Bounce houses have become a massive hit at outdoor celebrations like birthday parties and family reunions, but are these bouncy inflatables safe? When used properly by adults and under manufacturer instructions, bounce houses are extremely safe as long as certain precautions are taken and parents remain vigilant. Before renting one for your next kid’s party, here’s what you need to know about bouncy houses and their safety guidelines.
What is a bounce house?
The best outdoor celebrations are full of fun, but kids can also be injured in them. As a parent, it is your responsibility to ensure that you are providing a safe environment. Suppose you’re planning an outdoor celebration (whether it’s a birthday party or religious gathering). In that case, there’s no better way to ensure everyone has a blast than by setting up an inflatable bounce house. But just because they’re lots of fun doesn’t mean they’re completely safe. In fact, they could be as dangerous as old-fashioned bounce pillows if not properly utilized and maintained. Here’s what you need to know about making sure your child has fun without fear
Safety Guidelines
If you’re planning a birthday party or looking to hire a bouncy castle, it’s probably crossed your mind how to make sure everything goes safely.
Bouncy castle manufacturers, distributors, and operators have safety guidelines that follow Occupational Health and Safety standards. These generally focus on not overloading inflatables with more people than they can handle and ensuring they’re properly inflated. These rules help ensure that an adult is supervising at all times. Beyond that, it’s important to note that, according to Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), children under 6 years old should never use inflatable bouncers or trampolines because they risk head and neck injuries.
The Importance of Inspecting Your Bounce House Before Use
Before every use, inspect your bouncer to ensure it is in good condition. Are all of the netting seams secure and without holes or tears? Are all ropes, handles, and attachments properly attached? Is there excessive wear or damage on any parts of the inflatable structure? If you see any problems with your bouncer, don’t attempt to use it until it has been repaired. You may also want to inspect your bouncer between uses as well. Any small problem could escalate into a large one if not dealt with promptly.
What age should you start using the inflatable castle?
In most cases, parents should wait until their children are older to allow them to jump inside. Experts agree that you should not buy a trampoline or inflatable castle before your child is 4 years old. According to research conducted by AAP, jumping on bouncers has led to more than 11,000 emergency room visits over 10 years. As your child gets older and develops more gross motor skills and balance, they’ll be ready to have fun with less risk of injury inside an inflatable castle.
How often do they need to be replaced?
While there’s no industry standard, every few years should be enough to maintain your bouncy castle properly. The exception to that rule is if a rainstorm damages it. In that case, you’ll want to replace it as soon as possible to avoid any potential health hazards due to mold and mildew growth. These can happen anywhere from a day after a major storm event up to two weeks afterward, so err on caution if you see even minor damage after a period of heavy rainfall. It’s also worth noting that replacement costs can vary wildly depending on what brand or model of unit you have; some of them can go upwards of $10,000!
Do they need any maintenance?
The average life span of a typical commercial bounce house is about three years, although some will last longer. This doesn’t mean your house will break after three years; however, it does mean that most companies don’t see as much profit in selling a product they know will quickly be replaced. Maintenance costs vary depending on where you buy your inflatable and how often you use it. The general rule is: The more often you use it and the older it gets, the more maintenance your bouncer needs. Commercial bounces are recommended to be serviced once every year if used up to twice per week. If used less than twice per month, then every two years should suffice.
Where can I rent them from in my area?
If you’re looking to rent a bounce house in your area, numerous companies offer them. A simple Google search should find several options to have one dropped off at your next block party. Prices vary depending on size but typically range between $100 and $300. It’s important to note that most of these rentals require a deposit or payment upfront before delivery, so check with each company ahead of time.
Are bouncy castles safe for kids?
At first glance, bouncy castles might seem carefree to burn off a little steam. But they aren’t necessarily as benign as they appear. Before you sign your kid up to jump around in one, make sure you consider your child’s safety and your community’s rules and regulations—or else you could end up paying a stiff fine or worse. What Are Bounce Houses? The primary purpose of bouncy castles is simple: allow people to bounce around inside them. That usually involves springy matting below (often made from polyvinyl chloride or PVC), and heavy-duty vinyl above that can withstand repeated impacts from jumping feet.
How is safe bouncing castles?
Despite their popularity, bouncy castles may not be so fun and games. According to Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, emergency room visits for bouncing-castle injuries have nearly doubled since 2007—largely due to accidents caused by older children and teens. The majority of injuries occurred in children ages five to 12 years old. Compared with younger children, older children are more likely to dive headfirst into inflatable play equipment and jump off play structures or misuse playground equipment, researchers reported in Academic Pediatrics (Vol 14, No 1).
Can you sleep in a bounce house?
It’s always a good idea to make sure you get a good night’s sleep before participating in any activity, especially one that requires large amounts of energy. But can you fall asleep inside a bounce house? While it might sound crazy, it is possible—and there may be times when you want to try it.
Many people living out of a hotel room while traveling say they could not sleep because they felt too solid on their bed after being accustomed to sleeping in a bouncy house. So why not doze off in your favorite castle-themed inflatable structure and see how it goes? The worst thing that can happen is you wake up an hour later, not having slept at all. Here you will get the benefits of training for young kids.
Final Thoughts
Bouncing is a favorite activity of children and adults alike. The act of bouncing is fun, exciting, and energizing in almost all circumstances. When people bounce on a trampoline. They achieve greater heights with each leap instead of simply jumping off their feet when standing on solid ground. However, despite how fun bouncing is, some serious risks involve letting small children play in inflatable bouncers. While an inflatable bouncer can be great fun at a family reunion or party event, it can also be dangerous to let your child run around if you don’t consider certain precautions before your child’s first experience bouncing inside.
