can we talk about trampolines?

[wildernesslodgelover]

...without hearing how your friend's sister's boyfriend's kid's friend of a friend had some horrible accident? I just want some facts relating to a good quality trampoline, and also how it will affect my homeowners insurance. Does everyone inform their HI before the get a trampoline? Or do you get one and pray HI does not find out, and that no one gets hurt?

I want to get a reasonably priced, large trampoline for my 10 year old DD for Christmas. Thank you!

 

[java]

...without hearing how your friend's sister's boyfriend's kid's friend of a friend had some horrible accident? I just want some facts relating to a good quality trampoline, and also how it will affect my homeowners insurance. Does everyone inform their HI before the get a trampoline? Or do you get one and pray HI does not find out, and that no one gets hurt?

I want to get a reasonably priced, large trampoline for my 10 year old DD for Christmas. Thank you!

Someone will get hurt.

Sorry can't help on safe ones. Or good quality ones. I do know that the net helped a friend only break his arm. So I suggest getting a net around it.

 

[Mermaid02]

Call your insurance company and ask them how it will effect your insurance.

They are unsafe. If someone gets hurt on your trampoline- you're all done.

 

[allison443]

I wouldn't recommend that!

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

first thing you should do is read your policy.

a friends sister's husbands brothers cousins wife's uncle did read his and had his policy cancelled. (actually a co-worker)

he found another company that allowed them but did have to pay more for coverage. (and he did say that it had to have safety pads and be anchored to the ground, which it was)

good luck.

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

I would hate to be the person that did not inform their insurance company that they have a trampoline.

They are dangerous even with the enclosure. If you do decide to get one, i would NOT ever let anyone that is not your child on it.

 

[Mermaid02]

I would hate to be the person that did not inform their insurance company that they have a trampoline.

They are dangerous even with the enclosure. If you do decide to get one, i would NOT ever let anyone that is not your child on it.

And realistically, what are the chances of THAT??

 

[C.Ann]

It really depends on your insurer.. I would never "hide" it from them though - that's just asking for trouble..

There was one at my DD's house when they purchased it - practically brand new.. They immediately took it down and got rid of it - for insurance purposes and safety purposes..

If you decide to purchase one, please don't hide it from your homeowner's - you never know what may happen in the future..

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

I appreciate everyone's concern. Of course the whole point of having one is to let DD and her FRIENDS go on it, I would never have it just for my one child.

Well, I have quite a few friends that have trampolines. That is why I want one, every time DD goes to a friend's house, I gotta hear about how awesome their trampoline is! My one friend puts a sprinkler underneath so the water shoots up, and the kids wear their bathing suits, and it is FUN. I was just trying to avoid asking each and every person that I know about their trampoline,/ins/etc. I thought I could come here and get good advice, but I know everyone on this board is really really cautious. I learned that a few years ago...when I was looking for something to hang from the rearview mirror of my new car that was "disney related" and I had to hear horror stories of how someone knew someone who died in a terrible car crash because their view was blocked by something dangling from the rearview mirror. That I was being very careless and wreckless if I hung something from my rearview, etc etc. So I kind of knew the advice would be overly cautious...and that's fine, nothing wrong with that. Thank you for the input!

 

[RadioNate]

My homeowners insurance said they would cancel me if we had one. And in Florida, I wouldn't dare risk my homeowners insurance.

If your policy will continue to insure you, I'd make sure you have an additional rider for when someone does get hurt.

The water on a trampoline makes it EXTREMELY slippery. There is no way I'd let my kids play on a wet trampoline.

I have several friends with trampolines and all their kids have been hurt at one time or another. We are also from Texas, where trampolines are more common than not. And yes, there are lots of injuries.

In fact, my DS came home with a fat, bloody lip a few days ago from playing on his best friends trampoline.

Our good friends kids have had hyperextended knees, dislocated shoulders, sprained ankles, knocked out teeth and lots of bumps and bruises. All these people keep their trampolines.

You can get one if you want. But you have to understand that no matter how safe you make it someone is going to get hurt. It is just how much risk you are willing to take.

 

[C.Ann]

You can get one if you want. But you have to understand that no matter how safe you make it someone is going to get hurt. It is just how much risk you are willing to take.

And hiding it from your insurance company would be a HUGE risk..

 

[PebblesMK]

Trampolines can be dangerous, but as long as you're not allowing tons of kids on at once, and they're not being launched, or high schoolers aren't jumping with smaller kids, the injuries can be kept to a minimum. Also, make sure it's okay with the parents. We have a giant trampoline as do our neighbors, but my daughter is not allowed on theirs if their boys are home because they are a lot more rambunctious and slight injuries seem to happen more often when they're around.

Here is a link to some reviews and hopefully this will help you out. http://reviews.pricegrabber.com/trampoline/p/1855/

Good luck with it! Your daughter will absolutely love it!

 

[ZuZugal]

The one and only time my dd was on a trampoline was a few years ago...

within 5 minutes she had a broken nose and a chipped tooth.

that's just our story.

 

[Stumpy]

I adamantly opposed my mother in law buying a trampoline for my then 5 year old brother in law for fear that he may injure himself and the only person who ended up getting hurt on it was me! However, with that being said, after I got over the objection to them having it, it was very fun to enjoy.

I don't know that there's any good or great brand of trampoline, but I would say that if you spend about $150-$200 for a new trampoline it'll be of good quality. Due to possible liability, they are probably much more durable and safe than they were 20 years ago.

As far as the homeowner's insurance, I would definitely contact them first as it will likely raise your rates or involve other consequences. While I'm sure you would supervise your daughter's friends, and injury can occur too quickly for you to prevent and even if the child's injury is mild, some parents may look at you as a quick payday, so having the homeowner's coverage is an absolute must.

If the insurance thing is manageable, I hope your daughter and friends enjoy the trampoline!

 

[RadioNate]

And hiding it from your insurance company would be a HUGE risk..

Yeah, I wouldn't recommend that at all. But I know people who do it.

I'm not against trampolines in general. I don't want the risk of owning one but my DS (as I mentioned) has been on friends. He has also gotten injured on his friends trampolines. Nothing major, but injuries none the less.

I would highly caution against the wet trampoline. Our friends parents have one for their grandkids that is right by their pool and the injuries always happen when the kids go from pool to trampoline. They have 7 grandkids and all have been hurt at one time or another.

 

[N&B'smom]

I can't offer any info on a good trampoline, probably because I ran my Dad's insurance business for over 10 years and we heard SOOOO many bad things. Not a good idea!! If you do get one, I'd increase your liability coverage as high as possible.

 

[JoBird]

Growing up, one of my best friends had a trampoline -- and the way they had it placed was the coolest thing I'd ever seen.

Their son had what in todays age would probably be considered Aspergers, but he needed a way to get out some of his frustrastion and jumping on a trampoline was suggested for him.

So rather than risk injury to him by having him fall off of it, they had someone come in and dig a HUGE hole in the ground (think like a swimming pool hole before they put the cement in) and fit the trampoline down into the hole.

It was level to the ground. One second you were walking on the grass, the next you were on the trampoline.
He didn't fall off, didn't break his head like Humpty Dumpty and everyone was happy.

 

[clori]

I am not a very cautious person. In August dh's coworker invited families to his house for a get together. He told dh that he had a trampoline put up about two weeks ago for his 2 year olds birthday. He specifically asked all parents if their kids were allowed to go on it since he knows not everyone allows that. I was totally fine with it especially knowing it has a safety enclosure.

At the get together the kids ages 3-10 took turns using the trampoline. They were supervised and using it properly such as no flips. At one point dd9 was just going to get off. Somehow just separating the safety netting was a fluke thing that somehow broke two bones in her forearm. She ended up having two surgeries in her arm. She has been thru 5 casts, two surgeries and is now in a brace. Anyway I never expected anything to happen and while I consider it a fluke accident it did prove to me that even when safely used I don't think trampoline accidents are all that rare.

Most recently I posted that the health insurance sent me a letter requesting info on the homeowners name, address, phone number and home owners insurance. I told them that it was just an accident and even though it wasn't my house I had okayed dd going on it. At this point I think the health insurance is paying for it but it is all still a bit up in the air. I can't simply call to check on claims because there was an earlier computer glitch when things were accidently billed under my dh's date of birth and according to the health insurance he is too old to be treated at Childrens Hospital. Basically even though I took responsibility for the accident health insurance companies want to go after home owners insurance.

I'm not telling you not to get a trampoline but I would check if it is covered by your home owners insurance. I know every year I get a call asking if I have a trampoline, pool, or pit bull but I never asked what happens if I say yes since non of it applies to us. Before allowing friends on a trampoline I would make sure just in case of anything that their parents are okay with it.

 

[MinnieMe87]

Growing up, one of my best friends had a trampoline -- and the way they had it placed was the coolest thing I'd ever seen.

Their son had what in todays age would probably be considered Aspergers, but he needed a way to get out some of his frustrastion and jumping on a trampoline was suggested for him.

So rather than risk injury to him by having him fall off of it, they had someone come in and dig a HUGE hole in the ground (think like a swimming pool hole before they put the cement in) and fit the trampoline down into the hole.

It was level to the ground. One second you were walking on the grass, the next you were on the trampoline.
He didn't fall off, didn't break his head like Humpty Dumpty and everyone was happy.

That is awesome! I've seen gyms have trampolines sunk down into the floor with padding all the way around and covering the springs, and thought that was pretty cool too!

 

[dsny1mom]

Ours is a Jump King. We've had it a very long time and it's still in great shape. We do keep it covered when not is use.

dsny1mom