Trampoline - Yay? or Nay?

[misha-ginger]

My son was using one with a net at a friend's house. As he was exiting though the net the friend's older sister bounced behind him, he went flying and hit the ground breaking his arm. When I took him to the ER, we received our share of comments from the staff about the dangers of a trampoline.

 

[Snoozan]

OP here - My DDIL did call the insurance company today and found out it costs about $400 to add coverage for a trampoline to their homeowner's policy. The agent said alot of people don't report it, but if something happens to someone, chances are good the insurance would probably drop you and you would be personally responsible for all charges. Guess that was enough for her to figure out that the risk is probably not worth the fun.

 

[joviroxx]

My son broke his arm when he was 10 and my nephew split his lip and got 4 stiches when they fell off his bike. My nephew knocked out a tooth when he got kicked playing soccer. My niece broke her wrist when she jumped from a swing and fell badly.

I have 3 siblings. We all have trampolines in our yards. Never have we had a major issue.

My point? There are dangers in everything but I can say trampolines have some of the funnest memories in our family. The kids love it when grandpa gets on with them!

 

[Pigeon]

Under no circumstances would I ever have a trampoline. I don't allow my kids to use them at other people's houses, either.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/trampoline-exercise/AN01570
http://www.fscip.org/tramp.html

 

[CentralFloridian99]

Close Trampoline? Yes. Open Trampoline? NO!

 

[LuvOrlando]

LOL! I really need to read the dates

 

[design_mom]

I said "nay" for our kids. I had two friends who had them and both had to take their kids to the ER. One for a knee and one for teeth. Neither were life threatening, but there was surgery and casts involved. I think the safety rules recommend only one jumper on at a time and that would resolve a LOT of the safety issues (but where's the fun in that?)

However, as others have said, there are a lot of people who use them without incident and I don't think they're reckless parents or anything (it just wasn't worth the risk TO ME.) They do look like a lot of fun. If my kids decide to get them for *their* kids in the future, I might lay out the reasons that I decided it was too risky, but... ultimately, it will be their decision.

Rats! Totally missed that this is a zombie thread.

 

[JimMIA]

I say "ZOMBIE THREAD" from NINE years ago!

 

[lovesmurfs]

Since it's been 9 years since the OP posted the question, I think their decision's already been made.

 

[GoingSince1990]

Too scary, especially when friends come over and you feel like you need to be constantly watching. And the novelty wears off fairly quickly. And I just realized this is a years-old thread but what the heck, I'll still click on "Post Reply".

 

[bookgirl]

For those of you that have trampolines, are you glad you do? Do you worry about injuries to your own family or others? How much did the coverage add to your homeowner's insurance?

My (future) DDIL is saying they're getting a trampoline for Christmas as a family gift. They have a 2yo and 8yo DS's. Both are extremely lightweight and I doubt they'd even get the trampoline to move. I know it's none of my business, but I am so fearful that this is not the best gift for my DS's family. What are your experiences as to why you did or did NOT get a trampoline?

P.S. We live in Mass and my DDIL thinks my DS will set this thing up every year and take it down every winter. I'm thinking that's not very practical? Also, they don't have a really flat area in their yard.

I had one in my backyard for my nephews. At the beginning it was becuase my brother didn't have a yard but then it was just easier to keep it in my yard then move it. They used to beg to come over to play on it, so they got a ton of use out of it. We got a good sturdy one so my nephews played on it for probably 5 years and then I gave it to my godchildren and they played with it for 3 or so more.

I think as long as you buy a good model, add on the safety features (like the netting and pads), take care of it and monitor it's use then it's a good investment.

I also think that part of childhood is playsets and trampolines and pools and bikes. They are all dangerous in a way but you can't wrap kids in cotton wool, kids need play for physical and mental health, and the freak accident component happens even if you never buy any thing 'dangerous'. Literally my very rough and tumble nephews didn't get hurt on equiptment. One fractured his skull walking on the driveway in winter and they both had broken bones (a wrist, an arm, an elbow and an ankle) playing organized sports.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

OOOOO A zombie thread. You know what that means. A survey And this time the zombies have pictures.

4 out of 10 zombies say, don't put your trampoline next to the cactus.



3 out of 10 zombies say, don't jump with your head.


2 out of 10 zombies say he was hard to catch because he had a lot of spring in his step.




One zombie asked if we'd like to go trampolining while he had us over for dinner.
So we ended the survey and bounced out of there.

 

[JimMIA]

Since it's been 9 years since the OP posted the question, I think their decision's already been made.

Doesn't matter. Folks don't read anything but the headline before posting their responses, lol.

 

[GoingSince1990]

Doesn't matter. Folks don't read anything but the headline before posting their responses, lol.

A while ago I was reading through a thread about Disneyland music and only realized that the thread was over 20 years old when one of the posts talked about downloading music from Napster.

 

[JimMIA]

A while ago I was reading through a thread about Disneyland music and only realized that the thread was over 20 years old when one of the posts talked about downloading music from Napster.

Yeah, but there is a problem with zombie threads in many cases. People don't look at the date, start reading, and get really outdated, really bad information.

I personally wish the DIS would just lock all threads over a couple of years old -- or create an ancient history archive for those who want to reminisce.

 

[wilbret]

In 2011, I wouldn't have bought one, but our oldest would have been 3.

We do own one, and our kids use it several times per week. They even want to "camp out" on it. It has a safety net, etc. It's a great way to get kids to exercise, especially if you don't have much space. They are dirt cheap, under $200, so it's a big investment. No need for the uber-expensive models.

Injuries happen anywhere. We've had a broken leg while inner tubing. A broken shoulder from a simple fall. A broken hand while catching a football. Stitches from sledding. Lost tooth from being accidentally pushed into a door during school lineup. The kids are fine, and not scared of their own shadows. So far, no injuries on the trampoline... knock on wood.

Wonder if this poster is still around, and it worked out? Are those kids now in college? Lol

 

[mjkacmom]

I had one in my backyard for my nephews. At the beginning it was becuase my brother didn't have a yard but then it was just easier to keep it in my yard then move it. They used to beg to come over to play on it, so they got a ton of use out of it. We got a good sturdy one so my nephews played on it for probably 5 years and then I gave it to my godchildren and they played with it for 3 or so more.

I think as long as you buy a good model, add on the safety features (like the netting and pads), take care of it and monitor it's use then it's a good investment.

I also think that part of childhood is playsets and trampolines and pools and bikes. They are all dangerous in a way but you can't wrap kids in cotton wool, kids need play for physical and mental health, and the freak accident component happens even if you never buy any thing 'dangerous'. Literally my very rough and tumble nephews didn't get hurt on equiptment. One fractured his skull walking on the driveway in winter and they both had broken bones (a wrist, an arm, an elbow and an ankle) playing organized sports.

I bet you won’t find an ER doctor with one, although I’m sure their kids have bikes, swing sets and go swimming. I don’t know of anyone with a trampoline who didn’t have at least one broken bone on it. They are much safer if kids jump alone, but that rarely happens.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-...pert-answers/trampoline-exercise/faq-20058001

 

[bookgirl]

I bet you won’t find an ER doctor with one, although I’m sure their kids have bikes, swing sets and go swimming. I don’t know of anyone with a trampoline who didn’t have at least one broken bone on it. They are much safer if kids jump alone, but that rarely happens.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-...pert-answers/trampoline-exercise/faq-20058001

Maybe, but the only injury we had in 5 years was one nephew bit his lip. I actually drew the line at motorized equiptment. Electric scooters, mopeds, motorcycles etc. Everyone has thier point. Oh and they went to a private school with lots of Dr's kids. They all had trampolines, pools and whatnot. The only thing I've ever heard them xnay was a motorcycle. Which I agreed with LOL

 

[FigmentSpark]

My mom's neighbours have one. One warm summer night, the boys had a sleepover in it. They put up a tarp over the top net and the rest was just the netting and a comfortable sleeping area. Girls got it the next weekend.

I think if you get one, just have rules. One person at a time. Be mindful of safety.

One thing, though, make sure it's behind a gate, because you don't want some kid coming into the yard uninvited and getting hurt and then suing. Check with your homeowner's insurance. I imagine there is risk, just like a pool is risk and there may have to be a rider added to the insurance.

 

[tcufrog]

We have a trampoline and a pool. We have strict rules for both and we haven't had any injuries with either. We told them that if they weren't careful we'd close the pool and sell the trampoline. I'm really grateful for the trampoline right now. Right before COVID I was considering selling it because the kids never used it anymore. Since the lockdown happened though, they've been on it every day.