Tickling is an incredibly fun, inclusive and occasionally addictive fetish but, like most fetishes, there are some aspects that need more planning and thought than others. Here we highlight the basic aspects that can catch out newcomers although we also highly recommend reading our bondage pages as these contain safety information specific to tying your partner up.

Ultimately if you indulge in this fetish, and especially if you go in for tickle fights or unrestrained tickling, you’re likely to pick up some scrapes and bruises along the way. It’s a fact of life and both you and your partner should probably talk about that for a few minutes before your first session (and repeat as required), apologise beforehand for any injuries and go from there. That said, there are some ways you can limit the risks.

Most importantly, remember that when tickling someone you’re going to cause involuntary reactions. While everyone is different in their level of reaction assume that they will always react violently and plan ahead. Don’t, for example, straddle your partners legs without making sure that your weight is holding them down unless you really enjoy getting a knee in between your thighs.

One of the most common reaction is for a ticklee to ‘fold’ in a sit-up motion. This can bring their head forward at speed so make sure you can either get out of the way or don’t put yourself in harms way in the first place. The same goes for arms and legs if you’re not restraining your partner as punches and kicks can come out of nowhere.

It’s surprising how much damage can be done from seemingly simple actions when someone’s desperate to stop you tickling them (even if they’re actually loving the feeling). Fingernails can dig in deep enough to draw blood with ease and it’s not unheard of for a desperate ‘lee to resort to biting in extreme cases. Again, this is easily managed by the tickler provided they’re alert and have quick reactions.

The tickler needs to be aware of the status of their partner at all times. Being tickled does put a strain on the body and there are certainly documented examples of people passing out or straining muscles from thrashing too hard. In the same way, the ticklee needs to be prepared to help if the tickler gets hurt or suffers any sort of problem. Make sure in advance that you have any basic first aid items you may need to hand, even if it’s only a mobile phone to call for help if something serious happens. Obviously if either yourself or your partner have any medical conditions that may affect play make sure the other knows about it beforehand and that any medication etc that could be required is close to hand. If you use bondage in your play then make sure you can release it quickly and easily, even if that means having a pair of scissors or surgical sheers to hand to cut through any rope or leather that may have been used.

Also, please do pay attention to the environment around you. Sharp edges and hard surfaces can ruin the mood if an arm, leg or, god forbid, a head meets them at speed. A surprising distance can be covered in even the most calm and gentle tickle fight so try to keep in mind where expensive and/or painful items are and steer each other away from them. There’s no need to let any of this get in the way of your play, just make sure to keep an eye on the room around you, yourself and, most importantly, your partner and you’ll both have a great time.

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