Advise on Purchasing a Trampoline

Hi A.!

We have two very spirited boys aged 4.5 and 2.5 so I can relate. My husband and I decided we could get a trampoline to channel that energy or risk them jumping on/from things that aren't meant to be jumped on/from (the stairs for example).

Our kids have had a small indoor exercise trampoline for a couple of years, and I think it helped to encourage jumping!

We just bought our boys an 8 foot trampoline with enclosure from Toys R Us. Setup wasn't that bad, although it did require help from hubby. The hardest part was assembling the poles for the safety net/enclosure. It's actually easy to take down just the trampoline and store if needed. Some people have told us to get ready for trips to the ER but we spent a few days teaching safety, different ways to jump for exercise and fun there were ideas included with direction) and enforcing a STRICT RULE of one jumper at a time. Now, I see my boys taking turns jumping even when I am inside making lunch and that makes me proud! Our children are not allowed to attempt flips either. At some point they might anyway. And at some point they might try jumping out of a tree like I did when I was 9.

Also, a bonus use for the trampoline with safety enclosure is that we now have a place to store their giant bouncy ball, plastic dump trucks, lawn mower and wheelbarrow at night where our dog can't chew them up!! :>D

And I know people who have tripped and broken bones (especially wrists) from WALKING but I still let my kids do it daily. ;>) Some people fall out of bed and die, but will you sleep on the floor to avoid it?

Good luck and welcome to Colorado! We've been here for about seven months now and are loving it.

J.

Hi A.-
My neighbor is a scrub nurse at Parker Hospital and she will not let her daughters have a trampoline because almost every time she sees a terrible injury on a child in the operating room it is the result of a trampoline accident!!! I think that it would be great fun to have, but boys are crazy and I would be scared. If you decide to get one I suggest that you get the netting that goes around it to stop kids from flying off the sides and have strict rules for its use. Most of the injuries are from kids slamming into or landing on eachother while jumping around.

Another thing to keep in mind is that you are going to have to move it periodically or sacrafice a big patch of your lawn. We do have some other neighbors that dug a big hole and put their trampoline in it so that the jumping surface is flush with the ground.

There's my 2 cents!!

My family got a trampoline when I was 12 and my brother 6 and 8. We loved it and spent many hours jumping on it. it was great exercise for all of us including my parents. We had rules like no more than 2 people on it at a time and no jumping on it when my parents weren't home. My brothers both fell off a couple of times but were never injured. Back then they didn't have the nets for around the sides. I would suggest getting the nets for around the sides. My parents still have the trapoline and my son loves jumping on it when he goes to grandmas. We had it on the grass and would have to move it to mow so if you plan to keep it in one spot I would put mulch under it. I think your boys would love it. If you have a sams membership you can buy the trampoline with the sides for somewhere around $300.

Hey.

I think this is a big decision to make.
Weigh your pro's and con's!

One thing to really think about is insurance. Homeowners insurance companies HATE trampolines, it is a huge liability issue. Double check with your insurance company and see if there would be an increase in your policy due to having one.
(and if you don't let the insurance company know, read your policy carefully.....there could be some types of exclusion in there that would make YOU legally liable for any injuries that could occur)

Regardless of parents signing a permission slip or not, they don't really hold up when it comes to Liability. If you think about doing that talk to someone that knows a lot of legal laws and see what/if any thing a permission slip could do.

I have known quite a few people that have broken bones (ankles) just by simply jumping up and down and landing the wrong way. The netting will prevent some injuries but not all.

:)

A.,
I am sorry I don't have advice for you but am wondering if you would mind sharing the advice you receive with me. I think I'm at least one year away but I'm also interested in a tramp for the backyard.

I'm from MN too!

Growing up, my parents never got one for the same reason, and lake of yard space, but one of my cousins had one! My aunt made permission slips for when friends were around, and set rules, only 2 kids at a time, no flips when others are on the trampoline! Having the rules actually went really well! The permission slips are always a good idea, in case anyone gets hurt, you would have that to fall back on, where if you didn't, the parents could say they never gave permission, and it could get ugly! Also, they now have the side nets, to prevent children from falling off, I have never used these, but they look pretty safe! Good luck!

There is also the option of springless trampolines. They are concidered safer because it prevents pinching by the springs.

Set a list of rules, I wouldn't allow neighbor kids on unless you approve or your watching. The outer mesh walls good idea but doesn't stop accidents from happening. When we had one we had ours on grass- flat surface. I think it is a personal choice, we enjoyed ours -but I had strick rules too.

Hope that helps.. C.