10 Essential Safe Trampoline Rules
I grew up with a trampoline in my backyard. Ours didn’t have a safety net around it and rarely had the pads properly lined up. We did just about everything dangerous you can dream up on our trampoline. We also faced lots and lots of painful moments, too. From crashing into each other to landing between the springs, trampolines were dangerous! It’s crazy to hear the staggering stat that over 100,000 ER visits a year are related to trampoline accidents in the US alone!
Despite those memories that run through my mind, making me hesitant to have a trampoline with my own kids, it’s important to know that trampolines don’t have to be dangerous! There are a few rules that every trampoline will warn you of to stay safe, but these are the rules we often ignore and break. This overview will help you understand why you need these basic safety rules for a safe and still fun trampoline experience.
I received a 092 Large Oval Springfree Trampoline for review. All opinions are my own.
10 Essential Safe Trampoline Rules
1. One at a Time – Yes, truly. It may sound like a buzz kill to let just one child on the trampoline at a time. However, if you truly want your children and guests to be safe, this is the first rule you need to enforce. When more than one person is on the trampoline at the same time, they are destined to collide. Smack right into head, shoulders, knees, and toes – it’s no fun to crash into someone else. Most often, it’s the smaller/lighter jumper that ends up hurt.
2. No flips – Flips, especially in untrained jumpers, can bring on the risk of landing awkwardly and causing an injury.
3. Keep the area around the trampoline clear – A traditional trampoline can easily topple with a bit of pressure against any of the edge and even the Springfree trampoline can send a jumper extending beyond the jumping mat surface. Keep a clear area around where you set up your trampoline.
4. No Toys – Keep all toys off the trampoline. Those objects can become a hard surface to crash into when your jumping.
5. Steer Clear – Keep other children and pets away from the sides and underneath the trampoline when someone is jumping.
6. Learn the Basics – Take the time to demonstrate and learn the basic of jumping that will help you stay in control while having fun.
7. Enter/Exit Safely – Use caution when exiting and entering the trampoline and enter using a stable ladder or the help of an adult.
8. Start a Conversation – Open communication is key. Let your children know and understand the importance of trampoline safety and why these rules are in place.
9. No Pets – While the pets might think your trampoline is fun, too, your pets can scratch up your trampoline mat and cause damage. Keep them off of the trampoline.
10. Supervision – Young jumpers especially need supervision. Be watchful that the jumpers are using safe jumping techniques and following all the safe trampoline rules.
Be sure to also inspect your trampoline from time to time to make sure that all of the parts are in proper repair and that there is no damage before you begin to play.
Also, when you have friends and guests over to play, make sure you help both your child and the guests understand the rules to keep everyone safe and liability and danger at bay.
Springfree Trampolines are built to eliminate the most common contact spots that can be dangerous on a traditional trampoline. In fact, their trampolines eliminate 90% of product-related injuries by removing the impact areas. You won’t find springs or even hard poles lining the edge and up the sides of the trampoline.
Instead, Springfree uses a flexible rod that sits completely below the mat and absorbs the bounce which lets you use any part of the jumping surface – all the way up to the edge. Learn more about the unique features of Springfree Trampolines in our first post filled with pictures, or visit the Springfree Trampoline website for more information.
These are excellent tips! My little guy is too young to be on a trampoline yet – but when he is I will turn to tips like these
I remember loving my Nana’s trampoline when I was a kid. I loved jumping! Now I have a big trampoline with a net in my back yard that me and the kids enjoy.
These are some pretty good tips. Safety is key.
These are all really great tips. I’ve been wanting to get a trampoline for the kids but I’ve been too worried about injuries.
How cool, I’ve never actually been on a trampoline. Crazy huh?
That’s so interesting without the springs. I have a trampoline with springs that I love, but this is kind of a neat idea!
They are so much safer than they were when I was a kid, but I still loved playing on it all the time.
Trampolines are so fun and a great way to get some activity in. I love that they have the sideguards now. These are great tips.
We had a trampoline in our back yard when I was a kid. It also didn’t have the protective net around it. There sure were some impressive injuries, too. I know we broke every rule you listed, except the pets rule, when our Mom wasn’t looking. Since then I have noticed several back yards with protected trampolines and that’s a much safer way to go.
Making sure you follow the rules with a trampoline is so important! We have one at home but make sure we are safe.
I used to want one for my kids until I found out they also make your insurance go up, if the carrier even covers if you have one.
As a kid I always wanted one of these as I thought they were so cool.. but as an adult I am now scared to have one… ha! But these rules totally make sense and help put my mind at ease.
When my daughter was little, she had a trampoline and we enforced most of these rules. Although she didn’t like some of them, they were to keep her safe.
Great post and soo important. We were just talking about getting a trampoline for the boys and will ck out your rule list before I decide if we really should get one…thanks for sharing
No toys and no pets on the trampoline is so important! Pets would freak out and wind up hurting themselves or someone else.
Excellent tips and I’m so happy to see that there is a product out there that is so much safer. I kind of have a love/hate thing with trampolines…I love how fun they are, but they’ve always scared me!
We have the one at a time rule. It’s so important to be safe on trampolines. They are fun, but people can get too crazy without rules.
I love trampolines, but I’m always super careful when I’m on one. All it takes is one wrong fall to really hurt yourself.
Trampoline safety is really important. They are so much fun, but if you really think about it, they’re bouncy death traps… IF you’re not careful.
Great tips. Growing up, I had a friend that just shattered his collar bone when he did a flip and landed on the metal ring with his shoulder.
These are great rules. Trampoline safety is super important. While they can be super fun, they can also be SUPER dangerous.
I think back to the stuff we did on our trampoline and I just cringe! These are great rules to enforce.
I know 3 kids who broke their ankles on a trampoline. These are worth a read!
My husband broke his back on my parents trampoline when he was 16!! It was pure horrible and the sound was awful!!! He did a back flip without enough clearance.
This is a really great article because I love trampolines for kids but they are so dangerous that my husband wont let us have one. One of our sons had a bad eye injury from hitting another child’s head when they were jumping at the friends house. These are really good rules to keep it safe and super fun!
I also grew up on a trampoline. The more kids you could pack on it the better for games like crack the egg. My parents want to invest in a trampoline for my boys but my husband refuses. Perhaps with one like Springfree he might budge.
I always told my kids they couldn’t have a trampoline. As a nurse, I have seen way too many injuries. But, this is really a novel concept and I would totally allow them to have a Springfree one. Thanks for introducing me to this brand!
I am in love with Springfree! I don’t have one; but seriously want one! When we moved we got rid of our old trampoline. And I refuse to buy another trampoline because I don’t think they are safe enough. My kids are so missing having a trampoline.
Great rules to keep in mind. Trampolines can be dangerous if not used with care.
We like to keep the instruction manual, and all warnings in or on the trampoline. I think the biggest one people forget, though, is to keep toys out of there. Landing on one can really hurt!
We had a trampoline with a net growing up and it was so nice. It makes it a lot safer, and we never got hurt on it. Great tips!
There are some I agree with and other I do not. One kid at a time?! Where’s the fun in that? If I applied that rule my boys would NEVER use it. Agreed on no pets…Supervision is a must. No toy. Definitely no toys that can poke eyes out or give nasty bruises (no balls either). No flips? While I cannot do them I think flips would be fun…one just must be careful.
I want a trampoline so bad, but here in MA, they make homeowners insurance double if you have one, so we don’t.
I love that this trampoline doesn’t have springs and is so safe! We’ve had a broken arm and a broken ankle in my family from the trampoline.
100,000 ER visits a year yikes! We use the net and I prefer 1 at a time. Esp since my son is little. I’ve popped a knee out jumping with more than one.
Thanks for these tips! I so wish I knew about this company before we purchased ours last week!
This is great and thanks for sharing. You never really know how dangerous these really are till you read and hear from others.
Thanks for the great tips! Wow, 100,000 er visits a year for trampoline injuries! I’m so glad that they now have the springfree trampolines! I was always nervous every time my son was on his old traditional trampoline and now his son, who is 4, wants one. I’ll feel much better with him having a springfree trampoline!