Question about Trampoline's

[StephMK]

Well, after all the other responses, I'm almost afraid to post & you probably don't even want one now.

However, we bought one last summer even after reading all kinds of reviews last year. I wanted something all 3 would use & we didn't have the funds or space for a playset large enough to be long term fun. We have a 12' from Walmart & the net is inside from the springs.

My kids are 14, 7 & 5. They LOVE it and use it all the time. Even DD14 will get out there with them-yes, all 3 at once though they only jump 1 at a time. Last summer, I would wake up & they'd be itching to get out there & jump in their jammies. (they did) They jumped until it was just too darn cold -even then they put on gloves/hats/coats & jumped anyway. I finally unstrapped the enclosure for the winter & it lay on top of the trampoline. It hasn't budged & I put the enclosure back up once there was one really nice Sat. about a month ago.

They are still jumping several days a week. The younger two play games on it, bounce w/their stuffed animals, make up stories about getting away from creatures in the "jungle". If they fight or get rough, they have to come in immediately.

*knock on wood* no injuries though I know the odds are higher. DS5 in the past has gotten stitches from falling into the fireplace, knocked his front teeth loose on a wooden structure at preschool and knocked those same teeth into the side of a plastic kiddie pool. Now he is missing all 5 top front teeth (they fell out on their own) so at least I don't have to worry about that! I feel they can get hurt anywhere so we just try to be careful.

 

[minkydog]

one of the worst injuries I have ever seen was a 9yo in the PICU who fell "wrong" on his friends trampoline and hit the back of his head. Two weeks later he passed out at the breakfast table and started seizing. Turns out he had a large blood clot on the brain from the fall. Within 24 hours that kid went from a normal 4th grader to a kid in diapers who didn't recognize his parents. He spent 9 months in the ped rehab unit regaining skils like walking, feeding himself, toilet training, learning his colors and ABCs. I know it was just "one of those things that happens" but I will never forget how his parents aged during this ordeal. And it was completely avoidable.

You couldn't pay me enough to have a trampoline in my yard.

 

[cjstarr]

No! Those still can be very unsafe! There are countless injuries from kids bouncing out, it falling over, etc. There's actually a website that records all the deaths in those, and there's a HUGE amount every year!

I agree to note the thing about insurance. We had that.

Also, if you do decide to get a trampoline, make sure to take a lot of precautions! My aunt still has one, and there's rules. One or two people on it at a time, no doing certain things, and they have up a netting to surround the kids from the springs.

But, remember, trampolines can be very unsafe! Most people in my family have gotten injured one way or another, and I had a cousin die on a trampoline, because they weren't being safe, and he had a scarf tied around his neck, jumped on it, and he was the only one on it, and he suffocated. Please be VERY careful if you decide to use a Trampoline.

I have to disagree with you on the inflatable bouncers.
The one my son plays in can not blow over (it is fully staked to the ground) nor can he fall out of it since it only has a small opening that has a net that closes that he has to crawl through just to get in and it is fully netted so there is no way he can fall off of it.
Of course it cost over $300 and safety was our first concern when we went looking to purchase one.
Not to mention anything is safer then a trampoline and we all know that. If you or someone you know has not had an accident on one it’s just a matter of time before they do. This is coming from someone who had 10 years experience as a medic, me.

 

[a1tinkfans]

one of the worst injuries I have ever seen was a 9yo in the PICU who fell "wrong" on his friends trampoline and hit the back of his head. Two weeks later he passed out at the breakfast table and started seizing. Turns out he had a large blood clot on the brain from the fall. Within 24 hours that kid went from a normal 4th grader to a kid in diapers who didn't recognize his parents. He spent 9 months in the ped rehab unit regaining skils like walking, feeding himself, toilet training, learning his colors and ABCs. I know it was just "one of those things that happens" but I will never forget how his parents aged during this ordeal. And it was completely avoidable.

You couldn't pay me enough to have a trampoline in my yard.

What an awful, terrible tragedy.
But honestly the same injury could be from falling off a bike or tripping on a sidewalk, being pushed by an overeager friend, they're kids! It is all about using the best safety equipment, following the rules and adults watching our kids.
That is NOT to say that was the case with your friend,. I just mean that there are so many things that can go "wrong" and at the same time, playing and getting our youth to MOVE and get exercise and having SAFE fun in your own yard is not a bad thing.
I hear horror stories and accidents all the times (I work in insurance claims) and so many of the injuries ARE avoidable, by following the instructions/rules that are posted right on the item and having as best, parental guidance as possible.
It's certainly a personal choice!

 

[sk!mom]

You said it best- It's all about "safety equipment" and a trampoline is not safe! I won't take the time to post the horror stories I know of but there are many.

 

[kejoda]

NO TRAMPOLINES. I HAVE WORKED IN ORTHOPEDICS FOR YEARS AND THEY ARE OUR FRIENDS. THEY ARE SO DANGEROUS AND I HAVE A FRIEND WHOSE 17 YEAR OLD SON BROKE HIS ELBOW 3 YEARS AGO AND IS STILL HAVING SURGERIES TO FIX IT. HE WAS AN AWESOME PITCHER AND HIS CAREER WAS ENDED DUE TO THIS. DON'T DO IT WITH OR WITHOUT A ENCLOSURE THEY ARE DANGEROUS

Even with an enclosure they are dangerous. Our Peds next door neighbor is now paralyzed because of getting hurt on his trampoline with an enclosure. We get asked every time were at the Docs now, it has become his mission to get rid of them.

 

[momof3girls6712]

We have had a trampoline for probally 4 years now. It has an encloser netting all the way around it and velcos closed at the entrance. Our 3 girls bounce on it everyday and we have never had any injuries. However, it is staked down and they know that they can not have more than 3 kids at a time jumping. We just sit out on the porch and watch them having fun. Last June I started jumping with them for 30 minutes a day......talk about a workout whew

 

[minkydog]

You guys with the trampolines need to come hang out in the peds ICU awhile.

 

[Schmeck]

We have had a trampoline for probally 4 years now. It has an encloser netting all the way around it and velcos closed at the entrance. Our 3 girls bounce on it everyday and we have never had any injuries. However, it is staked down and they know that they can not have more than 3 kids at a time jumping. We just sit out on the porch and watch them having fun. Last June I started jumping with them for 30 minutes a day......talk about a workout whew

3 kids at once? That is so dangerous - why even risk it? Even though you are watching them from the proch, you can't stop an accident. The force of all three bouncing at once, and then adding if one gets off balance, is enough to snap a kid's neck.

 

[momof3girls6712]

I have a double safety risk cause 2 christmas ago my parents bought each on of my kids a 4 wheeler. They live on 40 acres so every Sunday we go over and they ride for about 4 hours. They have flipped them several times. Last Sunday DD12 got burnt on her leg from the flip. But we will be right back this Sunday. The girls slept outside on their trampoline last night. They throw blankets over the top and it is instantly transformed into a tent.

I guess my point is yes my kids do dangerous things. But riding their bike, swimming in a pool, and riding rides at Disney are also risks. You just have to decide your comfort level for your children. Each of us has our own ideas and we just have to respect each other.

 

[Momvic5]

We have had a trampoline for about 5 years now. In that time, we have had two injuries. The first one, my oldest son decided to spin my daughter around in it, and he took her straight into the pole. Second injury, my youngest son twisted his ankle. Neither one of them were serious, and we are very thankful.

They are dangerous, but so are a lot of other things that children do. My opinion is that anything that allows kids to have ruff play or full body play is dangerous and have risks ~ trampolines, bikes, swimming pools, playground equipment, skateboards, scooters, sports, climbing trees, skating, etc. I am not trying to make light of trampolines. I just know how much fun my children have had on our trampoline, and I guess the enjoyment of it has outweighed the negatives for us. There are horror stories about trampolines, but then again there are horror stories about bikes, swimming pools, skateboards, skating, etc... On the same note, our decision for the trampoline and its risks is for our family, so as a safety to other children, no one else is allowed on it.

As far as the wind, we live in Texas and haven't ever had problems with the wind. As a precaution before a hurricane scare, my DH took down the safety net and flipped it over. It was a lot of work though!

Our trampoline is on its last leg. It has had a lot of use. I have to say I will feel relieved when it is taken down. Though it has been a so much fun for my children, I have said many prayers over them because of it. Like another PP stated, the trampoline has been used for so much more than just jumping. My children just like having a large area to play in that is off the ground. Right now, that is the main reason why it is still up.

 

[Mocharilla]

I have to disagree with you on the inflatable bouncers.
The one my son plays in can not blow over (it is fully staked to the ground) nor can he fall out of it since it only has a small opening that has a net that closes that he has to crawl through just to get in and it is fully netted so there is no way he can fall off of it.
Of course it cost over $300 and safety was our first concern when we went looking to purchase one.
Not to mention anything is safer then a trampoline and we all know that. If you or someone you know has not had an accident on one it’s just a matter of time before they do. This is coming from someone who had 10 years experience as a medic, me.

Okay. Yeah, there's alot of them that have the big huge side opening and are not properly staked down. If yours is like that, there is definatly much less of a risk. It's just those ones with the huge opening and stuff. Kids fall out all the time and do things like break their necks! If they have an opening like yours and are properly staked down, yes, they're great, and much safer than trampolines. Just, to anyone considering buying one, MAKE SURE there isn't a huge opening and get it properly staked down.

one of the worst injuries I have ever seen was a 9yo in the PICU who fell "wrong" on his friends trampoline and hit the back of his head. Two weeks later he passed out at the breakfast table and started seizing. Turns out he had a large blood clot on the brain from the fall. Within 24 hours that kid went from a normal 4th grader to a kid in diapers who didn't recognize his parents. He spent 9 months in the ped rehab unit regaining skils like walking, feeding himself, toilet training, learning his colors and ABCs. I know it was just "one of those things that happens" but I will never forget how his parents aged during this ordeal. And it was completely avoidable.

You couldn't pay me enough to have a trampoline in my yard.

I feel the same way! There are just way too many horrible injuries!

 

[IkeandMike]

I too was thinking about getting a trampoline. After reading all the comments I think the cons out way the pros.

 

[5 for WDW]

My middle son broke his ankle on our neighbor's trampoline when he was 2. He is 8 now. It was buried in the ground so that it was level and had a surround around it so, they had taken every precaution. My son was jumping, about to get off, when my nephew went to get on. Just that motion caused my son to fall and land the wrong way. He broke the growth plate in his ankle and was casted for 6 weeks in the middle of summer.

Fast forward 5 years. My kids really wanted a trampoline. They asked my inlaws for one for their b-day. Against my better judgement, I allowed it, as long as it had a surround. We did not have an injuries, thankfully. We made sure there was only one jumping at a time, etc. I felt a little better about it since the kids were a little older. 10,8 and 4.

Two months ago my insurance company did a spot check on our house. We had 24 hours to take the trampoline down or they were dropping our homeowners. Of course, it is down.

Just another thing to take into consideration.

 

[KibbyCat]

I got my kids (6,5,3) an inflatable bouncer on sale last week at Toys R Us. It was $50 off and came with a FREE storage bag (which was valued at $30 and is very good quality, with sturdy wheels - better than the cheapy nylon carrier included in the box). I've seen this same special advertised before, so it might be a frequent sale. The bouncer is 8x8 and has its own continuous blower motor. The bouncer itself as well as the motor have stakes that you can pin into the ground (wonderful in our super-windy Texas town), but also very easy to remove and pack up. It holds up to 250 pounds, so all three of my kids can get in there together (then I don't have to hear griping about taking turns - since obviously nobody under age ten knows what patience is!) and even strong enough for hubby or I to get in there with them. It is Little Tykes. Ages 3+ (but I don't know how appealing it would be for kids over 8.) Maybe you'd want to look into a bigger/fancier version for older kids. They had a lot of other ones there that had roofs, slides, etc.

Hope that helps...

 

[r4blessings]

This is the one that we have too, Little Tikes. All of my kids (ds9, ds6, dd4 and ds2) love to jump and run around in the bounce house. They can slide down on the slide, but can't "fall" out. And they are very careful not to get too crazy in it. I only allow the two younger ones in at the same time, otherwise its one at a time.

They are able to jump and roll and play, but then I'm also able to unplug the blower and pack it up for the day.

My sil had a trampoline for her daughters and I would never allow my kids on it. I just couldn't get past the feeling of "dread" that I would get every time I thought of them in it. Figured if it felt wrong to me, I should just follow my mom's intuition.

However, I am thinking about the small indoor ones with the handle like the pp posted about. They use them at my dd gymnastics class and I know the kids would love to burn some energy in the winter.

 

[_queenie_]

They didn't fall off, and they didn't hit the hard rail, springs, or edges, they just "landed wrong" on the mat.

EXACTLY what happened to my DD!

 

[Aristomommy]

You guys with the trampolines need to come hang out in the peds ICU awhile.

I have a trampoline and work at a Children's hospital. I've personally experienced kids having more injuries from bikes, scooters and skateboards than trampolines. Every activity carries its risks and parental supervision is crucial. We have two rules on our enclosed trampoline. 1. only one child at a time 2. no flips. My kids take turns, stay on the center of the trampoline (we have a 16ft) and I have not been concerned once. So as I look at the injuries I deal with, trampolines aren't the #1 cause of injuries. JMHO.

 

[SoonipiLady]

DD was not quite 3. My sister had two older boys, 11 or 12 who had a trampoline. DD wanted to play on it. Being extra cautious, my sister made all the other kids get off while she was on it. She bounced around for a few minutes then got bored (she only weighed around 25 lbs so she couldn't get much "bounce" out of it.) She asked her cousin to help her down, but she was in the middle of the trampoline, and he couldn't quite reach her. He turned his back to the trampoline to lift himself up onto it at the vey instant DD "scooched" towards him and sure enough, he sat on her leg, he weighed about 160 lbs at the time, so she spent the next 8 weeks in a purple cast up to her hip!

No matter how careful you are, there's just too many things that can go wrong with those.

 

[jhnsnfamily]

He wants one and I don't! He also wants a four-wheeler--I say no to that too. A few of our friends have trampolines, and they SCARE ME TO DEATH. In high school, I almost broke my neck on one trying to do a flip! When we go to friends' homes and it seems like ALL THE KIDS are on it AT THE SAME TIME, I cannot even relax and enjoy myself. No kidding--like 7 or 8 at a time--I'm just waiting for someone to yell out in pain (which has happened once--3 yr old with a tooth/mouth problem--tooth not broken, but shoved forward and now the root is dead and his tooth is gray).

My DH is a firefighter/paramedic and he keeps saying, "they'll be fine! If they get hurt, I'll take care of them." But, I just can't do it. It makes me a nervous wreck just thinking about it. UGH!

Yes, I make them wear their helmets while riding their bikes, scooters, and rollerblades (and knee and elbow pads and wrist braces). And, we have a 30' diameter, 4' above ground swimming pool, and even though they can both touch the bottom, I do not let them swim unattended. And they are not allowed to jump off the stairs. And ... no, I'll stop now. I admit it ... I'm a safety freak.

I know accidents happen ... for example, last summer, the boys were playing touch football in the yard and my older son "landed" on my younger son and broke his forearm (the night before opening day for baseball season! ). I just figure the more we eliminate "accidents waiting to happen", the fewer "accidents" we'll actually have. JMHO.