My neighbor bought a trampoline complete with the safety net for their child. They have been persistently inviting DD who is 6 to come over for a play date involving the trampoline. Backyard trampolines make super anxious, I feel like even with the safety net I'm always hearing of people getting hurt on them in addition my neighbors child who is a couple years older than DD is quite unruly. we have had her over once as a compromise and she was jumping from the top bunk of LOs bunk bed despite us asking her repeatedly not to do that. I don't want DD to go over there. To be honest I don't have time for play dates anyway with 2 younger ones to keep an eye on. I have politely declined a few times. But ther child persistently brings it up. How do you handle persistent playdate requests and what are your thoughts on backyard trampolines
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Well we used a neighbors trampoline freely growing up and my kids have been on our neighbors a few time. I guess in general I’m not a fan so i wouldn’t want one at my house but I’m not opposed to my kids using them occasionally. However if I couldn’t make a play date work i would just tell the parents thank you so much but I dont allow lo on trampolines and if it was the child asking I would say thank you that is so kind unfortunately we can’t do that so please don’t ask again
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@gotkimchi: oh yeah growing up I used them too, but only started having an issue with them after reading the American Academy of Pediatrics advise against them. I may have to just say LO isn't allowed on them but don't want to seem like I am judging them
https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/Pages/AAP-Advises-Against-Recreational-Trampoline-Use.aspx -
@Mrsbells: If the trampoline is the issue, let the mom know. We had to do that once. Also a no go for my son - he’d be the one kid to break his neck. If you don’t ever want your LO to go over there no matter what, keep politely making up excuses. She’ll get eventually!!! Not all neighbors want to be bffs. Totally fine.
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@wrkbrk: Good point. I do need to separate those two issues. Yes my daughter is always the one to get hurt because she plays with so much reckless abandon
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I’m a pretty relaxed parent but trampolines scare me. My friend is an ER doctor and says she can’t even begin to tell the number horror stories she sees. I would let my DD go but I would tell her, and the parent, no trampoline.
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I would not want my kid on the trampoline because of reasons mentioned above so I would just say directly you’re not comfortable having your kid on the trampoline and then at the same time (if you don’t want to do any play dates with them) make a blanket excuse about how busy you are and how when you are at home you like to spend time just with your family.
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Backyard trampolines make me nervous too and I wouldn’t get one, but I let my daughter jump on her friend’s when we go over in the summer- but we don’t go over all that often, not like a neighbor. She’s surprisingly cautious though (considering she’s a basket case in many other areas) so I am less worried. I also wouldn’t really want that girl playing at my house. But I really like being friends with my neighbors so I would try to find an outside, not trampoline, activity they could do instead if possible. But I also stay at home and sometimes I just really need the adult interaction from my neighbors, so I totally get where you are coming from not wanting that!
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@charm55: @Jennibenni: @Foodnerd81: Thanks you all give good advice and suggestions
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I think the AAP recommendation is for younger kids? So if their kiddo is older just point out it’s not recommended for kids her age and you’ll reevaluate in a few years.
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I think the above suggestions are good.
G is 3 and he does crazy things at parks, we go to a bounce house place pretty regularly, and a trampoline park on special occasions. Our best friends have a trampoline in their backyard and she told me in advance bc she knew I wouldnt love it, but pointed out the other things I regularly let him do and sincerely asked if there was a way i could feel comfy with it. it's pretty much impossible to avoid him going on it, so at least they've agreed to the rule of only 2 kids on the trampoline at once. I'm OK with that compromise. I hope I can outlaw trampolines from my house though.
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@Ms.Mermaid: Good point, yes the AAP says those highest at risk are 5 and younger.
@DesertDreams88: Thanks! Yeah for some reason I am more comfortable with bouncy party places, maybe because its more spaced out? Its just the backyard ones that bother me the most. I also don't love backyard bounce houses. Its good that your bestfriend is willing to compromise to minimize the number of kids jumping at a time
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