No backyard trampoline setup eliminates injury risk. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children avoid recreational trampolines; supervised training with professional coaches is a different setting. It advises that children under six should never jump.
If your household nevertheless allows an older child to use one, these precautions reduce particular hazards. A net or padding does not make multiple jumpers or stunts safe.
1. Allow only one jumper at a time
Do not allow a group of children to bounce together. Collisions and “double bouncing” can injure a smaller jumper even without anyone falling off. An adult should actively supervise and enforce the rule, rather than only being somewhere nearby.
Keep everyone out from underneath the trampoline. Stop use before retrieving a toy or checking equipment.
2. Prohibit flips and risky access
No somersaults, flips or jumping onto the trampoline from another structure. Head and neck landings can have serious consequences. Do not treat a trampoline as a place to practice tricks without qualified instruction and the appropriate training setting.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission’s trampoline guidance also emphasizes one jumper and avoiding somersaults. Make the rules clear before anyone climbs on.
3. Use the specified location and setup
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for level placement, clearance, anchoring and assembly. Keep the equipment clear of trees, buildings and other obstacles. Do not improvise supports to compensate for an uneven site or assume grass alone makes a fall harmless.
Check the manual for weather restrictions and secure storage. Stop use when conditions or equipment are unsuitable.
4. Inspect pads, enclosure and structure
Before use, inspect the mat, frame, springs, attachment points, padding and enclosure. Keep the entrance closed as intended. Replace damaged or missing safety components with appropriate parts before allowing jumping.
Padding should cover the hard contact points specified by the manufacturer. Do not bypass an enclosure, improvise structural repairs or continue using a mat with a growing tear. A component that is present but worn out is not dependable protection.
5. Prevent unsupervised access
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for securing the trampoline when it is not in use. Remove an access ladder where appropriate so young children cannot simply climb on. Make sure visiting families understand the same rules.
If supervision, maintenance or access control cannot be maintained, stop using the trampoline. Choosing another outdoor activity remains an option; these measures do not guarantee that a child will avoid injury.
