Trampoline Thoughts?

We have had one for 6 yrs and both kids love it. I would not buy one without the safety net. It has been a life saver literaly.

As with anything, anyone can get hurt. But, they are a lot of fun and help kids get a lot of energy out, but shouldn't be abused. One at a time, no pushing, don't jump near the springs, etc. My friend, an adult, did crack a vertabrate (sp?) (broke his back) just by jumping. But, most of the time, it's kids who are horsing around too much that get hurt.

We grew up with a trampoline (in my teenage years I would sunbathe on it with a sprinkler underneath-can you imagine?).
Our daughter wanted one so badly that we gave in and bought one when she was nine. She and her friends jumped on it for 10 years. Then our son (10 years younger) spent most of his outside time on it. Two of his friends got injured...broken arm and black eye...they were horsing around.
Most recently the tired old thing split down the middle while one of my son's friends was jumping on it. I am seriously considering not replacing it. I feel we've gotten great use out of it and my kids are now 22 and 13.
Good luck deciding and may your children be safe!
D.

There are smaller trampolines on the market now...It's not as though you must purchase a 15' one or nothing at all.
The exercise trampolines can be a good compromise. They kids still get a jumping surface that the parent is okay with (as opposed to beds or sofas). Here is a link to a few of the ones that are smaller. Some have handles, some don't. Also takes up less space in the back yard than the larger version.
http://www.bizrate.com/outdoorgames_fun/products__keyword...

Just a thought

FWIW, we do own a large tramp. DH installed the side nets. We have a One Jumping person limit. Up to 2 others can sit on the pad just next to the net.

HTH - if you have any specific questions for me, don't hesitate to ask.

K., mama to
Catherine, 5y
Samuel, 2y
EDD 9/09

I believe the first two spoke the best about a trampoline, must follow rules and keep a watch out. Oh and make sure they know do not go under trampoline, lay on ground and push someone up from underneath. Long story, but silly move by my BIL to DD. RULES are there for a reason.

I grew up on trampolines with no nets. So did both of my brothers and my sister. My children also grew up on trampolines with no nets. (my daughter was actually hurt on a net at a friend's house) My nephew and nieces are now growing up on a trampoline, this time with a net. We had one accident the entire time we had them. The neighbor came over and PUSHED my brother off the trampoline. (neighbor wasn't supposed to be over there, but climbed the connecting fence) My brother's arm was broken, but he got over it. As long as everyone is following the rules, it's safe. It's just like driving a car. If you do it safe, no accidents.

Trampolines can be a lot of fun, but they can be pretty dangerous if it isn't taken seriously. I would get a net if you decide to get one. One person mentioned that it gives a false sense of security and I can see their point, but I still think it's better to have one than not.

I would be sure to check with your homeowner's insurance though because many will not cover your home if you have a trampoline and/or will raise your insurance rates.

My almost two year old has one and he loves it. With a net of course and I don't let him jump with bigger kids.

We've had our trampoline for about 5 years. We got a large trampoline without a net. I think the net gives kids a false sense of security. They can still get hurt.

We have 4 children. We have never had a serious accident with the trampoline. I believe it's helped my children with their coordination and balance. Of course we have rules and we monitor them. We make sure if any neighborhood child comes over that it's okay with their parents for them to jump and that the child understands the rules.

Our kids love it when we come and jump with them. They love playing games on the tramp. The kids will draw chalk outlines along the outside of the tramp for the "islands" and then my husband is the shark in the middle that tries to get them as they jump or run from island to island. They absolutely love it. Of course, there are risks as with most outdoor activities, but if you are careful and have rules to follow you can minimize some of those risks.

My pediatrician opposes them very strongly. She said she has seen too many children get life altering injuries as a result of back yard trampolines. You many want to read the statistics. I don't think these responses adequately represent the statistics.

There are risks as with anything. Set up your ground rules and stick to them. Nets are great. I personally do not have a trampoline (don't have a back yard big enough yet) but 3 out of 5 of my siblings do and they all have them burried in the ground. They don't have a net on them and if the kids stumble off or jump off they are not falling as far. Your kids can get serious injuries from riding a bicycle but does that keep you from letting them do it? No, you protect them as much as possible (helmets, knee pads, etc.) and you give them the rules. Use your best judgement. You know your kids better than anyone else.

We have had a trampoline for almost 8 years. My boys loved it when they were younger. (It doesn't get much use now, as they are 17, 16 and 14.) But the 14 year old had a friend over Saturday and they were on it for over an hour!

For the first 6 years it was used daily! We did not get a net, but we have pretty strict rules. Only 2 people on at a time. One at a time if it's a big teen or adult.
No throwing or pushing each other. They can not jump when a parent is not home. No one under the trampoline when someone is jumping....
friends have to ask their parent if they can jump at our house. When they learned flips, I had to be there to supervise and spot. (I used to springboard dive and we practiced on a tramp, so I felt comfortable spotting.)

We signed a contract and a violation of the contract was no tramp for a week. Second infraction meant the trampoline was going up for sale and leaving. We had one shoving match in 6 years, no one got hurt and they were off it for a week! No problems since b/c they all knew next time there was a problem---that thing was gone!

We talked about getting a trampoline for years and had decided against it when we heard from a social worker that you cannot foster or adopt a child if you have a trampoline, they are that unsafe. Tons of accidents happen every year. For that reason, trampoline ownership also affects your homeowner's insurance.

We did get one eventually, though. We used them as kids and I think if you follow some basic safety rules the injuries can be minimized:

1. DO NOT USE IT WITHOUT THE NET AND REMEMBER TO ZIP THE NET EVERY TIME! My son fell through the opening when we forgot to zip it once and he fell far and hard. Luckily he was fine, but it scared the begeezus out of us. The net is absolutely necessary.

2. No shoes on the trampoline and no objects other than human beings. Someone really could poke their eye out.

3. no more than 1-3 kids on at a time.

4. Do tell your insurance company that you have one. All the kids who come over will expect to get a chance to jump and if anything happens, you have to make sure you are covered.

We are delighted that we got it. We have a hard time getting our kids out of it. My son's coordination has improved so much since we got it. Most people I know who have them are amazed at how kids never ever get bored. I think they are great, you just have to be smart about it.

Have fun!

We had a trampoline once our daughter was in 4th grade. We also purchased the "sides". And good thing, the kids would fall against it almost every time they ever jumped on it.. .. We were very strict about "following the rules". These were the rules that come with the trampoline. We kept them posted on the trampoline and reminded the children that visited to also follow them.

I also made sure to be either in the back yard or in the room next to the back door. There is a large window there.

This last fall, my niece was visiting a friends home and fell on her back and head so hard to the ground (no side nets)That she blacked out. No adults were watching and the kids did not tell the adults! Once my niece go home she fell ill and was taken to the hospital.. She ended up being fine, but her entire back ended up bruised and some numbness occurred. She missed school 4 days.

What we did not know when we purchased the trampoline, is that our homeowners insurance had to come and inspect our yard to make sure there was a self locking fence. it also increased our insurance.

Our daughter still speaks very fondly of the trampoline. She loved it and her friends really got a kick out of it. We only had one friend that would not allow her child on the trampoline and we honored her request.