Trampoline debate ( after the trampoline question)

[DSNY FN]

Ok so here is the question do you have a trampoline and if so do you let the neighbourhood kids play on it? We just got one and that was one of the sipulations for getting it the kids are not to use it with their friends. I personally do not want to be responsible if their kids fal and break a leg etc. So do you let the kids from the neighbourhood use it or not?

 

[grinningghost]

My DD always wanted one, but DH refused to buy one. I tried talking him into the safety netting, but it didn't work. He was afraid of lawsuits.

 

[DSNY FN]

We have the safety netting around the trampoline my wife has been bugging me for one for 2 years so I finally agreed but my rules were only if it is our ids using it only. I do not want some neighbourhood id falling off it and busting his head open etc. They have rules to follow when using our tree/play house in the yard to and if they do not follow the rules they do not play on it.

 

[cynsaun]

Just make sure that you have a fence or something to keep neighbors' kids out of it. You could be sued, it's considered an "attractive nuisance!"

 

[DSNY FN]

We have an 8 foot privacy fence.

 

[Epcotgal8]

My kids have always wanted a trampoline but for one thing with our pool we don't have enough room without crowding the back yard or at least that's the excuse we give our kids since we aren't comfortable with trampolines. MY friend's dh has chronic back and neck problems as the result of falling off of one as a kid. Just recently some friends of ours whose son plays baseball on my son's team and my dh coaches had a neighbor over without his mom knowing it since she was in bed recovering from some minor surgery and the kid fell off face down in a mud puddle and broke 2 ribs and his femur (thighbone) and was hospitalized for several days. Talk about lawsuit. Then only a couple weeks later my 6 year old niece fell off of hers and broke her arm! I would never presume to tell another parent what to do and many could argue my pool is more dangerous than a trampoline, but just drill the rules into your child's head and make them see the dangers of more than one jumping at a time. That's usually when the accidents occur. To me worrying about my kids' safety is the toughest job I have as a parent. Kids have no fear and never think they will get hurt. And be firm with the "neighbor kids" rule. You will be surprised at the number of kids who you've never seen before that will show up when they find out you have something fun like a trampoline or pool. I've had kids show up at my door in their swimsuits and carrying a towel and I don't have a clue as to who they are. I had to set some ground rules and even got to where I would put up a "pool's closed" sign at certain times since I couldn't enjoy the pool myself for all the kids and splashing and jumping. Of course there is nothing more pitiful than turning a kid in a swimsuit and goggles away on a day that it's 98 degrees but I can't spend my ENTIRE summer being the neiborhood babysitter and lifeguard either.

 

[Disneylvr]

Don't have one and never will. I know a child who is is paralized from a trampoline accident and this trampoline even had the safety net.

 

[DSNY FN]

Disneylvr I would prefer to not have one either my kids are used to using them with their gymnastics lessons etc so we have specific rules for ours and only 1 kid at a time is the first one along with no flips etc. The last thing I want to do is take my kid to Emerg because one of them fell of the damn thing.

 

[Disneylvr]

Your know they really look like fun and I really wanted one as a kid but never got one. But I know I will never buy one for dd (she is just 14 months old now and way too young for a trampoline) because I can't get the picture out of my mind of that paralized little boy. I am a children's librarian in a public library and he comes in frequently with his wheelchair. I also knew him before the accident.

 

[DSNY FN]

I can imagine what that must be like and to think if he did it at someone elses house they would have sued the parents for everything they had which also is a load of crap IMHO but it happens every day.

 

[ginna74]

this is going to sound to convenient but I just got done writing a note for my kids saying that I gave them permission to use the trampoline and don't hold them liable. they are wonderfull church going people and I trust them that if something did happen it would be an accident that they couldn't prevent. I always wanted a trampoline... we were to poor though lol

 

[DSNY FN]

That is great gina but alas most people would see the dollar signs and take the easy road to money I commend you for that I feel it should be a prerequsite when you have a kid going to play at someone elses house on such an item or even for a swim we all know accidents happen.

 

[TalkisCheap]

I don't want one. I have never once asked for one. When I'm older and have children, they won't get getting one either. I don't go on them at friends houses because they're dangerous. People say, "Oh, but mine has a safety net." It doesn't matter, all of the accidents which have happened to people I've known personally, had nothing to do with falling off. The screen couldn't have prevented it. Basically, they're dangerous. There really is no reason kids should have these.

 

[DSNY FN]

I agree TIC I would prefer to not have one in my backyard but I got another motorcycle so I figured I should give in on some things. A trampoline is for in a gymnastics club.

 

[TalkisCheap]

You just said your children arn't allowed to do flips. How can they practice gymnastics?

 

[twinmomplus2new]

We have 2 one 12 foot, 1, 18 foot. And a moonbounce. I much prefer the little guys to use the moon bounce. There are 16 houses on my street and 4 trampolines. Of sourse 2 are mine. The kids use thiers and ours. not always correctly. Many times I have to yell out the window at them.
I have a friend with an 18 footer, who frequently has groups of 6-8 kids on it at once and she is not a bit worried. Last summer her 11 year old GIRL Dragged it over to the shed and then proceeded to jump off the roof of the shed. And of course broke her arm. You really have to watch carefully because they will be stupid on it after all they are kids and impulsive at best!

 

[my3kids]

It wouldn't be a leg I'd be worried about someone breaking.

 

[julie_yet]

When I was 15 I saved up and bought a trampoline. I loved that thing. Me and my brother and all our friends lived on it. Of course every kid within a 5 mile radius wanted to jump on it too, whether they knew us or not.

The only way anyone (even our best friends) was allowed to jump on it was if they had their parents sign a paper my mom had written up, saying that if something happens to them we aren't responsible.

This one time a kid landed on a spring and somehow popped it out and went flying. It was so bent I couldn't reattach it and boy was I pissed. After that only our closest friends were allowed on it. If we didn't know you "too bad".

We did every crazy thing imaginable on it. It was butted up against a row of trees we'd made into a clubhouse. We'd climb the trees as high as we could and jump. The boys would have back flip contests. In the summertime we'd turn the hose on and squirt dish soap all over the place.

None of us ever got seriously hurt but maybe we were just lucky. And I'm not defending the things we did. We were crazy children who did stupid things on or off the trampoline. But I wouldn't have changed a thing.
And I would never tell other people whether to buy a trampoline or not. Everyone has very strong and different opinions on the matter and you have to do what you feel is best. I'm just a person who had a good experience.

 

[DSNY FN]

They can't do them on ours they can do them at the club they practice at try to keep up.

 

[TalkisCheap]

But if they use one at this club, why do you need one in your backyard? I guess I'm not clear as to why your kids had to have one.