Swingset or trampoline?

We have 3 kids ages 6-3-23 mos. and for awhile now I have been wanting to get them either a swingset or trampoline for the backyard.

Right now kmart has a good deal on a 12 foot trampoline with the safety net for only $229

They also have a good size swingset for $160.

The 2 oldest and I want to get the tramploine but my husband would rather get the swingset( or a motorcycle :rolleyes: ).

To those that have had either one or both what are your experiences like? Which is the best choice? Do you need to move the trampoline indoors in the winter?

TIA :) Robyn

I don't know anything about trampolines. My kids had a swingset when they wee little. If they would swing a little high the legs would lift up so my husband just anchered them down so we didn't have to worry about it flipping over.

I personally like the trampoline better. When we had a swingset, they only thing they did was swing anyhow (didn't use the slide or teeter totter) so we built a big A frame and made a 2 swing set for under $60 LOL

BUT with you having little ones, it may not be a good choice. I have always heard that kids under 4 shouldn't use a trampoline. (something to do with not yet having good strength in ther necks to support a jump and fall of that type) ... that being said my kids jumped and fell all the time w/o a trampoline, but I still waited. I don't know if there were any studies on it or not... could very well be an old wives tale as far as I know LOL

The main reason I got the trampoline was to help my DD get some weight off this summer. If you have an academy sports neara you, we got a 12ft (that took us 5 hours to put together) for $189 (tax included) that is their regualr price :D

I'd say go with the swingset. They will probably get tons more use out of it. But that is just what I would do with little ones that age. My mom has a trampoline and the boys go up there to use it- it drives me batty. Makes me a nervous wreck. My kids are 10,5 and 3.

Swing set hands down. I don't care if it does have a safety net. More children are injured every year from trampolines than any other piece of equipment.

Better than a swing set, however...would be some kind of jungle gym unit where they could climb.

But that's just my personal opinion though.

Check with your homeowners insurance carrier before getting a trampoline! Some carriers will not cover or will raise your rates with a trampoline.

Forgot to add: We have a swingset/play fort thingy and my DS LOVES it. He even plays on it in winter.

Swing set. Even with a safety net it is too easy to hurt yourself on a trampoline. Get the trampoline in about three years, when they are tired of the swing set. They need to be a little older and weigh a bit more to really enjoy the trampoline.

The first thing I was asked when shopping around recently for cheaper homeowner ins was "Do you have either a trampoline or swimming pool?" I understood the pool, but not the trampolines, so I asked them why they asked that. They said they wouldn't ins. anyone w/ a trampoline because of the liablity if a neighbor kid gets hurt on your trampoline. Net or no net either.

So, we went with a swingset and I have an inhome daycare and all the kids love it. For $299, you can get a very very nice one with lots of different options besides just swings.

Good luck!

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Trampoline Safety

To help you make and informed decision we have performed an online survey and compiled some statistics from the experts on safety.

Online Survey:

Super-Fun trampolines performed an online survey lasting nearly a full year. The intent of our survey was to find out if trampolines were safe when compared to other sports. We also wanted to find out what you can do to help ensure your kids are safe and happy when jumping on a trampoline.

Our online survey had a total of two thousand three hundred three (2,303) respondents.

Here are some facts based on our survey results:

The most common sports in order of preference are:

#1. Bicycling
#2. Basketball
#3. Trampolining
#4. Soccer
#5. Baseball/Softball
#6. In-Line Skating
#7. Gymnastics
#8. Football
#9. Skateboarding
#10. Snowboarding
#11. Ice Skating/Hockey
#12. Sledding

The average number of hours spent on these sports activities each week:

Trampolining 3 hours per week
Bicycling 2 hours per week
Basketball 2 hours per week
Soccer 2 hours per week
Gymnastics 2 hours per week
Baseball/Softball 2 hours per week
Football 2 hours per week
In-Line Skating 1 hour per week
Skateboarding 1 hour per week
Snowboarding 1 hour per week
Ice Skating/Hockey 1 hour per week
Sledding 1 hour per week

The number of serious injuries for each sport reported in our online survey:

Bicycling 62
Football 56
Trampolining 37
Baseball/Softball 37
Soccer 34
Basketball 25
Snow Skiing/Boarding 24
Gymnastics 24
Skateboarding 23
Ice Skating/Hockey 17
In-Line Skating 17
Sledding 11

Our observations based on the data presented in our survey:

Our respondents said they used their trampoline three hour per week on average. This means they use their trampoline 33% more often than riding their bicycle and 66% more often than in-line skating.

We believe trampolining is like any other sport, precautions and safety must be observed. It is clear that injuries can occur in all sports activities, based on our survey results trampolines do not appear to provide any greater potential for risk or injury. In fact we can clearly see that bicycling and football offer a much greater risk of injury. I don’t think I have heard anyone say we can’t let our children ride their bike because they may get injured.

Our survey also looked into some of the factors involved in trampoline accidents. As noted above there were 37 serious injuries. When we look at these injuries in detail this is what we observed:

Average number of children on trampoline with safety nets – 3
Average number of children on trampoline without safety nets – 3
Percentage of trampolines with safety pads installed – 66%
Percentage of trampolines with safety nets installed – 17%
Percentage of injuries with safety nets installed – 42%
Percentage of injuries without safety nets installed – 58%
Average number of jumpers when an injury occurred – 3
Percentage of injuries when jumping off the trampoline – 24%
Percentage of injuries from falling off the trampoline – 34%
Percentage of injuries with water on the trampoline – 12%

Based on the information noted above we can see that 42 percent of injuries occurred with a safety net installed but only 17 percent of the trampolines had safety nets. This information may indicate that more injuries actually occur when there is a safety net installed. We also see nearly 58 percent of the injuries were caused my jumping or falling off of the trampoline and most injuries occur when there are three people jumping at the same time.

We looked at this information to find out how we can improve trampoline safety and help to take away some of the “bad wrap” trampolining has been given over the years. We always thought trampolines can be safe and fun, now our trampoline survey clearly shows that trampoline jumping is just as safe if not safer than many other sports.

We can cut down the number of injuries drastically by limiting the number of children jumping on the trampoline at the same time. We can also reduce the number of injuries substantially by dismounting the trampoline properly.

We have compiled some statistics from the experts on safety to back this up.

Directly from the professionals:
According to a Failure Analysis Associates Inc., study of comparative risks in childhood sports and everyday activities, more injuries happen in the center of a trampoline than when someone bounces off and lands on the ground.

The risk of an injury requiring hospitalization from riding a bike is triple that of using a trampoline.

"You're several times more likely to wind up in the hospital from riding a bicycle than from bouncing on a trampoline," But they haven't suggested not riding bicycles."

"They do look like they're a lot of fun, she says. "But they're not toys. And I do think that a lot of parents and families look at them as a toy, the same as a swing set would be or a play house in the back yard."

Derek Hanson, head coach of the University of Calgary tumbling team, believes trampolines are good for kids, but he says if parents are going to buy one, they should take a course in trampoline safety first.

"Kids get hurt on trampolines," he says, "for one of two reasons, I think. Normally. There's obviously different exceptions. One is just more than one person on a trampoline. That's the number one rule that we teach. The other type of injury, I feel, is kids doing things that are above their skill level. Their friend can do a flip so they're going to try one without knowing the progressions. And I believe that's when they get hurt."

Hanson teaches kids those progressions, starting with bouncing while staying in the middle of the trampoline, then moving up to the different jumps and landing positions.

"So," he says, "those are all the basics that I would teach a child. And if they can't do all of those, I would not even begin the progressions for any kind of somersaulting skill where they would be flipping over their head at all."

If a child is on a trampoline with other users (especially if the other users are heavier than the child) as the other individuals come down and recoil back up, the child is coming down and their body meets this trampoline mat coming up with great velocity. There is a tremendous amount of energy transferred to that child's foot and ankle and leg. And that's a setup for injury."

Many people are surprised to learn that the majority of injuries–70 percent–happen on the bed of the trampoline. Only 30 per cent result from falls off the trampoline. So even if a parent is supervising a child, there's little they can do to prevent an injury.



Please watch for the following basic precautions:

1. Ensure that your trampoline is properly assembled in a level area with at least 10 unobstructed feet (3 meters) on all sides and a minimum of 20 unobstructed feet (6 meters) above the trampoline bouncing surface. The area directly below the bouncing surface must be kept clear at all times.

2. Perform the 'Stop Bounce' after every skill or sequence of skills, or whenever you deviate from the center of the trampoline.

3. Never jump off at trampoline, always climb off.

4. Keep your bouncing low and under control. Consistently land in the center of the trampoline.

5. Allow only one person on the trampoline at a time.

6. Do not leave children unsupervised on the trampoline.

7. Avoid bouncing for long periods of time and do not bounce when you are tired.

8. Do not use your backyard trampoline when under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

9. Ensure the spotters are always stationed around the trampoline.

10. Master the specified pre-requisites before attempting a new skill.

11. Do not attempt back flips (back somersaults), multiple somersaults or twisting somersaults on your backyard trampoline.

Dear Owners: be safe and not sorry. Common sense safety rules are a requirement in all sports. A trampoline used properly and sensibly is excellent recreation... for all ages.

Great info Catrina! :)

I am actually surprised that the injuries from skateboarding is so low on the list!

You might want to check with your insurance agent before getting a trampoline. Some companies don't want to issue policies for homeowners with them.

We just bought a 14' trampoline @ WalMart the other night. My son is 6 and he has been playing on it every day as soon as he gets home from school(me too:D We didn't get a net for ours(yet). They had marked the trampolines down to $138 and the nets were $70(we are waiting for these to go down also).

We also have a swingset(we got at Kmart a few years ago), it hardly ever gets played on though. I like the trampoline better because we can all get on it.

As soon as we got a trampoline,the swingset was no longer played on.One thing to consider if you have any "neighbor" children........your house WILL be the main attraction if you have a trampoline.And it can be dangerous if they don't follow the rules.The neighbor children are allowed to jump on ours (when my daughter is playing on it) ,but with rules.I make their parents sign a form I typed up that states the rules,and also lets them know that I am not a babysitter and will not be constantly watching them.It also says that if I catch them breaking my rules,they will not be allowed on it anymore.Period.The children know that I don't fool around when it comes to the trampoline.Personally,my nerves might be a little calmer if we didn't have it-LOL.And we take ours down every winter.

My 4 yr old granddaughter has both. She has fallen off the swingset a few times and won't play on it now but she loves the trampoline. It also has the net around it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by chanbe

I make their parents sign a form I typed up that states the rules,and also lets them know that I am not a babysitter and will not be constantly watching them

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just wanted to tell you that i was told that those home-made forms don't mean nothing in court. you can have parents sign those all day long saying that you won't be held responsible and all that BUT if something actually happens it don't mean nothing in court. it's like those trucks on the highways that say "not responsible for flying rocks", you can say anything you want but it don't really mean nothing unfortunately. we have a pool, a trampoline, and a swingset. the only thing that will protect our liability is to not have other people's children over here, but then what fun would that be. we are just careful and have rules.

Quote:

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ust wanted to tell you that i was told that those home-made forms don't mean nothing in court.

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Our forms are more to let the PARENTS know our rules and to also makes sure they're aware that their kids are jumping on the trampoline.It seems like the "threat" of not being allowed to jump anymore,makes the kids more aware and they are more careful.

i would go with swingset b/c they are little. you could get a trampoline later if you still want one. (i am scared of trampolines, even with the enclosures b/c i am afraid of injuries, but i guess they can get hurt on swingsets, too)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by chanbe

Our forms are more to let the PARENTS know our rules and to also makes sure they're aware that their kids are jumping on the trampoline.It seems like the "threat" of not being allowed to jump anymore,makes the kids more aware and they are more careful.

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ok :)

We have both. A brand new wooden swing set/play thing..slide etc and a trampoline.I can't get my three year old to get off the tramp when she is on it,that's where she heads first "to yump" lol

this is so funny that I seen this on here because I just posted earlier on another board,saffy, that I was out jumping on ours today.......and them suckers will kill you.....lol....I mean if your out of shape....like me........lol...........but anyway
we have both and they play on both...i have an 8 and 2 yr old and they absolutely love it...will not go on it without mom or dad but love it.....i hold my 2 yr olds hands and bounce all over the place for about a min....seems like forever.....lol....but we dont let other kids on it yet....fraid they will get hurt....we take ours down in the winter, last longer, and you just about need a man or very strong I mean strong women to put all the springs on...there is a lot of springs.....lol you can do a lot of them but like the last 10 or so are sooooooooo hard to get on......but get what you want to get ....your money ...your family ...you know if they act like heathens or not....lol...if they are accident prone or not... just pray over them before they jump

we have the wooden swing set for my boys 7,5, and 19months. has a slide on it with a place for them to sit before they slide and dh put a basket ball goal on the end. they all three love it. even the baby climbs the ladder and slides down the slide head first and just has a ball. im workin on getting a trampoline in the next year or so. but there is danger in both. last summer my 5 yr ds decided he was superman and jumped halfway down the slide to the ground, his brother and cousin was jumpin off the swings and he thought he could do the same from the slide. needless to say superman got a broken wrist. so see they get hurt no matter what you have. but we chose the wooden swings for several reasons, i can go out there and swing and it doesnt buckle in the middle lol and the legs stay on the ground and it wont rust away.
good luck in whatever one you decide and im sure the kids will have a ball.