Bouncey House

Updated on June 02, 2010
V.H. asks from Oak Park, IL
12 answers

We have a small backyard, too small for a playset. I was considering purchasing a small bouncy house for some backyard fun. They are not cheap, so I wanted to get some feedback before I made the purchase. Has anyone purchased one? Any safety issues for the kids? How easy is it to set up, take down and store? How much energy does it consume? I would plan on a lot of set up and take down, considering it would take up a lot of backyard space. Thanks for you help!!!

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So What Happened?

Thanks so much for all who provided some really valuable information. It has helped my decision about whether to get a bounce house for my kids. I DID decide to purchase one. The type I got the most feedback on was the little tykes bounce house. I planned on getting one last week when....I lost my cell phone (iphone). I found another one on ebay, but oddly enough, it about the same price as the bounce house. There goes my perfect plan and budget. I will still get the bounce house, but I have to wait a couple of weeks :(. Thanks again for all your help.

Featured Answers

A.T.

answers from Bloomington on

We have one. I bought it about 3 years ago. It is still in excellent condition - we haven't had one single hole! So it is worth the money. The kids LOVE it! The only downside is putting it away. It is kind of a hassle folding it back up and putting it in the bag. Not to mention it is so heavy. Putting it up is a breeze. it the taking down part I hate. I don't like that the motor is a bit noisey. But I have not noticed any increase in the power bill when we use it, so it must not use that much energy.

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S.K.

answers from Kansas City on

It takes a little getting used to putting it away. But I love mine. I have 2. One is 8 by 8 and will fit in my living room if I move things around. The other is 16 by 16 and we use it in the driveway. I do sweep the driveway first.

I spent 400 on the big one and 200 on the small one. I've had them for years and they have held up very well. It's totally worth the investment.

Safety wise, put the kids in as near to like sizes as possible. Don't let big kids jump with little. Never let them jump alone. If they want to do flips or tricks, they have to be by themselves and take turns. It's up to you to be strict with how they use it. I've not had a bad accident in the 5 years we've been doing them in the daycare. But one day my daughter did a summersault and hit me in the stomach with both feet as I was standing next to it. It hurt like YOU KNOW WHAT. I yelled at her so loud that she never did it again. I felt like I would throw up immediately. So the safety practices are VERY IMPORTANT.

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M.S.

answers from Chicago on

We have the little tykes bouncy house and love it. We have had it about a year. It is very easy to set up and take down. It fits into a small bag so it is easy to store. I saw the one we have in a toys r us ad today for 180.00. We payed just over 200 so this is actually a pretty good sale. I would say the little tykes bouncy house is good for age 7 and under. I have not noticed a difference in our energy bills at all. In the winter we set it up in the basement!!

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N.P.

answers from Chicago on

although the plan is a neat one - and in the winter you could just move the bounce house to an emptyish inside room - I don't think it is a wise solution. It uses LOTS of power, and adult supervision. And they don't last for years and years. Ours lasted 2 yrs and we didn't use it every day or even every week.

You would do better checking out Craigslist for used play equipment, if you have the room for a bounce house, you have the room for a small climber

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L.R.

answers from Chicago on

We own a Little Tikes small bounce house that my husband bought for my daughter three summers ago. The thing is a lifesaver! It's held up really well and we are constantly using it in the summer. It is a pain in the you know what to put away, but my husband usually does that. Setting up is pretty easy. We keep it stored on our deck in a big Rubbermaid tote so it makes it easy to take out and put back. We've only had one problem safety-wise in that two of the kids bonked heads last summer jumping together in it, but that's really the only "issue." I say get one - you definitely will not regret it.

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A.S.

answers from Eugene on

We have a pretty large bounce house we got from Costco 4 years ago. It has held up well. My 8 year old and 2 year old now play on it. They do bounce, play house, and relax in it. At our first house the yard was so small we put it up in the drive way and the neighbor kids, would all line up to have a turn. Not so great all the time. We have had kids 2 to 13 play in it and no one has ever gotten hurt. I do have to remind the old kids to not bounce much when my little one is in there. It is easy to set but, can be hard to put away with one person(we have never got it back in the bag it came with), so I make sure they really want to play with it before I bring it out. Ours is heavy I can drag it, but not lift it by myself. The neighbors just bought one online/ free shipping. I have never notice energy cost, it is just a little air pump. I consider it a good purchase. We did get at the end of season 1/2 the cost. We have got our money out it.

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J.L.

answers from Chicago on

We bought a small one (not commercial sized) for our kids about 4 years ago, and love it. It is very easy and quick to set up, but they are heavy so getting it to the backyard is a little tough. I can drag it up the stairs from our basement and around to the backyard, but it's not easy. My husband always puts it away, so I've never done that part, but it's the same process as putting away a tent. You let the bouncey house deflate, then fold it up and put it into the bag. We've had a few issues with holes that needed to be patched, but that's because our 2 black labs have decided on occasion that it's fun to jump.

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M.G.

answers from Chicago on

A bouncy house is a lot of work, and they don't last long. Have you tried a Kettler swingset? You can get just a single swing seat on the small version. It would fit anywhere. Or double or triple, depending on your yard. They are not cheap, but are much cheaper than wood and will last forever. They are very sturdy metal made in Germany, and they are easy to put together.

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J.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

we have a fisher price bounce house for my 3 year old daughter i believe its 8x12x9... we have had it for over a year and its still in great shape. it has a bag to store it in and the blower is pretty compact. it weighs about 80-100lbs and cost about 200 bucks from toys r us.

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T.S.

answers from Chicago on

We have a Little Tikes Bouncer (not the slide version). It's been a LIFE SAVER for us. We use it in the basement most of the time, but it has really held up well. In the winter, it's used probably 4-5 times a week by my 4 y/o and 2 y/o. This will be the 3rd summer we've had it. I take it in the back yard for parties and it's easy enough to haul around, I bring it to other people's houses to share. I'd agree with the other poster that it's best for 7 and under. We've never left it outside and store it in it's bag when it's not in use. It may have been the best $200 we spent. :)

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L.C.

answers from Raleigh on

WE 've had 2....... BOunce around and Little Tikes. Loved both. Use inside and out. Easy to set up and put away.....did not see a difference as far as energy goes. You have to watch the kids to make sure they are not too rough though.

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C.A.

answers from Los Angeles on

i dont know how old yourr kids are. little tikes makes a table that is 1/2 water and 1/2 sand. it is great

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