Do you let your child jump on a trampoline?

[NeverEnufWDW]

IMHO, wrapping your children in cotton wool for their entire childhood does not do them any good. Kids need to run, jump, crawl, bounce, skate, ride, etc. We are raising a generation of girlie boys and unconfident, fraidy-cat girls.

 

[tropical depression]

we have one in our backyard with no enclosure. I used to jump off our roof when I was her age, so we let her be a kid as well.

 

[Cool-Beans]

Yes, I let them play on trampolines. Trampolines are fun. I love them myself.

 

[jenimay]

No trampolines for my kids, unless it's got a safety net, and they jump ONE at a time.

My niece broke her elbow while jumping "safely" with one friend. The ER doctor told my brother that the physics of trampolines make them safe for ONE jumper at a time. He explained that there is a split second when the surface of the mat is like concrete. If you're the only jumper, you won't hit it at that point. But if there are two jumpers, the likelihood increases. That's what happened to my niece. She hit the mat at just the right time and it was like slamming onto a sidewalk.

I agree, I've posted this before, but last fall my BIL was jumping with my son who was 8 and bounced him too high and my son landed on his leg wrong and broke two bones in his leg, one of which was sticking out of his skin. Tramatic to say the least. I normally was very cautious when the kids were on there, but because he was with an adult I wasn't paying close attention. Anyway, it's one of those accidents that happen, I wouldn't ban them completely but they just require rules and supervision.

 

[JVL1018]

Nope, I wouldn't allow it.
I am not an overprotective mother- in fact I caught my son jumping off the deck (about 7 feet from the railing to the ground) a couple fo weeks ago, and off the top of the fort on the swingset today, didn't freak out, just told him to cut it out-my kids have a bit of daredevil inside of them and that's fine with me.


No one I know locally has a trampoline and I'm not planning on buying one, so its a moot point, but just because you don't want your kids on a trampoline because you've read numerous times that the AAP recommends against it, doesn't mean that you wrap your kids up in cotton wool.

I don't do everything the AAP recommends, by any means, but in this case, it seems to make sense to me.

 

[darlak]

Nope, I don't let mine on them. My pediatrician said that it's the one single thing he wishes he could convince all of the parents of his patients to forbide for their kids. Kids can get hurt on almost anything, but the chance of serious and/or permanent injuries is just too high on trampolines, in his opinion.

 

[futreWDI]

My best friend had a trampoline when they didn't even have the safety nets to go around them yet. We jumped pretty un-safely. More than one of us, played with the dog on it, played with a ball, jumped from tramp to pool, all the stuff you are not supposed to do. We never really had serious injuries. Cuts, bruises and scratches. Although when I was young, I tripped on a kiddie toy (I was 2) and broke three bones in my leg; I fell backwards while skating, put my hands down and broke my wrist; cut my finger and nail open with an xacto knife (still have a permanent scar and screwed up nail); and while running into the kitchen with wet feet (from kiddie pool down the street), fell foward and sliced my chin open on the floor (stiches). Kids get hurt! It happens, they'll be fine when the boo boo goes away. Think of all the stuff you did when you were little, tramps are not that bad.

 

[mellowmood]

I allow my 8 & 5 year old to jump on a trampoline that does not have a safety enclosure. My sons also have Heeleys, skateboards, bikes with pegs, and the newest edition is a 2 wheel skateboard, they do all of this with no padding. Sometimes using ramps to practice their tricks. They have never had a broken bone just some scrapes and bruises. When they fall I tell them to get up they are fine. Boys will be boys after all. I think they are practicing to be daredevils.

 

[Caropooh]

We have a trampoline without a net. Christmas will be 7 yrs and no broken bones yet. The things my kids do with that trampoline....

The first time I read this I thought your DS's name was Christmas!

 

[taylor1293]

My niece fractured her leg on a trampoline. She wasn't jumping at the time, she had sat down (after jumping) on the side, and another child landed on her. She had multiple surgeries and was in a wheelchair for a while. Thankfully, she recovered and hopefully will not have to have any further surgeries (it's been around 7 years now). However, this accident, as well as having my own DD's in gymnastics made me realize how dangerous they are without proper adult supervision.

I have nothing against trampolines, and with proper SUPERVISION, (one at a time...and in floor or safety wrap) they can be great fun for kids.

However, I think it's foolish to say "kids will be kids and if they get hurt..oh well". I've hurt myself growing up, that doesn't mean I think it's acceptable for the same to happen to my kids.

 

[miss missy]

Nope! My friend had one, no net... her son 10 hit the side with his face and broke his 2 front teeth in half

My thing is the head injuries are too too risky. A broken bone isn't my worry, it's her head, spine or something causing permanant damage. And net or no net, you can't control the body mid air, it is impossible. Not worth the risk to me.

To each is their own, but I wouldn't feel comfortable letting children on one I owned either. I would hate to be responsible for an injured child I also realize being there doesn't stop an accident.

Doesn't home insurance go up for having on too?

Just not something I care to deal with personally.

 

[believe]

My brother and sister have one. My girls love them. They also jump on them at tumbling class.

You have to do what you feel comfortable with. I would say that if you decide not to let them on the trampoline, then you should either expect your child to live up to that rule or stay and enforce it yourself.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Newsflash: a net around your trampoline doesn't make it 100% safe. I knew a girl who was turning flips mid-air on the trampoline, landed on her neck/head wrong, and is now a quad.

A safety net just keeps your kids from falling off the trampoline. Dangerous things can still happen.

 

[Principessa Alba]

Newsflash: a net around your trampoline doesn't make it 100% safe. I knew a girl who was turning flips mid-air on the trampoline, landed on her neck/head wrong, and is now a quad.

A safety net just keeps your kids from falling off the trampoline. Dangerous things can still happen.

There is a man in our town that is a quad right now because his foot caught on the net and his head crashed to the ground.

I think you are playing with fire with those things. Our doctor said the same thing as the PP about wishing people wouldn't use them.

 

[Kitty 34]

Unfortunetly accidents might happen whether you jump on a trampoline, climb a tree, play a sport, get in a car, etc.

My 3 boys lived with a trampoline as did all their cousins. They climbed trees, played in the woods behind the house, rode their bikes as daredevils do and chased each other around the house and over furniture.

All 3 of my boys suffered an injury:
Oldest DS suffered a massive knee injury in a college basketball game when he was 20.
Middle DS broke his foot while doing squats for collegeTrack. He was 18.
Youngest DS broke his ankle playing basketball after school with some friends in the school gym. He was 16.

Like I said, accidents do happen. I'm tempted to say; don't play a sport but I won't.

 

[miss missy]

An injury is one thing... but a permanant injury is another. I just am one of those people who play it safe when I can. SO glad we can all make those decisions for our own children.

 

[darlak]

There is a man in our town that is a quad right now because his foot caught on the net and his head crashed to the ground.

I think you are playing with fire with those things. Our doctor said the same thing as the PP about wishing people wouldn't use them.

Principessa Alba, have you noticed that we seem to agree on many different threads? For me to agree with one poster repeatedly is very odd.

 

[rie'smom]

Snow skiing,roller blading,hunting,fishing,water skiing, mountain climbing,off road riding on their 3 and 4 wheelers,motorbikes and motorcycles, swimming pool,diving board,baseball,football,cheerleading,gymnastics,trampolines, and my kids are fine. I'm from the "we can't wrap our kids in bubblewrap" philosophy. We've had sprained ankles and wrists, but my kids never wanted to not'get back up on the horse'.
My younger brother also did all of these things and was a champion diver and swimmer. He taught scuba diving in Destin during the summers. He died on a night dive when his boat hit an unmarked buoy. He had been laughing with his fiance' and his friend. When his body was found a few hours later,he still had the smile on his face.

 

[Principessa Alba]

I'm so sorry about your brother rie's mom!

I know you are right that bad things can happen in many ways, but I the Amercian Academy of Pediatrics has singled trampolines out as a dangerous activity.

http://www.aap.org/advocacy/archives/maytra.htm

PEDIATRICIANS WARN AGAINST DANGERS OF HOME TRAMPOLINES

For Release: May 3, 1999, 5 p.m. (ET)

Below is a news release on a revised policy published in the May issue of Pediatrics, the peer-reviewed, scientific journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

CHICAGO - A revised policy from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that trampolines should not be used at home - either indoors or outdoors. The policy goes on to recommend that trampolines should not be part of routine physical education classes in schools, and that the trampoline has no place in outdoor playgrounds and should never be regarded as play equipment.

“Despite all currently available measures to prevent injury, the potential for serious injury while using a trampoline remains. The need for supervision and trained personnel at all times makes home use extremely unwise,” states the revised policy.

Based on data collected by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), the AAP found that trampoline related injuries are on the rise.

Trampoline-related injuries increased 140 percent from 1990 to 1996.
An estimated 83,400 trampoline-related injuries requiring an emergency department visit occurred in 1996 in the United States.
30 percent of trampoline-related injuries treated in an emergency department were fractures, often resulting in hospitalization and surgery.
Catastrophic cervical spine injuries are rare, however head and neck injuries constitute a notable number of the more serious injuries requiring hospitalization.
Since 1990, the CPSC has received reports of six deaths involving trampolines. Victims ranged in age from 3 years through 21 years. Most deaths occurred when victims fell from the trampolines, and most involved the spinal cord.
The AAP concluded that the largest proportion of trampoline-related injuries occurred on home trampolines and that most trampoline-related injuries occurred either while children played on trampolines or as they fell off. They also found that most injuries happen when there are simultaneous multiple users.

If there is an environment in which a trampoline will be used, the AAP offers guidelines on design and behavioral use in order to lessen the chance of injury.

The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 55,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adul

 

[Principessa Alba]

Principessa Alba, have you noticed that we seem to agree on many different threads? For me to agree with one poster repeatedly is very odd.

You know what they say about great minds!!!