Jumping on the sofa or bed may seem fun to a young child, but are trampolines safe for 3-year-olds too? Granted, there have been a lot of sensationalized cases of children getting injured with a trampoline. However, is it worth having a child miss out on the fun that they can have with a trampoline?
The quick answer is it is relatively safe with direct supervision. As a matter of fact, there are trampolines specifically created for small children only.
In the end, it’s actually a choice between having your child jump on the bed or sofa, or on a kiddie trampoline specifically designed for this type of activity. In the next sections, you will learn the risks involved, and if they actually apply to a toddler. I’m hoping that by the end of this article, you will have a clear understanding if trampolining is right for your child.
Are Trampolines Safe For 3 Year Olds (or younger)?
It’s natural for toddlers to be curious about a lot of stuff, and this includes the sensation of bouncing. They would jump on the sofa or bed when they can. They laugh the most when you throw them in the air. It’s only natural that jumping on a trampoline will give them one of the times of their life.
Did you know that aside from being fun, a trampoline is very beneficial to a child’s physical development too? It is one of the best ways to develop and improve their motor skills. They naturally learn to find their center of gravity as they bounce up and down, trying to keep themselves upright.
A trampoline also helps to burn out your child’s excess energy. This allows your toddler to focus on more important stuff like learning. It also helps them to experience a night of restful sleep.
Trampoline Injuries
The most common trampoline injuries happen due to one of the following situations:
- Wrong landing after jumping too high or doing some stunts
- When hitting or being hit by another person on
- Falling off the trampoline or landing on the springs
Why Your Toddler Is Safe From These Injuries
Fortunately, you need not to worry about your toddler experiencing these injuries because of the following reasons:
- Your toddler cannot jump as high. In fact, they can only do tiny bounces.
- I have yet to see a toddler that can flip and do somersaults.
- A kiddie trampoline is only up to a foot off the ground.
- You can always choose to buy a trampoline that makes use of elastic bands instead of springs
When using a home trampoline, AAP recommends that you should have one jumper at a time. Somersaults should not be done or encouraged, and the trampoline should be checked often for any damage. These are very sensible precautions that a lot of people often forget.
Another practical reason why you should get your toddler his or her own trampoline is that jumping on the bed or sofa is definitely a lot more dangerous. Since they are not designed to accommodate this activity, it’s a lot easier for your child to lose his or her balance and fall off to the floor.
Are Mini Trampolines Safe For Toddlers?
If you already own a mini trampoline or rebounder, you can certainly have your child use it too. However, you need to supervise him well. Since rebounders are specifically designed for fitness and moderate to heavy bouncing, its durability is more than enough for your little one.
You will need to help ease his way into the trampoline by holding his hand while jumping on the first few tries. This is because fitness trampolines are bouncier than the kiddie versions, plus they don’t have any built-in handlebars.
If your toddler enjoys jumping on your rebounder most of the time, I would recommend getting one specifically created for kids like the Little Tikes 3’ trampoline. It uses elastic bands instead of springs, has a foam-padded handlebar for support. The jumping mat offers a firm bounce which is best for little kids.
Little Tikes 3’ Trampoline
Wrapping It Up
Toddler years are very important to your child’s motor development. It is a time when they are very active. With too much excess energy, they can end up being cranky and experience restless sleep. One of the best ways to burn out these excess energies is with a trampoline.
So are trampolines safe for 3 year olds? The answer is yes and it’s very beneficial to their health as well. It is certainly better than suddenly finding your child trying to walk up the stairs, or hearing a loud thud only to find that she fell off the sofa while jumping.
As long as you don’t get to have your teen jumping at the same time with your 3yr old, it should be safe.