Help with Puchasing a Trampoline for My 4 Year Old Daughter

arthurbach4 on 20/10/2024 - 17:08
Last edited 20/10/2024 - 18:43 by 1 other user

I would like to purchase a trampoline for my 4 year old daughter (and 4 year old cousin when he comes over) and I just a had a few questions.

1. Size. Would an 8 foot trampoline get the job done or would a 10 foot trampoline be the better option?
2. Spring v Springless. What are the pros and cons of the two mechanisms
3. Shade Cloth. Would it be smart to purchase a shade cloth at the same time as buying the trampoline?
4. Steps. I see you can buy a little ladder to help the little ones get on the trampoline. Is this purchase a no-brainer?
5. How long would it take two men (father-in-law = handy and me = non-handy) to put a trampoline together and would we need any specialist tools?

Here is the trampoline that I had my eye on:

Here is the shade cloth:

Here is the ladder:

Thanks for your help!

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  pyramid on 20/10/2024 - 17:15

  +1

  Being in Melbourne, my trampoline is unused half of the year due to winter rain etc etc…i think better get 10/12 feet trampoline. I had bought bigger version from Kmart 16 feet probably. And it's still there in backyard and being used when friend kids visit us. You need two people to assemble spring trampoline but won't need any special equipments.

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  holdenmg on 20/10/2024 - 17:15

  Tramampoline from The Simpsons.
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clKqZZynW9E

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  foxmulder on 20/10/2024 - 17:23

  My neighbor has one at his backyard and rarely used by his kids. That thing is also very big and take a lot of space. some local playground has small trampoline kids can play.

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  follow on 20/10/2024 - 18:16

  +1

  What about a used Vuly/Springfree?

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  CheapskateQueen on 20/10/2024 - 20:28

  my brother has one and his 2 girls live on it. 12 year old and 4 year old, obsessed. it's a blessing. endless entertainment for the kids, exercise, outdoor time etc etc

  its giant, not sure the size. at first we thought it was too big, but they have a big backyard and the size means that the 12 year old can still enjoy it. so if you have the space, id go bigger for potential for long term use

  it has springs, covered by mats, and a safety net

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  dtc on 20/10/2024 - 23:53

  Springless is a bit safer because no springs as catch points (although these are covered by the padding so usually not an issue) and you cant bounce as high (for better or worse). But usually doesnt matter too much unless you have an insane adrenaline junkie kid

  go for the 10 foot one if you can; dont think you particularly need the shade cloth but that is up to you. Depends on how open to the sun it is and how long your kids spend on it

  the main safety issue is when the enclosure net is weak or someone leaves the access door unzipped (or 2 kids jumping high at once crashing into each other). So long as you set the rules early (eg one kid at a time other than for small jumps) then they arent too terrible, safety wise. Obviously regularly inspect the netting. The kmart one might have netting that will wear out within a few years, thats why its cheap. it also only has 4 support posts vs the more expensive ones that might have 8 (eg Vuly https://www.vulyplay.com/en-AU/trampoline/flare ), which means the netting is a bit less solid. So also teach your kids not to throw themselves against the netting.

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  morse on 21/10/2024 - 03:08

  We got a Vuly with springs. Most of our friends have the same. We picked up a ladder free of market place for it (crazy it’s not a standard inclusion). My kid did jar his leg and get a big of a strain on first using it at 4 but recovered and hasn’t had any issues since. All the advice is that kids shouldn’t trampoline until 6, but I don’t know a single family that has waited until 6.