How to Pick a Bounce House And Inflatable Slide

Q: What are the size considerations for bounce houses and inflatable slides?

How big should your bounce house or inflatable slide be? For smaller children, you'll want to purchase a smaller bounce house; not only will it be more appropriately sized, but it won't be more complex than they'll enjoy exploring! Older and larger children, conversely, should have a larger bounce house or inflatable slide; more surface area, more fun to be had! Bounce houses and inflatable slides come in several sizes, including: Mini (7' or less); good for 1-2 very small children Small (7' to 11'); good for 3-4 very small children, or 1-2 larger children Medium (12' to 14'); good for a small group of larger children Large (15' to 19'); choose for parties Extra-Large (20'+); choose for large parties! What should the weight limit of your bounce house or inflatable slide be? As inflatable slides and bounce houses are by definition pop-able, ensuring that you match the correct recommended weight to the expected usage will go a long way towards making sure that you're able to use the bounce house or inflatable slide for years to come! The general distinctions for weight limitations appear to be <50 lbs, 50-100 lbs, 100-300 lbs, 300-500 lbs, and 500+. The price will go up corresponding to the bounce house or inflatable slide's durability; but it may be worth it so your bounce house or inflatable slide can be fun for years as your children grow . Always check the weight limitation on the specific product you plan to buy!

Q: What are the age recommendations for bounce houses and inflatable slides?

We know, we know---we said 'kids of all ages', and that was mostly correct. For the safety of everyone who enjoys these toys, you'll want to keep extremely young infants off of the bounce houses and inflatable slides ; and keeping kids of similar ages and sizes on the bounce houses and inflatable slides at the same time is a good idea. In other words, while these are certainly great tools for family fun, perhaps it's best that the whole family doesn't enjoy them at the same time !

Q: How to make sure that the bounce house or inflatable slide is safe?

For a toy that is meant to present maximum family fun , an inflatable slide or a bounce house can also be a liability if not selected with utmost care. Here are a few good things to keep in mind as you're browsing the options: Make sure that it's well-made . You'll want to see a canvas or heavy vinyl body with metal, not plastic, anchors and hardware . The anchors should be evenly spaced to distribute the weight across the bounce house or inflatable slide, and there should be one anchor every five feet (or fewer!). The inflating machine should also be included and sold separately, just in case you need to troubleshoot or replace. Make sure it's ASTM-approved . Set it up properly . Make sure that you're using 30" or 40" metal stakes to anchor the bounce house or inflatable slide to the ground, and stabilize it with bags of wet sand. Ensure that you're following the included instructions on how to install the bounce house or inflatable slide to the letter! Every time you put it up and take it down, inspect it for holes or weak spots . Finally, if wind conditions are at or above 25 mph, it is likely a good idea to reschedule and use the toys another day. Have specific rules for its use . Children should not wear anything sharp when they're playing in the bounce house or inflatable slide, and it's a good idea to have a maximum number of children allowed in (calculated to be slightly under the recommended weight limit for your specific product). Children need to take off their shoes , take nothing in with them, and know that if the monitoring adult says it's time to leave---it's time to leave. Monitor usage every time . Before kids begin to play with the bounce house or inflatable slide, ask them if they need any food or need to use the restroom. Kids should never be playing on these toys unless at least one adult is present and committed to watching the children for ultimate safety.

Text

Tara Gosselin

Published

31 May 2020

What are the most popular designs for bounce houses and inflatable slides?
What are the size considerations for bounce houses and inflatable slides?
What are the age recommendations for bounce houses and inflatable slides?
How to make sure that the bounce house or inflatable slide is safe?
Quick tips

There's no way better to entertain kids of all ages than a backyard bounce house or inflatable slide: You'll never see kids more excited than when they realize their backyard has been changed into an instant carnival attraction!

However, bounce houses and inflatable slides can be tricky to select. You'll want to make sure the model you go with has been thoroughly vetted for safety! In this handy guide we'll walk through some of the most common designs, the best materials for bounce houses and inflatable slides, and everything else you need to know to make the best purchase possible.

What are the most popular designs for bounce houses and inflatable slides?

Bounce houses and inflatable slides come in several different designs for maximum entertainment potential! In order to figure out which one will work best for your specific situation, consider the preferences of the children who will be using it.

Some bounce houses and inflatable slides include built-in themes, activities, or obstacles to offer better recreation for the children. Here are some of the most popular designs:

Inflatable Water Slides

If you have a hose, you can make a regular inflatable slide much, much more attractive for hot summer days (and easier to clean, as well). Invite people over for a water park attraction which will provide hours of hydrating fun!

Inflatable Bounce Castles

Do you think that the children playing in your yard would appreciate a medieval theme---defending your backyard from dragons and protecting their king and queen? Castles are extremely popular bounce castle themes!

Inflatable Carnival Games

Ball pits, slides and houses with neon twinkling lights, double slide race cars and more: If you think that a plain bounce house won't attract you kids' attention for long, you can purchase one with built-in games and attractions. These may require electricity or more moving parts that will require care and attention, so make sure that you're ready for the challenge before you accept it!

Inflatable Obstacle Courses

Climbing walls with plush rocks to grab onto crawl tunnels with large balloon-like pillows that the kids will have to scuttle past are both options you have which can create hours of fun for children! However, if you purchase one of these types of bounce houses, you will want to monitor the children extra-closely to ensure that no-one gets stuck in it.

Inflatable Sports Fields

Are your kids fans of hockey, soccer, or basketball? Set up an inflatable field and watch the shenanigans begin! Featuring overlarge soccer and basketballs or inflatable pucks, these types of bounce houses may actually make contact sports much safer.

As you're considering your bounce house or inflatable slide purchase, think about what your kids like and what you want the general aesthetic to be. Is there a specific theme that would work best for your bounce house or inflatable slide? What kind of games, sports, or activities is your child fond of? With the varying options available for bounce houses and inflatable slides today, you can pick any kind you like for your home!

What are the size considerations for bounce houses and inflatable slides?

How big should your bounce house or inflatable slide be?

For smaller children, you'll want to purchase a smaller bounce house; not only will it be more appropriately sized, but it won't be more complex than they'll enjoy exploring!

Older and larger children, conversely, should have a larger bounce house or inflatable slide; more surface area, more fun to be had! Bounce houses and inflatable slides come in several sizes, including:

Mini (7' or less); good for 1-2 very small children
Small (7' to 11'); good for 3-4 very small children, or 1-2 larger children
Medium (12' to 14'); good for a small group of larger children
Large (15' to 19'); choose for parties
Extra-Large (20'+); choose for large parties!

What should the weight limit of your bounce house or inflatable slide be?

As inflatable slides and bounce houses are by definition pop-able, ensuring that you match the correct recommended weight to the expected usage will go a long way towards making sure that you're able to use the bounce house or inflatable slide for years to come!

The general distinctions for weight limitations appear to be <50 lbs, 50-100 lbs, 100-300 lbs, 300-500 lbs, and 500+. The price will go up corresponding to the bounce house or inflatable slide's durability; but it may be worth it so your bounce house or inflatable slide can be fun for years as your children grow. Always check the weight limitation on the specific product you plan to buy!

What are the age recommendations for bounce houses and inflatable slides?

We know, we know---we said 'kids of all ages', and that was mostly correct. For the safety of everyone who enjoys these toys, you'll want to keep extremely young infants off of the bounce houses and inflatable slides; and keeping kids of similar ages and sizes on the bounce houses and inflatable slides at the same time is a good idea. In other words, while these are certainly great tools for family fun, perhaps it's best that the whole family doesn't enjoy them at the same time!

How to make sure that the bounce house or inflatable slide is safe?

For a toy that is meant to present maximum family fun, an inflatable slide or a bounce house can also be a liability if not selected with utmost care. Here are a few good things to keep in mind as you're browsing the options:

Make sure that it's well-made. You'll want to see a canvas or heavy vinyl body with metal, not plastic, anchors and hardware. The anchors should be evenly spaced to distribute the weight across the bounce house or inflatable slide, and there should be one anchor every five feet (or fewer!). The inflating machine should also be included and sold separately, just in case you need to troubleshoot or replace.
Make sure it's ASTM-approved.
Set it up properly. Make sure that you're using 30" or 40" metal stakes to anchor the bounce house or inflatable slide to the ground, and stabilize it with bags of wet sand. Ensure that you're following the included instructions on how to install the bounce house or inflatable slide to the letter! Every time you put it up and take it down, inspect it for holes or weak spots. Finally, if wind conditions are at or above 25 mph, it is likely a good idea to reschedule and use the toys another day.
Have specific rules for its use. Children should not wear anything sharp when they're playing in the bounce house or inflatable slide, and it's a good idea to have a maximum number of children allowed in (calculated to be slightly under the recommended weight limit for your specific product). Children need to take off their shoes, take nothing in with them, and know that if the monitoring adult says it's time to leave---it's time to leave.
Monitor usage every time. Before kids begin to play with the bounce house or inflatable slide, ask them if they need any food or need to use the restroom. Kids should never be playing on these toys unless at least one adult is present and committed to watching the children for ultimate safety.

Quick tips

Bounce houses and inflatable slides can make for hours of good family fun, but you need to pick the right one in order to ensure that everyone is safe.

Choose a well-made model with good reviews, metal anchors, and strong materials.
Think of what your children like when you're browsing through themes---but also select something that will grow with them. Leaning towards a general, rather than a specific, theme is likely a good idea!
Know what the weight limits are on your bounce house or inflatable slide, and stick to them.