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Bookswithtea
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I've held off for 16 mothering years on getting a back yard trampoline. I've been thinking lately about what good exercise they are and I am wondering if maybe my "no trampolines" rule is overly cautious? What do y'all think?
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teachingmyown
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We have had our trampoline for 5 years and it is still used daily. I do worry some, but our kids have a great time. We do have a net, which eliminates the falling off hazard. We do try to enforce some safety rules, such as number of kids and "moves" they can do.
It has been especially beneficial for my ds who needs that outlet. He enjoys his time alone out there, fighting orks and such! 
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Molly
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Erin
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We've had one for four years and someone is on it constantly. Accidents can happen and have, nothing to serious thankfully. But it is such a vital outlet for my children particularly my boys. I'm afraid our mats have long disintegrated and we never had nets. 
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Becky Parker
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We have one too and the kids, even the 15yo, use it regularly in the summer. We do have a net which I think offers false security... My ds put his foot through it quite easily last year and I can't help but think that if it was his whole body, that would go through it too. (This ds is 15 and heavy.)
We're pretty tight with our rules which makes us a bit unpopular with the neighbor kids. We only allow one at a time for serious jumping, although I let all our little ones sometimes eat their lunch on it. We also don't allow the kids to put the sprinkler under it when they jump. I have to admit, that sounds like fun on a hot day, but we're afraid it will get too slippery. It probably is not so good for the trampoline either.
We have friends whose kids camped out on the trampoline one night!
Editing to add ditto on the ork-fighting Molly! 
The trampoline is especially beneficial for my ds with ADHD.
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Nedra in So. CA
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MaryM
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Books there are quite a few threads on the pros and cons of trampolines in the archives, too. I think you would find some helpful thoughts there.
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Bookswithtea
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I ran a google search the other day on this topic. Overwhelmingly, the responses were negative (including a AAP call for a complete ban on all home trampolines), but obviously, parents all over the nation are loving them, as you can see them in every other yard in suburban neighborhoods. 
Thanks for the head's up on other threads, Mary. I'll run a search, here, too.
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mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and due 9/10
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Tami
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I know nothing about them, but my kids went to a friend's house and told me that their trampoline is sunk so that it's flush with the ground.
Fwiw, Books.
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Maria B.
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We've had our trampoline for 11 years and love it. It gets constant use from young and old. Like many things for kids (and adults) you have to establish safety rules and make sure they are followed.
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teachingmyown
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Becky Parker wrote:
Editing to add ditto on the ork-fighting Molly!
The trampoline is especially beneficial for my ds with ADHD. |
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I think most of the playing done on the trampoline doesn't involve any jumping. The girls play fairies and pretend it's their house. Ds defends Middle Earth. They all love to play Marco Polo! With the net, it makes a nice little cage for the toddlers, too!
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KackyK
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I'll be the bummer one...we don't do trampolines. We know personally of two people who have become paralyzed from jumping, NOT from falling off. One is a mother and was simply jumping along side her young daughter when her legs sort of just slipped when she went to land and she broke her back. She was in a wheelchair for over a decade (this is a friend of my mom's) and just recently I believe has been able to get to a walker.
Another is a teen friend of a friend's daughter who was paralyzed when he broke his neck. Same thing, slipped while jumping. Unfortunately the poor guy was alone jumping (yep against the rules) and laid out on the trampoline for hours waiting for his parents to return home from work.
Also, my brother is a radiologist and has a collection of injuries from trampolines (sans names!). He said he is going to use them to show his dc when and if they ask to get on a trampoline.
It's all about what risk you can live with. You can find positive and negative about anything and everything.
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Kristie 4
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We don't do them either...my dad, a former phys-ed teacher, and mom, a nurse, have just been very emotional about the dangers of them- so we have a croquet set instead!!
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Bookswithtea
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I ran a search here. Sigh...I don't know what to do. I know someone who is a paraplegic because of a trampoline fall. She was a college gymnast and did not fall off, just fell wrong.  That's why I have never allowed my kids on trampolines.
But you know how the experts are always telling us how everything is dangerous for us? Several years ago everyone was up in arms about the dangers of SUVs (and 15 pass. vans) because they are top heavy and can roll? Dh says that's because people just need to learn that its not a compact car and must be handled differently. He says its a matter of common sense.
I kind of thought the ban on baby walkers several years ago was a little stupid, even though we never used one. Being careful that there aren't steps or stairs in baby's way is common sense, too.
And regarding the ER visits...many doctors won't allow all sorts of natural and non invasive childbirth practices because of what they've seen in difficult/not normal birthing situations.
I've often wondered what exactly our family friend was doing on the trampoline, given she was a gymnast. Maybe she was trying something very difficult that normal children wouldn't even attempt?
So I guess what I'm wondering is if the trampoline issue is in the category of overly cautious and this just requires some common sense and parental supervision, or if its one of those things that is truly dangerous and actually should be banned.
From my google search, its not primarily falling off that accounts for the majority of trampoline injuries. I think its a combination of falling off, falling around the springs in awkward ways, and falling *wrong*. Bones breaking are the most common injury. Then again, tons of kids climb trees (without nets and spotters) and end up with broken bones, too.
I love the idea of the fun and the good exercise. I'm horrified at the thought of a child (mine or someone else's) being seriously injured.
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teachingmyown
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Books,
This is only my perspective, and I have not had to personally face a tragic situation, so it may be limited.
So many things that are good for our children and that they want to do to be active carry a risk of serious injury. When I was young, I knew a family that lost a son who fell out of a tree. It wasn't even very high, he just fell "wrong". I cringe when my kids climb trees, and pray, but they do climb trees. A big part of the mom in me would rather they stay put on the ground, but I know that they need to move and climb and jump.
I am pretty close to being a safety nut, compared to other families I know. My kids always have helmets for anything with wheels, even in our flat driveway. Ds broke his collarbone on a scooter because he broke a rule and went down the hill of our driveway. They still ride scooters, I just keep reinforcing the rules. I don't put kids under 13 in the front seat and I am a stickler for car seat laws, even if the "experts" may have gone a little overboard with the regulations.
So, I "know" the trampoline is a risk, and potentially a big one. I discourage flips because I do worry about landing on their necks. Other than that I pray, just like when they do anything that has a risk.
I think you make a good point about doctors and their reactions about everything from trampolines to natural childbirth to vaccines. They see the worst, and I can imagine would feel irresponsible encouraging something they perceive as dangerous. If just one child out of five hundred slips and breaks his neck, than that is too many. On the other hand, our country has come to the point of protecting our children so much that there are school systems that don't allow running on playgrounds!
Surely there is a middle ground.
I will pray for your decision. Your kids will be fine without a trampoline. They will be fine with a trampoline and strict usage rules. They probably will be fine with a trampoline and your basic safety rules.
One last thought, we don't have "neighbor" kids. This would probably change my opinion on owning one.
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Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
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Becky Parker
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Good point about climbing trees. My kids, when they aren't on the tramp, are in the trees or climbing across the top of the swingset (the top is a set of monkey bars), or in the river with kayaks. I remember doing similiar things as a child and some of my fondest memories are from playing in the trees,or hiking through the woods that were farther from home than I would even think of letting my kids go. I understand the fear of injury though. That is why we have pretty strict rules. I know they wont help in some of the situations mentioned above, but it does rule out some issues.
On another note, and I don't mean to hi-jack but ...
It is troubling to me that the kids today are rarely outside. We live on a street with many school children but we rarely see them. My kids are outside ALOT and so we are known as the family "with all the kids". We only have 5. They're just outside, being noisy, running, playing and being kid-like. If one of my kids wants to play with a neighbor, or vise-versa, we have to call and set up the "play date" or whatever.
I think kids lose some of their natural creativity when they are inside playing electronic games or watching tv so much. I rarely let my kids go to neighbor's houses because I know that's all they are going to do there, sometimes for hours on end.
Wow, this is way OFF topic. Sorry about that. I guess I started rambling again!
Back to trampolines - I'm all for anything that encourages the kids to actively play in the great outdoors. But, I'm also aware of the dangers and realize that they need supervision and lots of prayers to their guardian angels.
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Books,
I have been following this thread and have been wondering about this.
***My best friend had an insurance guy come out and tell her that they would revoke her house insurance if they did not get rid of their trampoline so before you purchase one make sure it won't effect your home insurance. (Needless to say, that my friend gave her trampoline away)
***(Disclaimer)My dad is a neurosurgeon and so I am jaded here and have his influence in my mind but for our family they are a no no. I just don't watch my children close enough and at ALL times for it to be safe. My oldest is 9 and youngest is 18 months so I would need to be standing there at all times for me to be comfortable with it in our yard. My kids have jumped on one at others houses and like them but they always have been very supervised 
Good luck deciding Books!
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Mimi
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Bookswithtea
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Molly, and Becky, your posts are really making me think, especially in light of the Gatto thread thats been going on for a few weeks now. I wonder if this is at all related to the idea that we as a culture don't let children take real risks anymore...And as a corollary, I wonder if "extreme sports" and the current passion for extreme roller coasters would be so popular if kids and teens had real dangers and real adventures in their lives?
back to trampolines...Honestly, its the exercise issue that is drawing me. We already have a pool, so my kids are used to strict rules with that. I have three kids over 9, and they are the ones that find it harder to get exercise naturally. The littles run around constantly and play on the swingset. The oldest does lift weights and run sometimes, but when I send the 9 and 12 yr olds out to play, they usually end up sitting on a swing chatting rather than being active. Dh worries that while they eat well, they aren't working off the calories because their hobbies consist of knitting, sewing, reading, etc...  He has a point!
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teachingmyown
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From an exercise point of view, I am not sure that you girls would necessarily get out there and jump enough to be of benefit. What about bike riding? Can you send your 9 and 12 yr olds out together with the instruction to go for a ride? I see this problem with dd13. She plays baseball, but other than that she isn't very active.
For the younger crowd, this is a nice alternative. We had one similar years ago that we kept inside and it was fun and safe.
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Molly
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KauaiCatholic
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I was going to stay out of this thread because everyone else is covering the main topics. but I haven't seen this one mentioned yet: issues of bone density/flexibility and the dangers of young children bouncing at the same time as heavier/older kids. a friend warned me about this and I don't remember the exact details, but it was along the lines of how young bones flex differently so there is a greater danger of breakage when landing; something to do with frequency of the bounce waves? it seemed scientifically sound, even though I'm not describing it well. anyone else hear this?
FWIW, I am a formerly-anti-trampoline-mom who finally broke down (we have a very small yard and my DS needs help getting active) and am very glad I did; ours is used daily for a variety of exercise/adventure activities and also makes a really handy platform for an outdoor "classroom"  . yes, I am still paranoid and bark at them a lot but we have a net and very strict rules. so far so good.
ETA: I use the bone warning as the basis for our No. 1 rule: no bouncing at the same time. when they're both on it, one must be sitting at the edge when the other one jumps. my DC are young enough we don't have to worry about serious acrobatics yet. oh, and as far as exercise, "jogging" around the perimeter has helped my tending-toward-chubby son slim down. best of all, he doesn't think it's exercise.
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teachingmyown
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I have heard too about not letting little ones get bounced around with big ones for the same reasoning (I think) that you gave. When little guys are on, the big guys can run around but cannot really bounce. I also found that allowing more than one or two jumpers often led to heads getting knocked together. So, one child jumps and the others form a circle around the outside.
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4Real Forums : Mothering and Family Life
Topic: trampolines?
