trampolines;anyone got one of the big ones from b&q?13" i think!

[cutekids]

my hubbie's putting one up right this minute but it's enormous! just read that only one child is allowed at one time and that-even with enclosure-there needs to be at least 2 metres space between trampoline and walls etc.ours is in our driveway and just squeezes inbetween the fence and the wall of our house! loads of space on other two "sides" if you understand me! are we being dangerous putting this up? I know for a fact that my 3 kids (all under 8) will want to be on it also neighbour's kids. i've seen trampolines with loads of kids on at one time so am i being over-cautious or should we follow the instructions to the letter and take it all apart again?!

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are they that bad that no one's got one?!!!

I understand that the space thing is to ensure that if anyone crashes into the barriers they hit air behind it and not a wall IYSWIM, there is quite a lot of movement in the barrier walls - espec if hit at speed.

The fact that it is a trampoline means that - in theory - any part of the child can be "up" ie it could be a shoulder, knee or head taht hits the enclosure.

Therefore I would suggest the there does need to be some space between the edge and the walls, however I am not sure it really has to be as much as two meters.

As to one at a time - that is up to you - whenever we use thm we have sade only 2 gently bouncing, 1 if proper bouncing, if they want more than 2 then they are on hands and knees and NO bouncing.... also all of the above only applies if an adult is activly watching. If an adult is loosley watching then it is 1 child only end of!

However - all of the above is only my opinion and I am sure some people will think I am too careful and others will think I am not careful enough!

thankyou securmummy. i am a cautious mummy too.that's why i'm worrying! if hubbie hadn't been nearly "all done" i would have told him to pack it away and take it back. there's a possibility we can put it in the back-garden where there's a bit more space but i'm still worrying about the "one person" rule.the whole reason we decided on a larger trampoline was so that they could all go on it "safely without jumping on top of each other"...!

The one-at-a-time rule is because they could easily bounce into one another - you've seen them on a bouncey castle I presume?

I wouldn't have it very close to a brick wall but would be slightly more relaxed with a fence ( but not a fence post!)

Yep - unfortunatly the nature of trampolines is such that they all bounce into the centre (because they are elasticated around the edge and cloth in the middle IYSWIM)

With mine as I say I let them all on fr crawling round in circles playing lions type games - but they are watched very closley so they don't get over excited.

yes, soupdragon i have.not exactly sure what you meant though.do you mean that a bouncy castle is safer for more than one child? (I know that we have to be sure they only jump and don't try doing acrobatics etc.as I heard a TV doc.talking about different accidents etc.a couple of months back.)I have,however,stipulated to the kids that they must only use trampoline when I or Daddy is watching them and that they must not try and flip etc. We've also got the enclosure for added safety...hopefully!

They only put no more than 1 at a time on it because they have to cover themselves. If you had bought the worlds biggest trampoline it would have still said one at a time. If you are supervising then 2 ot 3 at a time will be OK I'm sure as long as they don't go trying to bounce to the sky, and I would expect a few bumped heads.

No, it's more the way they bounce all over and into each other. Having more than one person bouncing makles the bounce more unpredictable I think.

unlike a castel the structure creats a "roll together" type effect!

Yep, we have ours out the back and there are no walls/fences etc near it, and I totally understand the need for space round it, the amount of times my dd has rammed into the safety net is mad! If there had've been a wall there they would know us by our first names at A&E by now I let more than one on at a time... me and dd lol

Message withdrawn

This article caught my eye this week- think you are right to be cautious. It does say that it's how you use them, rather than that theyr are dangerous in their own right.

Oh dear! now i'm really scared.
i posted the other day on the thread about swimming pools in nurseries.on it i was saying how it didn't matter how deep the water is,it's still water and it's dangerous.
maybe i should apply my own advice about trampolines?
on the other hand, they ride their bikes-sometimes without anyone really watching them-and i suppose they could be just as dangerous as far as injuries couldn't they? i really don't know what to do now.i know it's going to worry me.

Go outside and look at it, take a deep breath and think about it - push away what we have said and just look to see if you think your children will be safe.