Sleeping on a Trampoline with Kids: 7 Tips
When you have a trampoline in your backyard or front yard, during the summer your kids likely want to sleep on it so they can sleep under the stars and sleep on a relatively soft surface. However, sleeping on a trampoline requires some preparation. Here are 7 tips to keep in mind when you or your children sleep outside on the trampoline.
1. Spread Out
When sleeping on a trampoline with your kids, spread out. If you don’t spread out, the trampoline will start to sag because of the weight, which will make it hard for you to sleep and move when you need to. Your children may want to snuggle with you as they fall asleep, so explain to them that they need to spread out so the weight on the trampoline stays relatively balanced so it doesn’t start to sag.
If the trampoline starts to sag, as the night goes on and people roll over in their sleep, everyone may end up in the same place on the trampoline. You may even end up in the middle of it.
When placing your sleeping bags and spreading them out, make sure you leave a clear path to the ladder or bench that you use to get onto the trampoline so people can easily go to the bathroom or go back inside to sleep. If you don’t leave a clear path, someone will get stepped or tripped on in the middle of the night, leading to arguments that no one wants to deal with in the middle of the night.
Avoid the springs unless you want to fall to the ground or get your hair caught in the metal. if your trampoline has a net that keeps you from falling off of the edge of the trampoline and away from the springs, don’t worry about it.
2. Bring Sleeping Bags and Blankets
When sleeping on a trampoline with your kids, you will need sleeping bags and blankets, as well as pillows and any stuffed animals that your kids like to sleep with. However, sleeping bags and blankets are the main essential items you need to remember. Also, if you can’t sleep unless it is pitch black, bring a sleeping mask to cover your eyes.
Even if you live in a warm climate or decide to sleep on the trampoline during the summer, it can get really cold at night. The sleeping bags and blankets will ensure that everyone stays warm and cozy during the night. I used to sleep on my family’s trampoline during the summer, and we used both sleeping bags and blankets. However, a few of the kids (including me) would always end up going inside in the middle of the night because it was cold or because they were uncomfortable.
Set up the sleeping bags before the sun goes down so you can see clearly and make sure they are spaced out evenly.
3. Check the Weather Beforehand
Before you decide to sleep outside on the trampoline with your kids, check the weather. If the temperature is expected to drop below about 50 degrees Fahrenheit or it is expected to rain, it may not be a good idea to sleep on the trampoline.
4. Turn off Sprinklers
If you have a sprinkler system in your backyard or front yard, turn them off before you sleep on the trampoline. The last thing you want to happen is you or your children waking up in the morning because water is being sprayed in your face or onto you by your sprinkler system. Talk about a rude awakening.
If you have a hose near your trampoline, turn that off as well and hide it if you think your kids will try to turn it on at some point.
5. Download an Astronomy App
When sleeping on the trampoline with your kids, consider downloading an astronomy app so you can easily find and identify constellations with your kids. Here are three of the best astronomy apps that you should consider using.
Starlight: Available to download on IOS and Android devices. This app is free to download, but there are in-app purchases. To use this app, all you need to do is open it and point your phone at the sky. The constellations and stars will be identified on your screen. It will also identify any planets that you can see from your backyard. This app is rated 4.6 stars on Google Play.
Star Walk 2: This app will identify various things found in the night sky when you point your phone at the sky, including constellations and stars. However, there are two different versions of this app. There is a pay-to-download version that costs $2.99 and a version that is free to download, but there are ads.
The free version is rated 4.5 stars, and the paid version is rated 4.6 stars. They are basically the same app. The free version has more downloads on the Google Play store but has a slightly lower rating. It is up to you which version you download.
SkyView Lite: This app is rated 4.6 stars on the Apple app store and is rated 4.4 stars on Google Play, so it can be used by both Apple and Android devices. It is free to download and is extremely easy to use.
It is up to you which astronomy app you choose to download or if you choose to use one that is not on this list.
6. Set a Quiet Time
When sleeping on a trampoline with your kids, set a time where they have to stop talking unless they whisper. This will ensure that your neighbors won’t hear you and get annoyed because you and your children are being loud while they are trying to sleep.
If you don’t have any neighbors nearby, don’t worry about determining a time when your kids have to be quiet. If you want your kids to go to bed on time so they aren’t grumpy in the morning, set the ‘quiet time’ to be about 30 minutes before their bedtime.
7. Bring Flashlights
It is surprising how dark it gets at night, even with the stars and moon there to light the night sky. Bring a flashlight, or multiple flashlights, to help you navigate the backyard if you want to go inside or need to go to the bathroom at some point during the night.
Also, leave the backdoor unlocked so you or your kids can go inside if they choose to. If you have a gate in your backyard fence, make sure it is locked for security purposes.