak · 04/05/2008 08:59

oh ... a kitchen timer is a good fairness keeper!!!

trace2 · 04/05/2008 09:02

tortoiseSHELL yes thats one of the worse that can happen, and it does happen

we had to be there all the time as you say to step in if needed and i did on many a occastions, i really hate them being on sale we as coachers do any way

Original poster
handsomeharrysmum · 04/05/2008 09:11

Our trampoline is now at the local tip, and I do blame my friend for his accident, rightly or wrongly, but, she should never have allowed 3 on at the same time.He has a paved area at the back of the garden for his scooter, football etc.He won't be short of things to do without it.

OP posts:
pigsinmud · 04/05/2008 09:19

Well, as my ds2 broke his leg on a bean bag and I think of the stunts I used to perform with a steep hill, bicycle and no helmet I see my trampoline with a net round it as a risk I'm willing to take!

I never have 3 children on it at once though.

Hope his finger gets better soon.

TheDuchessOfNorksBride · 04/05/2008 09:32

A 12yo is too big to go on a trampoline with other children. I turfed my sisters boys off my DS1s 4th birthday bouncy castle last year because they were too big. They went on later, by themselves.

However, we have a trampoline, climbable trees, swings, slides, bikes, roller skates and ponies at home. All capable of providing broken bones but I wouldn't ban any of these activities because of that.

CrackerOfNuts · 04/05/2008 09:35

Will I have to make my 3 go on seperatly then ?? Not even two at a time ? Have ordered a 10ft one.

TheDuchessOfNorksBride · 04/05/2008 09:37

hhm - don't you think that by getting rid of the one trampoline that you can control the use of, you will only encourage your DS to get on everyone elses - whether his friends and their siblings are on it or not?

I don't supervise my 6yo and her friends every second of a playdate so I don't think you can rely on telling other parents that your DS cannot go on a trampoline.

Enid · 04/05/2008 09:42

I dithered about one last month but then reminded myself of the promise I made to the a and e doc when dd1 nearly broke her arm on a friends one last year...

Original poster
handsomeharrysmum · 04/05/2008 09:47

My son has told me that he will never get on another trampoline, HIS descision, the pain and trauma of having to be in hospital and having an operation has put him off for life.Children have managed to play happily for hundreds of years without trampolines.

OP posts:
trace2 · 04/05/2008 09:49

i understand what you all saying its your choice just like its mine not to get one!
and yes they can have accidents on anything they play on, but like i said when you seen what ive seen i dont think you would either? as much as anything its how they fall ,i think they should be watched and only one on at a time, but again its your choice?

Original poster
handsomeharrysmum · 04/05/2008 10:01

couldn't agree more trace2.

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cornsilk · 04/05/2008 10:10

I was told by a trampoline coach that they are really dangerous and it put me off, so we haven't got one. I know if we got one the ds's would pile on with their friends and I'd have to moan at them to get off it. I moan at them enough already!

BettySpaghetti · 04/05/2008 10:21

I was always against them as I believed they were too dangerous etc. However that just meant that DD (8) spent all her time on friends ones where I couldn't supervise or lay down rules.

Now DS is that bit older (nearly 4) and just so full of energy I changed my mind and we bought a 10ft one with safety net a few weeks ago.

I've laid down rules (although I do let them on together ).

I also took into account that accidents and broken bones can happen in the most seemingly "safe" play and activities eg. my god-daughter broke her arm running on grass.

tortoiseSHELL · 04/05/2008 16:17

You can have accidents in safe environments obviously, but some things seem to be far more risky, and give more complicated injuries.

petitmaman · 04/05/2008 16:41

I bought one last year for dd.
about a month later friend of mil's 16yr old son was bouncing on his with 3 friends. all bundled and three friends got up. he didnt, had broken his back and is now parapalegic (sp?) for life.
PLEASE DON'T ALLOW MORE THAN ONE AT A TIME
I know this is hard to enforce but have you ever bounced on one with someone else? you cannot control your movements at all.
we still have ours but dd knows that if she goes on with someone else hers will be taken away and that is that. and she knows why. sometimes you have to be firm.
mil wanted us to get rid of ours and i can understand that but cant remove all the danger in their lives. they have to learn to be responsible too.

Original poster
handsomeharrysmum · 04/05/2008 17:23

My child (7) is more responsible than the 40 year old woman who was supposed to be looking after him, that was the problem.

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sillytilly · 04/05/2008 17:34

God, what do you do if you aren't a trampoline owner and kids go to tea at a friend's house with one??

Original poster
handsomeharrysmum · 04/05/2008 18:55

Tell the mother that you won't allow your child to bounce with another child or to stay off it completley.I wouldn't want anyone to go through the pain and stress my son has just had.

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