Are Bouncy Houses Safe for Toddlers?
The shrieks of glee and shouts of pure joy are part and parcel of the opportunity a child has to jump and leap around in a bounce house. While those squeals of excitement can make the bounce house seem innocent, inflatable play structures can be anything but. That doesn't mean that you should ban your toddler from ever setting foot in a bounce house again, but it does mean that you need to take certain precautions before turning your toddler loose to jump to his heart's content.
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Statistics
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Between 1990 and 2005, 64,657 children under the age of 17 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for injuries related to bounce houses, according to a 2012 article published in "Pediatrics," the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics. And the piece goes on to say that the problem is getting worse, that there was a 15-fold increase in bounce-house-related injuries between 1995 and 2010. This translates to a child being treated for an injury related to jumping in a bounce house every 46 minutes, which is about 31 children per day. The mean age of children being treated was just over 7 years of age, with slightly more boys being injured than girls.
Dangers
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Aside from general bruises and bumps related to any type of toddler play, bounce houses pose even more grave dangers in terms of injuries. According to the AAP, the most common bounce-house-related injuries are bone fractures, followed by muscle sprains or strains. Most of these injuries occurred in the lower body. Children might be exposed to high levels of lead paint when playing in bounce houses, too, according to the State of California Department of Justice. Because there is no safe exposure to lead, it's essential that parents check lawsuit and safety information before allowing their toddlers to jump in a bounce house.
Bounce House Safety
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Despite the dangers associated with bounce houses, many toddlers will continue to play in them. If your toddler is one of them, it's crucial to take steps to make the experience as safe as possible. Always check manufacturer information and recall information if you purchase a bounce house for your home. If you go to a separate location that features bounce houses, research the company's safety record before letting your toddler jump. Always supervise your child when he's in a bounce house, recommends Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson, writing on the Seattle Children's Hospital website. Don't bounce with your child either, because your weight can throw your child's balance off. Don't let your toddler jump with much older children either, for that same reason.
Additional Considerations
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Help your toddler get in and out of the bounce house. This helps reduce your toddler's risk of falling and bumping his head, Swanson advises. Keep in mind that 50 percent of injuries in bounce houses occur when parents are watching, so you need to provide enhanced supervision. Stand at the sides of the bounce house and remind your toddler of the rules, which should include jumping alone, never holding hands to jump and not jumping up against the sides of the bounce house.
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