Buying a Trampoline--need Recommendations

Inflatable jump / bounce tent! They are a LOT safer. Mine is small enough to inflate in the garage in winter and rainy days.

Take Care, J.

I'm a gymnast and I love to jump on the trampoline. But they are really dangerous. Being in gymnastics I've heard all the stories. I have to hide my eyes when I see funny videos about trampolines. We received a tramp from a family member one year. The kids played on it all summer. After that they lost interest. Now it just collects leaves. Now I wish someone would just come and take the thing from us.

I know this probably isn't what you want to hear, as it wasn't what I wanted to hear a few years ago, but please proceed with MUCH caution! The idea about an in-ground tramp is great - my hubby had wanted to do that, but we never got around to all that digging, drainage pipes, etc... I finally broke down and got my kids one 3 years ago for C-mas - a SMALL one with a net - small (being about 8 ft in diameter) with the rule that only one kid could jump at a time, all others on the outside of the net. Naturally, they would "forget" that rule from time to time, especially with friends over. But most trampoline injuries occur between people or due to the way the person lands, even with a net.

My son literally almost broke his neck not once, but TWICE on a trampoline. Like a lot of kids, he loves jumping and flipping - we put him in gymnastics at age 3 and he did it for years, but still wanted one at home to practice his flips. Our neighbors had an older one years ago, without a net, but otherwise meeting all safety standards. He loved to jump, but I wouldn't let him jump with the other kids. When he was 6, he was jumping, and both dads were standing by watching the kids take turns, when my son did a flip, came down at an odd angle, MISSED the tramp, landing on the ground on his head, but at such an angle that his head was turned to one side, and my hubby (a Phys Therapist) said he could have easily snapped his neck the way he landed! I freaked! Naturally, I banned them jumping on anyone's trampoline ever and told his gym teachers about the incident. Now remember, even though he was only 6, he was very skilled at gymnastics flips and rarely didn't land them perfectly.

After a couple of years of him (and his two younger siblings, my daughter also does gym) BEGGING for one with a net, I gave in and we got the small one. I didn't worry as much since they couldn't fall to the ground from several feet in the air. But about a year after we got it, my same son (age 10 by then), landed strangely AGAIN on his head, this time within the net. But his head slammed forward into his chest - his chin bruised his sternum and he went into shock. My other son saw it happen, but since they blow things out of proportion, and he seemed okay at first, I didn't panic. But when his heart was racing, and he began hyperventilating, my normally laid-back husband said we better get to the ER. Then I freaked again!

We got rid of the d*** thing the next day! The vinyl on the pads was wearing through from exposure, but it was otherwise a perfectly good trampoline. I thought about giving it away to someone else, but I just couldn't do that. I felt I would not be able to live with the guilt of someone else's child becoming severely injured while on the tramp I gave them. So I took the entire thing apart and took all pieces to the landfill.

All my kids still miss the thing on occasion, but my daughter still does gym, and once a month, the gym has Open Gym night, where we can still take the boys (even though they aren't students there anymore) and pay $10 for 1.5 hours of all kinds of fun. There is still risk involved with it, and yes we have to sign a release on the kids, promising not to sue the gym if they get hurt on the equipment, but since this is only an occasional activity, I don't worry nearly as much about it. It gets the jumping and flipping out of their system and they are so physically active in other sports that it has really toned down their desires to jump on trampolines.

Whatever decision you make, just make sure you can live with the results!

A. V
PS- A friend of mine also told me about her sister (she she was 12) landing wrong, on her bottom on the trampoline, and broke her back. She was in traction for months! Not fun, but she was lucky to walk again! I just thank God we didn't have to go through anything like that before I wised up!

I grew up jumping on trampalines at our swim club and spent many hours waiting in line for my turn. But, every summer lots of kids got injured. I would love to have one too in my backyard, but I try to stick to activities that don't involve the risk of a broken neck.

I didn't know there was different brands. Go to Sams' and get one from them. ($200). I had one when my kids were little and it lasted till they outgrew it.... about 10 yrs. It was so cool and they loved it.
They will have fun.

We had an 8' octagonal one when I was growing up...metal springs w/o a net...I think we got it at Walmart. No one died or was seriously injured. I think I may have recieved a nose bleed once or twice from bonking heads with one of my friends. The rule at our home was that all my friends had to have WRITTEN parental permission stating that the parents knew that they were jumping at their own risk. Also, only one person on the tramp at a time (this went by the wayside as I got older, though.) Even so, they are dangerous...I knew a guy who was paralyzed because he was doing crazy flips, and he was a trained gymnast.

I see a lot of your responses are negative. We were actually looking into buying one until we discovered our home insurance would go up more then if we had an inground pool. So we are saving for that instead.

I would recommend a springless trampoline rather than one with the metal springs. The metal springs not only can rust, but when we've found that the spring pad (that covers the springs) tends to dry rot and needs to be replaced to be safe. The springless trampolines do cost a bit more, but if you are going to make the investment I'd definitely recommend you spluge for the extra safety they provide.

Happy bouncing!!

i'm not sure about brands...but my neighbor bought one and dug a hole the size of the trampoline and placed it at ground level...it has yet to fill up with rain & it's easy to get on & off!

I was thinking of buying this one from Costco....

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?whse=BC&top...

I had a little snap of the neck when I was young trying to learn how to do a forward flip. Everyone else was doing it...so why not me.

Tried...heard a big pop....felt as though the breath was knocked out of me.....never tried anything like that again. Scared me to death...and it was YEARS ago!

However, I've caught my son doing a flip on one of those moonbounces. He's GREAT. However I can see my daughter possibly getting really hurt!

I would also be a nervous wreck when their friends came over. I wouldn't have a moments peace constantly staring out the window watching every bounce.

I think I'll look at another outdoor activity for them now.

Thank you for posting this question. Seems to be an active post!

.

I don't have any recommendations on what brand to buy, but I would like to advice you to check with your homeowners insurance about having the trampoline. A lot of insurance companies won't insure (or will cancel a current policy) if they find out you have one.

American Academy of Pediatrics says to never own one. They even encourage a total BAN on them! That says something. Try AAP.org for more info. :)

Well, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, there are no safe trampolines for personal use. That's probably not the answer you want, and I'm sure a lot of people will say that's stupid, but that's the truth.

We've found the 12-14 foot round trampoline wiith safety net from Wal-mart safe and sturdy and affordable. Enjoy! Roxanne

Hi there,
We just bought an inexpensive one from Walmart with a safety net and my 3 kids played on it safely for 2 years. We were lucky with no injuries. But after 2 years the safety net was starting to give way and the tracking around the side gave way where they get in and out. We loved it. My son learned flips forward and backwards and all of them enjoyed it. They didnt like when I took it down but I promised them more time at the gym (gymnastics) as well.

When I was little we rented a house with a trampoline in the back yard. It was so much fun! What they did was dig a hole the size and depth of the trampoline so that it was level with the ground. It was awesome. I'm not sure how feasable this is, like I said I was very young, but thought I might mention it.
-K.

Please proceed with caution. I have two friends whose children have required surgery due to broken bones. Both accidents happened on trampolines. My sister sells insurance and her company will not even sell homeowners insurance to anyone who has a trampoline on their property.

P.

I know nothing about trampoline safety but I will say check with your insurance carrier. If they are willing to continue to cover your home then raise your liability limit to $500,000 and then get a personal excess liability policy with at least $1,000,000. More coverage would be better.

My children also want to have a trampoline and I have considered it many times. I am also worried about injuries and things like that. Then I saw this great idea on one of the home and garden channels. In this back yard, the landscaper built the trampoline in the ground. So the children didn't have any height to fall from. It still had a net and everything. I am not sure how that would work far as digging and the amount that would have to be dug beyond for jumping and how that would drain due to water, but I told my husband that if we ever get a trampoline, that is what I wanted to do.

I don't know if you even have the space or room to do that, since then it becomes a permanent structure, but it was just a thought.

I don't have any buying advice, but as the daughter of a independent insurance agent, I would advise that you check with your insurance company before purchasing one. My dad has said that insurance companies don't like trampolines because of the liability issues associated with them.

Just a thought!

L.,

I have done extensive research on trampolines, read all the media hype about the dangers and still purchased one with enclosure, at Wal-Mart, for my 3 1/2 year old daughter. We had it put up just before her 3rd birthday party, with children in attendance from 3 years of age, up to 12 years of age. No problems and no injuries..................and I believe it is simply CLOSE PARENTAL OBSERVATION................by that I mean, an adult right there on the trampoline with the kids at all times...................my husband is usually the one, but sometimes I will go and sit up there with the kids while they jump and act as a sort of "lifeguard".............again, no injuries what so ever with the trampoline and a LOT of fun for both my 3 1/2 year old, her friends AND now our 16 month old too!!!! I also know of many an injury with friends/family kids on other trampolines, but there was no parental supervision other than a glance over here and there..........if you are willing to be on it with your kids at all times.........I say go for it........and Sam's Club/Walmart sell them for a reasonable price!

Go to WWW.onestepahead.com. They have this wonderful trampoline that has a handlebar on it for safety. They also have a website for older kids called Leaps and Bounds. They may have trampolines for older kids with just as much safety precautions in place. I'd love to have a trampoline for my boys, but my husband refuses, says they are too yound and trampolines are dangerous; but hopefully i can change his mind one day! Good luck!