What Size Trampoline Should I Buy?

You need to read this first:

http://aapnews.aappublications.org/content/29/4/29.6.full

Trampolines are never OK for home use. Yes, tons of people have them. Yes tons of kids jump on them and never get hurt. But then again, tons of kids jump on them and DO get hurt, paralyzed - even killed. That is why the experts have clearly stated that they are dangerous and it's not recommended to EVER have one. And the safety net doesn't mean a thing. It only decreases the risk of injury by a microscopic amount. Do your kids a favor and get them something else. There's a lot of other fun outdoor toys that are a lot safer and still give kids plenty of fun exercise.

I agree with Jennifer G. None. There are around One MILLION Er visits every summer due to trampoline injuries. No thanks. I'm a nurse and I see more of these injuries every summer than just about any other injury in kids. I had a little girl in last night who was 7 years old and suffered a spine injury. She was the only one jumping on a netted, padded trampoline, but simply landed the wrong way. So sad and totally preventable if more parents would head the experts who have clearly said they are not safe for home use. Yes you can get hurt on bikes and swings, but the reason trampolines have been issued a warning is because you are more likely to suffer injury from a trampoline than from these other forms of play and it's more likely to be more serious. It has to do with risk versus benefit and for trampolines the risks are greater than the benefits.

I'm going to be one of those negative nellies.
1) the person below may not have had their insurance go up (or be cancelled) because their company does not know about it. Many companies will not issue insurance if you have a trampoline.
2) the american pediatric association is trying to get them banned.
3) if you do buy one, having more than 1 child jump at a time is far more dangerous. The physics means that you can set up harmonics that make the trampoline get as hard as concrete. So they jump up x feet in the air and they land on what is essentially pavement.

I would never buy one.

I am going to say this and then be done.

Over 168,000 kids get hurt on trampolines each year, sometimes they die. most of the time they get broken legs, ripped out teeth, broken fingers, and that type of thing. They can break their backs and necks and other things that don't heal too.

The main thing that causes these accidents is kids jumping at the same time. So if you want your kids to jump at the same time please just be aware, that is the most dangerous thing you can let them do other than do flips and tricks.

The American Pediatric Association would love for them to be against the law to sell to homes. They are the most dangerous thing a parent can buy their children.

That said....

make sure your home owners insurance does not prohibit them from being on the property, if the kids get hurt do not be surprised if none of your insurance will cover any part of their bill too. If a neighbors child gets on it and they even get a scratch those parents can sue you for everything and get it. If their child gets hurt in a more serious way you will be paying out of pocket for every bill they have too because your home owners Will not cover any injuries on a trampoline.

So other that setting your children up for serious injury and yourself for law suits from neighbors and other family members trampolines are a great deal of fun.

I believe ours was a 14ft. We had it several years before we sold it to another family for a Christmas present for their children.

My daughter LOVED the trampoline and if you drive through my neighborhood you'll see many of them.

Be warned though.. sometimes this is a hot topic with people giving you tonds of negatives. Of course you can get hurt on a trampoline... but you can also get hurt on a swingset, bike, walking across the street as well. I had strict rules to be followed on our trampoline and we never had any issues. Our insurance did not go up either.

We got ours with the enclosure at Academy.

Happy jumping!

I think ours is 14 feet and it has the padding and netting. The manufacturers will tell you to only allow one jumper at a time, though I have allowed two or three, if they are small and not being crazy. If a kid is trying to do tricks, I pull him/her off the trampoline. I do not need an injury.

Our insurance has not changed but we also have an umbrella policy for other reasons that would cover things like a child being hurt on our property. I am not sure if that factors.

Ours was 14 feet.

You do not want them all jumping at the same time! Every time someone bounces it can and usually will, send the other people flying. It is stupidly dangerous to have more than one person on a trampoline at the same time.

The most I would allow on at the same time is two and they must be around the same size!

We have a 15ft one and it's large enough for several kids to jump on. We love it!

I am not in the same boat as I am sure a lot of the mama's on here are. We HAD a trampoline and LOVED IT!!!! Never had any injuries, had a great time, jumped on it in the rain, snow, sun...it was used almost every day. My boys would bring balls out on it and kick them around while jumping, they would jump when it snowed and make the snow "jump", they would put a sprinkler under it and jump and get wet, they would take their stuffed buddies out there and blankets and "camp" with them....like I said, we loved it.
I would get the biggest you could and make SURE that you get the net that goes all the way around.
Have fun!
L.

I had 8 kids at home when we got a 12 foot trampoline. The kids had a blast on it. I had six kids on it at one time and they were having a wonderful time.

I'd say 12 foot is large enough, and anything over that is just a bonus.

Good luck to you and yours.

I am not a big fan of trampolines. Was going to get a small one several
years ago. I was having coffee with a friend who owns their own insurance
business, and told her what I was getting. Trampoline ended right there.
If your insurance company finds out you have one, they give a warning and
it must be taken down. If they come back and find it still up; your insurance
is cancelled. The dangers are so great. She has had many, many claims
over the years. Some of the injuries are devastating.

at least 14. if you had the money, a 17 is awesome but I usually only see them in gyms.