Trampolines

Personally, I think they should be banned. Just think yourselves or a child hitting the metal edge with their backs - what sort of injury that will cause? It happens far too often. They are NOT play things -they are highly dangerous pieces of equipment. Amazes me that parents are so willing to allow their darlings on to these - yet think they have to walk - even teenagers - to and from school!!!!

trampolines are great- but should not be used without supervision- and never more than 1 child at a time. And of course need to be properly tethered for sure.

My 7 yo granddaughter broke her arm last year on trampoline in friends garden, its all very well supervising your own kids in your garden, but what about when they are playing with others. I know they are fun but I'm off them now.

All our DC have had them for the DGC. Age two upwards. The round ones with a safety net. They make brilliant outdoor play pens for really little ones! But for actually playing and bouncing in they were found to be limiting and a passing craze and they really do need constant adult supervision.

They’re also really hard to re-home.

Hate the things. So often see more than one child at a time using them, strictly against safety recommendations. You won't find a trampoline school advocating multiple use or an orthopaedic surgeon recommending them, most ban them for their own children. That's all apart from the nuisance value. Goodness, what did children play on before these horrible things became affordable for the masses. Remember, ignore the safety instructions, someone else's child is injured they can sue!

If you talk to any A&E Consultant they will tell you of the injuries they see to children using garden trampolines on a very regular basis. Some of these are life-changing injuries.
Trampolines are a piece of sports equipment which should only every be used in the presence of a properly qualified British Gymnastics Trampolining coach in a properly set up facility. NOT the sort of place where punters are permitted to jump around on trampolines without supervision!!
If a garden trampoline is purchased despite this advice, then it needs to be firmly attached to the ground, and have a safety net all around, not be fitted near a wall or under a tree AND - MOST IMPORTANT, children should only ever be allowed on it -one at the time - with adult supervision at all times. Two children of different weights on a trampoline is an accident asking to happen.
Unfortunately so many parents think that they can send out their children to use this dangerous equipment by themselves.

I recommend that you get the safety netting, to stop them falling off and only allow them on one person at a time. If they are little (I.e. under about 10) they should be supervised at all times.

We put a bag of builder’s sand on each leg-stand to stop winds blowing it away.

DGDs (11 and 8) are on their second, larger one. They have one with a safety net and get so much exercise and fun out of it, they wouldn't be without it.

I’ve just thrown our trampoline out as all the grandchildren are now at school and it’s taking up too much room. They are a bit upset by this because from being toddlers they loved it. It was a big one, with big sides, secured to the ground.

They knew the rules and kept to them.

My grandson's (2.5 and 4.5 years old) have had a trampoline for a while now, the oldest was only 2.5 when they got it. The boys spend time on it everyday and have never had an accident. The base is secured into the ground so it cannot fly away in high winds and it has a safety net. IMO a climbing frame is potentially just as dangerous if not more so. There is no soft landing with a climbing frame fall.

Ask any nurse doctor at A &E. They see so many accidents due to trampolines, heaD and neck injuries, broken bones etc,
Keeping it to one child at a time might help.

I bought this one for my GC who were the same age as yours are now www.smythstoys.com/uk/en-gb/outdoor/trampolines/trampolines/8ft-trampoline-with-safety-net/p/162029
I can honestly say it has been their most played with toy, the are on it every day when the weather allows. It is great value.
They need supervising obviously, especially when both in together.
My Dil originally wanted one of the kind you dig into the lawn, but I refused to buy one as they don't have safety bets and I was worried about them bouncing high and landing on the ground. (Also knew DH would be the one asked to dig the hole!)

We bought a 6ft one for GS when he was 1. We were always watching him, taught him how to get in and out and use the thing safely. The only time when there were 2 people on it was when another adult or older child was on it with him and behaving in a responsible way.
He has loved it and very rarely doesn’t have a go whenever he visits, 1-2 times a week even in winter.
We need to get a bigger one now, it’s on the list for summer.
I suppose that life is a risk and I know that trampolines do pose a risk but then so does crossing a road, going on a car etc.
The biggest risk on ours was my bladder?

The one that my DGC had when they were toddlers was square (as far as I remember) like angelic mentioned, and had a bar which they could hold on to while they bounced.
It was similar to this one but I can't remember the make:
[[https://www.argos.co.uk/product/4120584?CMPID=BPLA01&_$ja=tsid:72553|acid:38002085|cid:273131717|agid:1202865758414156|tid:pla-4578778735080530:aud-805837300|crid:75179115375322|nw:search|dvc:c|st:little%20tikes%20toddlers%20trampoline%20with%20bar|mt:be|loc:&cmpid=BPLA01&msclkid=c27c1fea1bcc1b036e464360c3a41e5e&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Toys%7C%7CMed&utm_term=4578778735080530&utm_content=Toys%7C%7COutdoor%20Toys]

Other retailers and makes available. It would be more suitable for the 2 year old but perhaps the 4 year old may consider herself too grownup for one like that.

Thanks for all the advice. I'm glad I asked.

A terror of them seems a bit extreme! And surely your DD would not put her children at risk?

A friend has just got an enormous one for her 6 year old twins!

My DGC had a very small one when they were young, but now they are a bit older they have a larger one with safety nets on the side and it is anchored down.
2 and 4 is quite young for a full-sized trampoline.

My daughter and son in law have dug beneath the trampoline and anchored it so it is at ground level,works really well.DGD can just step onto it,no danger of her falling or the trampoline blowing away.

We had a massive one for years. Didn't even have a net although I wouldn't recommend that. No accidents. I did used to tell parents that we wouldn't be liable if their offspring injured themselves though...

They are quite young for a proper big one. Our older GC have had loads of fun on theirs and it releases some energy. Occasional bumped heads so need to be supervised if 2 on there.

Some friends had neighbours that put a trampoline close to the house and dividing fence. Consequently there was constant thump, thump, thump, from the bouncing children.

A 4 and 2 year old to me are very young. You do not want it to be a one minute wonder and as somebody else said, they should have training.

It must have a good safety net.

Who wants the trampoline- mum or the children?!

I've watched too many clips on 'You've been framed' to trust a trampoline.

A net is a necessity.

I bought a largish good quality one, with a net, for my grandsons from when the elder one was about seven or eight. It has been invaluable. He is a very active, high energy boy and it was great exercise for him. He went to classes so that he knew what to do and what not to do. He got amazingly good at it. He doesn't bother with it so much now he's seventeen.

The younger grandson never bothered with it quite so much.

Best to let no more than two children on at a time, and then only if it sufficiently big enough.