Could I have an idiot's guide to buying a trampoline for the garden please?

[duffybeatmetoit]

Thinking about getting a trampoline for my 5 yr old. What do I need to take into account? Questions so far: How big? (needs to last a few years), what additional bits are worth getting (ladders, covers etc), where to put it in the garden (how much space does it need around it? Is a corner best?) What sort of surface is it best to put it on?

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

we've just got one for our 5yo dd. it is 8ft and has an enclosure. it is currently in the middle of the lawn because dh is too lazy to move it but will be moved to the back corner soon.

ours is just on grass. someone i know has dug out an area and put the bark stuff underneath theirs but i didn't want to remove my lawn just for a trampoline.

imo an enclosure is a must. steps is a good idea but not hugely necessary, depending on how well your dc can get on and off.

hope she likes it :-)

we dug ours into the ground at the back corner of the garden, it has green cushions (padded edges) and you cant see it now from the house which is good (can still hear the children though!!).

In our previous house, not enough room to dig in, so it moved around the lawn throughout the year - definitely needs an enclosure IMO and at least a couple of metres from hedges/fences.

My 10yr old still bounces happily on it, so worth doing well.

weve got an oval 10 x 15 one for 3 dc. Is one of the best things have ever bought - they are never off it (oldest 9, youngest 3). IMO enclosure esential and I think you'd be hard pressed to find one without nowadays. Ladder needed for littluns to have a go. Ours came with a cover and shoe bag. Shoe bag is never used really but we did put the cover on in the winter and I think it was worth doing as they could just go straight on when the weather got better wheras others had to clean loads of sludge and moss etc off first. Ours is just on the grass and gets moved around a bit to mow the lawn etc.

I have just orderd a canopy as it pisses me off when the blossom and leaves fall on it and the kids get covered in it but that may be overkill :)

Our garden is long but narrow, so havent got one (yet), but my dream ne, would be a rectangular one dug into the ground so it looks unobtrusive (i wouldnt bther with all the netting if it was at ground level).

yes agreed, dug in it doesnt need the enclosure

We initially had a 6ft small trampoline with the enclosure and my DD2 who was 9 at the time broke her ankle on it! Anyway, it didn't stop us from buying a 10ft one when she was 11. We dug out the lawn and placed it on bark. I've forced persuaded her to sell it as we're moving house and I'm fed up of the large amount of space it takes up. I think they look much better if you can place them in the ground. Although they are dangerous (most of the kids in A&E had trampoline injuries) my daughter and her friends had great fun with the trampoline :)

btw on the subject of trampolines, I am currently staying in a high rise hotel in Holland. Looked out the window this morning and there is a small trampoline on the roof of an apartment block opposiite, next to the railings - we are 18 floors up!!!!!!

So we are all winning on the safety side ...

We have a 14ft one that has just gained a net as DD2(12) has taken to doing cartwheels and handsprings on it.

Yes they cause accidents, especially if you mix large and small people.

DD2 broke her wrist, her DF hurt her knee being sat on by her DBr.

However, DD2 also breaks wrists falling out of trees and both of them have destroyed cycling helmets, so they are not the most cautious of DCs. They can manage to come home from netball dripping with blood and DD1 once covered herself in scrapes falling out of a boat in dry land.

Startail your DDs sounds like my DD2. She is currently on an outwardbounds visit for a week with school! Eek!

How deep does your hole have to be? The neighbour would hate it and especially a high one, though maybe she would fit in the hole?

For those who have it dug into the ground, do you have a drainage issue underneath? We have a 15ft one that currently dominates the lawn but are getting quotes to have it dug in at the top end of the garden, so we wouldn't have to see it.

Even my 16 year old and his friends still use the trampoline. It's a brilliant toy, A&E visits aside. Yes I mean you and your arm that had to be pinned, DS3!!

Ours is 10ft and has been in the ground for 3 years. we put a few inches of bark and shingle underneath, I havent noticed any problems (but then again havent looked).

We got a 10-foot one for our then 3yo dd. She's now 9 and the trampoline is still well used!! No need for ladders. An enclosure is essential though, plus padding for the springs. Plus foam padding for the poles that hold the enclosure up (we are having to buy new foam now after 6 years as it has rotted away). It's been a fab toy!! If you have an enclosure it doesn't need any space round it. We have it in a corner of the garden. Just need to move it to mow round it, and that's it.

safety: my two are fine on it together age 6 and 9, but now I say one at a time for other dc, as you never know how wild they're going to be, and I don't want accidents!

Thanks everybody - really helpful

Just bumping as I'm looking to get one for Christmas and I'm after some recommendations

Thanks!

We have had ours for years too ! It's dug in with pea gravel and chicken wire at the bank to allow drainage and pea gravel on a anti weed liner under - 4' bounce space underneath - we have no surround - but that means until you are virtually on it - you don't notice it's there ! Ours is very large - 16' diameter I think ?!? Which maybe was a mistake - as more children bouncing at once seems to cause more tears and bumps ?!? So maybe big isn't always best ?! We had a digger dig it out - as the garden was being landscaped anyway and the digger was there ! Can imagine it would be an epic to dig out by hand !! Hope that helps a bit ?!

TP is a good brand very. Bouncy according to my dcs

A few years ago I was paid to write about this very subject. The article can be found here: suite101.com/a/tips-for-buying-using-the-best-trampoline-for-kids-family-a225250
There are quite a few typo errors in article - they have appeared as it moved over the web and was edited by non-English editors. But the facts are correct.
Especially note the biggest cause of accidents - is two people jumping at once - more about dangers in the article.

We have a large rectangular - ours is a Springfree - safest trampoline in the world. It has spring loaded rods instead of the usual metal springs. It doesn't have a central sweet spot but a more even bounce. Also you don t bounce as high so less dangerous. We have had 4 or 5 kids on there and as long as they are roughly the same size it's ok. The only injury we have had us when my husband went on with the boys, bounced them high and DS2 twisted his injury. The day before trial for a new football club - DH has learnt his lesson !