Backyard trampoline - any real life experiences??

[Anonymous]

This is a tough one because there are injuries. Nonetheless, we bought one 7 years ago and have never had trouble. We also called our insurance company to make sure it was covered.

I think it was the most dangerous when our boys were around age 12-13 and wanted to take risks with multiple jumpers or flips. As teens though they frequently just sit out there with friends. Our ADHD teen jumps on it every night alone for about 20 minutes to settle down before bed. That part has been awesome. Overall, like some of the other posters, it has been used constantly over many years, gotten our kids outdoors, and we've been lucky to not have any injuries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Way too many injuries:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.spineuniverse.com/amp/3649

And then you look at the higher injury rates of playing soccer, baseball and basketball then look at the rate in injury for playgrounds and riding a bike.

Home in bubble wrap for your kid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Way too many injuries:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.spineuniverse.com/amp/3649

And then you look at the higher injury rates of playing soccer, baseball and basketball then look at the rate in injury for playgrounds and riding a bike.

Home in bubble wrap for your kid?

You raise your kid and I raise mine. How about that? I wouldn't get one or allow a trampoline. My DD ended up at the dr's from neck strain after using one. Our friend's son broke his arm and needed surgery to set it. He was off his travel soccer team (where he'd never been injured) for months.

[Anonymous]

We have had one with a net for a year or so and my kids love it. Kids are 9, 12, and 14 and all have had gymnastics and trampoline classes, so they know how to flip safely. Our rules are that 2-3 kids can jump at the same time (without being crazy), but for flips, no more than 1 kid at a time.

I think it's great exercise, and I'm much less worried about them getting hurt on the trampoline than about them getting hit by a car or otherwise getting hurt biking on our neighborhood streets.

[Anonymous]

Gymnastics instructor here (and former competitive trampolinist): we will never have a backyard trampoline. And when people ask me about them, I tell them they should never get them. Terrible idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gymnastics instructor here (and former competitive trampolinist): we will never have a backyard trampoline. And when people ask me about them, I tell them they should never get them. Terrible idea.

This. Pediatrician told us the same thing. (When my kids were interested, he discussed the types of injuries one might get from them. They walked out NOT wanting one...which is what I'd hoped.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have had one with a net for a year or so and my kids love it. Kids are 9, 12, and 14 and all have had gymnastics and trampoline classes, so they know how to flip safely. Our rules are that 2-3 kids can jump at the same time (without being crazy), but for flips, no more than 1 kid at a time.

I think it's great exercise, and I'm much less worried about them getting hurt on the trampoline than about them getting hit by a car or otherwise getting hurt biking on our neighborhood streets.

If your kids have REALLY had trampoline and gymnastics classes, then they should know that the rule is 1 jumper at a time, flips or no flips.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have had one with a net for a year or so and my kids love it. Kids are 9, 12, and 14 and all have had gymnastics and trampoline classes, so they know how to flip safely. Our rules are that 2-3 kids can jump at the same time (without being crazy), but for flips, no more than 1 kid at a time.

I think it's great exercise, and I'm much less worried about them getting hurt on the trampoline than about them getting hit by a car or otherwise getting hurt biking on our neighborhood streets.

If your kids have REALLY had trampoline and gymnastics classes, then they should know that the rule is 1 jumper at a time, flips or no flips.

[Anonymous]

We have one, with a net. So far it's been a hit. No injuries yet (knock on wood). 3 and 6 year old play on it a lot and our neighbors come over and play on it. We have like 4 kids on it at once and have been fine so far.

[Anonymous]

Ours gets used almost daily. One kid at a time. No issues with our insurance

[Anonymous]

Our next door neighbor is a relatively well known pediatric orthopedic surgeon. His daughter broke her elbow (compound fracture, required plates/pins) on another neighbors' trampoline--he was furious, as she had been forbidden from using it, and the neighbor knew it, too. Just thought he was overprotective so she let him. Good thing that at least he was home at the time, my DS happened to be there and ran straight to there house to get him.

No trampolines for us.

[Anonymous]

Theoretically, I think I could get my two kids to follow rules well enough to make the trampoline safer (although not safe).

In practice, injuries happen quickly and lots of kids who I cannot control would be playing it. I don't want to risk getting sued by a parent of a kid who can't follow rules. I'm not taking on any more liability than I need to, sorry.

OP, I hope you're poor, so no one will see dollar signs if their snowflake hurts themselves on your watch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Theoretically, I think I could get my two kids to follow rules well enough to make the trampoline safer (although not safe).

In practice, injuries happen quickly and lots of kids who I cannot control would be playing it. I don't want to risk getting sued by a parent of a kid who can't follow rules. I'm not taking on any more liability than I need to, sorry.

OP, I hope you're poor, so no one will see dollar signs if their snowflake hurts themselves on your watch.

Hope they have a good umbrella policy, because if the kid is injured, their insurance will come after you.

Signed, Injury from above.

[Anonymous]

Our home insurer said - no- emphatically. Also said no to 10 breeds of dogs-- just FYI.

[Anonymous]

http://www.springfreetrampoline.com/

These are much safer!