Backyard trampoline - any real life experiences??

[Anonymous]

We recently accepted a 14-foot trampoline from friends of ours whose kids have outgrown it. We were excited about this hand-me-down as it seemed like a fun way for my kids to burn off energy, but now that I've done quite a bit of reading about the risks, I'm having second thoughts. I'm hoping to hear the experiences of folks who have a trampoline or have had one in the past, especially with young kids (my youngest is 6).

The trampoline is in good shape and has padding but no net. So at a minimum I'm looking to get a safety net. I will also supervise them while jumping. I've read quite a bit about the risks and injuries associated with use so I'm not really looking for folks to educate me on that. I'm more interested in real life experiences with this type of equipment. If you have had in the past or currently have a backyard trampoline, have you been happy with it? Are you stressed out when your kids use it? Do you only allow one child on at a time as it recommended? Would you buy it again?

[Anonymous]

My next door neighbor had one growing up and I have a lot of great memories playing on it. We did escape some injury by the skin of our teeth though. It didn't have a net so maybe that changes things.

[Anonymous]

Get a net, try to limit the WWE body slams, and it's great.

[Anonymous]

Did you inform your Insurance company?

[Anonymous]

I broke my leg on one. Won't let my kids use them m

[Anonymous]

Kids will get it, play with it for a week, never touch it again unless friends are over and begging.

[Anonymous]

Really only one kid should jump at a time. My kid messed up her knee on what I think they call a double bounce where one kid comes down as the force of the other kid's jump comes up. My kids voluntarily avoid them now.

[Anonymous]

Get a net and you should be fine.

[Anonymous]

Make sure it's staked or better to the ground. We had a bad storm with high winds and there were trampolines all over the place.

[Anonymous]

My neighbor broke his two front teeth and had to get fake porcelains.

[Anonymous]

I've been a Physical Therapist for almost 20 years and Kids have always been about 1/3 of my patients. I've seen a dozen people who've been injured by their own dog (Squirrel!!), about the same number from sledding, one from a Goose attack, 500+ from soccer, but never from a trampoline injury.

Not saying injuries don't happen, but we've had one for 7 years, we have 4 kids and it is used a ton. The one kid at a time rule lasts about a month.

It's also great training to reduce your kids' likelihood of ankle and knee injuries while playing sports.

[Anonymous]

I conceived my third child on the trampoline. We had put a solid net plus a tarp.

[Anonymous]

My pediatrician friend, who is mostly a "fun mom" is very, very against them, citing an alarming number of injuries.

[Anonymous]

See the thread on this from last week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did you inform your Insurance company?

I did and they didn't raise my rates.