Anyone have a slip 'n slide? They have those scary warnings about neck and spine injuries, and think about it....you're supposed to fling your body on the ground....it does sound a bit stupid!! It's not inflatable or anything, it's just a super thin piece of vinyl between your child and the ground. Any wisdom out there?

By Christylee on Thursday, July 1, 2004 - 11:49 am:

I had them growing up and I can say I never played on it for very long because it just outright HURT after a while. I can't believe they are still around honestly.

By Emily7 on Thursday, July 1, 2004 - 12:04 pm:

They do hurt after a while. I always went on my belly.

By Mommmie on Thursday, July 1, 2004 - 12:35 pm:

We used them for several years - son age 4-6. The warnings are for kids 12 and up and adults, I believe. If you're too tall I think it's dangerous for your neck.

We got a lot of great use out of them, especially for the price. Don't get the ones with tunnels or anything too fancy like that. Just the one that has the water spraying over from one side down the length of it and a little blow up thing around the bottom to pool the water.

You need to be on a grassy hill. (Kiss the grass underneath it goodbye) It also help to supplement the water flow by putting a hose on it at the top.

Once the older (age 8-9) bigger boys in the neighborhood started playing on it and breaking it with their rough behavior, I stopped getting them. But for the younger set, it was well worth the $25.

By Mommmie on Thursday, July 1, 2004 - 12:36 pm:

Oh, and we didn't have any injuries from using it.

By Yjja123 on Thursday, July 1, 2004 - 12:39 pm:

My kids love theirs. I remember having one as a kid. They are lots of fun. As with anything you need to follow the safety instructions. Use on soft grass not a road with rocks. Keep water at a constant flow. Do not put on hills or slopes, even ground only. We have one that has a blow up end so you slide into a pillow almost. It keeps you from going off the end (which can happen with kids running at top speed).

By Karen~moderator on Thursday, July 1, 2004 - 12:46 pm:

I think Brandy has one, there's a pic on the photo board, here's the link:

Nick and Alex new toy

By Coopaveryben on Thursday, July 1, 2004 - 01:41 pm:

I used to play with one when I was little and the most dangerous thing I ever suffered was a few minor bruises.

My sons have one and they are fine on it, but I keep a constant vigalance on them while they are on..."no standing you have to lay down" seems to be the reoccuring phrase. However, my 10 year old neighbor was down here and he is quite the extreme sportsman I had my back turned and he took off flying on the thing went off the other side and hit a rock and had to get stiches. The rock was my fault I checked the area for any and did not see any but I was not counting on any of the kids flying 3feet past the end of the slide.

I think they are safe as long as you don't leave them...or turn your back on them.

By Brandy on Thursday, July 1, 2004 - 01:41 pm:

Yep i have one and the one day they did play with it so far = ) they didn't get any injuries also my two nieces and one nephew did not get hurt either = ) so that's my review if they be careful noone should get hurt btw my children are 7&9 my nephew is 9 and my nieces are 2 yrs & 4 months hope that helps = )

By Brandy on Thursday, July 1, 2004 - 01:42 pm:

also on mine it says for children 5-12 but i couldn't vary well not let my nieces on it when there brother was on it = )

By Kernkate on Thursday, July 1, 2004 - 01:54 pm:

DS who is 9 has had one every year for the past probably 5 years and Thank God we have had no injuries. I am sure that there has been injuries with the slip and slide but none that I have seen with mine and we have alot of neighborhood kids ranging from 5-11.

By Kaye on Thursday, July 1, 2004 - 02:48 pm:

Our church rents the big one out and on top of the hoses they reccomend using baby shampoo...they haven't had an injuries either.

By Kate on Thursday, July 1, 2004 - 03:01 pm:

Well, we tried it out. Rather a disaster. My eight year old just didn't know how to slide... A few times she ended up on her knees, but she only went about two feet. One time she never dropped low and she was basically standing and her feet went out from under her and she went flat back on her head and back. It was scary. How do you teach them to run low and slide into it??

By Mommyathome on Thursday, July 1, 2004 - 05:34 pm:

We use to have one, but threw it away when we moved. We were going to get another, but never have.

My girls weren't injured on it (knock on wood). They were 4 and 3 at the time.

They kind of make me nervous. I always supervise very closely (just like when they are on the trampoline). We usually put it on a grassy hill that we had, and they just used it like a regular slide. I liked that much better than them flinging themselves onto the ground. Plus, they couldn't quite get the concept of that at the time.

My DD (6) has broken both of her arms, so she is VERY careful when it comes to things like slip-n-slides. My other DD, however, is all for it!

By Texannie on Thursday, July 1, 2004 - 05:40 pm:

We had one growing up that everyone in the neighborhood would come over and play on. No one ever got hurt. When I got one for my kids, they could barely do it. Don't know if they had somehow changed over the years or if my kids weren't coordinated, but they sort of had fun, not like we did.
Lots of times the kids in the neighborhood just use big trash bags and bath bubbles and make their own.