Trampolines

[TomD]

My 2 daughters would like to get a trampoline for the yard. DW and I are split on the idea.

Girls are ages 10 and 6.

DW is not for this idea at all. She feels this is the quickest way for one of them to get hurt. She also felt this way on skiing and now is all for it

I don't think it is a problem as long as they are supervised when they are using it. By supervised I mean my self or my wife out there spotting when it is in use...not sending them out to play on it by themselves.

Just wondering how others feel on this subject.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

Our kids (now 9 and 6) have had a trampoline for two years now. They love it and use it responsibly. I once caught DS6 doing flips without hands. He got a strong lecture and lost his trampoline privileges for a while. Other than that we've had no problem.

FWIW, I would not consider owning one without the safety netting on the side. My kids would have killed themselves by now without it.

 

[ChrisnSteph]

Oh boy, didn't you just open up a big can of worms!!! For the record, when used with supervision and safety netting, trampolines are a blast!

 

[C.Ann]

It seems I read something somewhere about either pediatricians or the American Pediatrics Association strongly discouraging parents from buying trampolines and went on to give a list of the serious injuries that could occur even when used responsibly.. Had to be a year or two ago and the only reason I remember it now is because my 7 year old DGD wants one..

I'm not a huge fan of them myself, but it's a decision that will need to be made by my DD and her DH..

 

[MouseWorshipin]

We had one in our school when I was a kid. It is the thing I remember liking the most about gym. (This is before everyone decided this was THE way to get your kids hurt, people who let their kids do it are bad parents, etc.)

My kids played on them, it was fine. BUT, one broke a leg wresting and the other broke an arm in football, so maybe those things oughtta be discouraged, too.

I don't know. I'll side with the woman.

 

[TomD]

Oh boy, didn't you just open up a big can of worms!!! QUOTE]


I usually cause hate and discontent wherever I go...lol

Seriously ..that wasnt my intentions.

 

[Blueeyes101817]

We had one for a few years and loved it--we never got hurt and didnt have the net thing..my parents always watched too

 

[EthansMom]

Run a Thread search. I'm pretty sure I've seen trampolines hotly debated here on the CB in the last 6 months or so. There were many comments from the folks who've seen/heard of/experienced bad accidents due to trampolines. And there are those folks who've happily never had a problem and have had years of enjoyment with their trampolines.

As for me, I'm on the fence regarding trampolines. I don't have anything against them, but I don't think I'd want one in my yard, either. Likewise, we don't have ATVs for our kids. And we wouldn't consider having a pool until the kids are much older. That's just us.

Good Luck with your decision.

 

[kmp1191]

we have one w/ the net around it....that's the only way i would get one. on of the neighbors have one without the net, and the adults are NEVER out there to supervise....that's the main reason we got one.
the kids love it!!

 

[C.Ann]

Also keep in mind that this may be an issue with your homeowner's insurance if one of your children or another child is injured on it.. I just recently changed my homeowners from the house I sold to my place at the lake and one of the questions I had to answer on the application was if I had a trampoline - as well as if I had a swimming pool or certain breeds of dogs.. If so, my premium would have been much higher than what it is.. (It was insured as a seasonal residence before but because it's my primary, legal address now and I'll be spending approx. 8 months a year there, they changed it over from seasonal fire insurance to a regular homeowners policy..)

 

[kaylajr]

We have a trampoline and two girls 10 and 12

we have had it for about a year


When we bought it we bought the safety net NO WAY would they go on it without one it has saved several falls

We have rules as to how many can be on it
when they can use it
and stuff and they know if they break a rule they lose the trampoline

It is a fun toy and provides hours of fun entertainment and exercise so long as the kids respect it

I know you will get other opinions but that is mine

 

[tiggerlover]

I had considered purchasing a trampoline for my son at one time, but now I would never consider it. First and formost before you make the purchase check with your homeowners insurance, my sister is in the business and she pointed out that a lot of insurance companies will cancel your homeowners insurance if they find out you have a trampoline. They can be very dangerous and although they are a lot of fun children risk very serious injury. I spent last week at the doctor having my DS (9) get chest xrays and an EKG because of being on a trampoline. Bottom line turned out that he pulled something in his chest, but he was having chest pains for almost a week because of his injury. It was so bad it hurt for him to walk. The doctor cringed when we told him he had been on a trampoline because he said those things are extremely dangerous. <For the record DS was supervised and the trampoline had a net>. Needless to say DS will not be having any further trampoline time.

I found this article from Fox News, it contains some safety information in case you decide that you are going to purchase one.http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,156695,00.html

 

[Planogirl]

I've seen all of the debates and my son has regularly played on one that belongs to his cousin. I decided that if I had space, I would be willing to get one but only if it had safety netting and only if I could supervise DS' use. I realize that accidents happen on them but if I remember right the accident rate of many sports and on bikes is higher.

Either way, don your flame proof outfit right away! Some people feel strongly about this.

 

[Freyja]

Just subscribing to the thread. We´re having the same discussion at out house.

 

[C.Ann]

I had considered purchasing a trampoline for my son at one time, but now I would never consider it. First and formost before you make the purchase check with your homeowners insurance, my sister is in the business and she pointed out that a lot of insurance comapanies will cancel your homeowners insurance if they find out you have a trampoline.

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I can certainly vouch for the fact that it's one of the questions they ask before issuing a policy.. I assumed that if I had said yes, it would have been more expensive, but from what you're saying, it appears I may not have gotten the policy at all!

 

[Cindyluwho]

It seems I read something somewhere about either pediatricians or the American Pediatrics Association strongly discouraging parents from buying trampolines and went on to give a list of the serious injuries that could occur even when used responsibly.. Had to be a year or two ago and the only reason I remember it now is because my 7 year old DGD wants one..

I'm not a huge fan of them myself, but it's a decision that will need to be made by my DD and her DH..

I have heard something about that myself. I would check out the facts and then make your decision. You might as well be as educated as you can on the subject.

 

[RitaZ.]

Also keep in mind that this may be an issue with your homeowner's insurance if one of your children or another child is injured on it..

My neighbor had to get rid of theirs after their insurance company told them they would be cancelled if they didn't remove it. Another neighbor had one and a neighbor's daughter used it while the neighbors weren't home.

I don't like trampolines, DH is even more opposed to them than I am. Every family has to decide what they think is best for their child.

 

[C.Ann]

My neighbor had to get rid of theirs after their insurance company told them they would be cancelled if they didn't remove it. Another neighbor had one and a neighbor's daughter used it while the neighbors weren't home..

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Yup - it's kind of like the swimming pool thing (which is why I never had one).. If a child drowns in your pool when you're not home, it doesn't make on wit of difference that the child was trespassing to get to it.. Doesn't seem fair, but that's the way it is..

 

[daisyduck123]

It seems I read something somewhere about either pediatricians or the American Pediatrics Association strongly discouraging parents from buying trampolines and went on to give a list of the serious injuries that could occur even when used responsibly.. Had to be a year or two ago and the only reason I remember it now is because my 7 year old DGD wants one..

I remember seeing something about that too. It may have been where I read about a lot of kids getting "detached retinas" due to all of the jumping.

 

[kayeandjim00]

I have no kids so it's not really an issue at my house but I did play on tons of them growing up in the 70's and 80's and without a net but we all survived and I don't remember any big injuries in our neighborhood where there were lots of them. I can only remember having lots of fun. I can totally understand the caution and the serious injuries that could happen and it does seem parents are much more cautious now than they used to be but that's just my experience- I grew up riding a bike without a helmet, running to friend's house unsupervised, and riding in the back of a truck just for fun but I wouldn't let my own kids do it. I don't think my parents were bad parents at all, it was just a different time. Anyway I guess based on how you are proposing to use it I don't see it as a problem. If they are always supervised it shouldn't be an issue.