8 Great Things to Know About Renting a Bouncy House

If you are looking to add some fun to your child’s birthday party, consider renting a bouncy house. A bounce house is a big plastic structure that, when it is filled with air, provides a wonderful surface to bounce and play around on. There are many different styles to choose from including houses that have covers and others without. Before you sign on the dotted line, there are certain things that you will want to know.

Here are 8 helpful things to know about renting a bouncy house-

1. Determine which one will work for your group of kids. If you have lots of little kids, rent one that has an inflatable ramp so the kids can get in and out on their own. This is important since some older models have no ramp, forcing you to spend the entire party lifting kids in and out.
2. Shop around. Start calling around early, at least a month ahead of the party, to get the best choices and prices. It often costs more to rent a bouncy house on the weekend than it does on a weekday.
3. Know how many kids you’re inviting. Since bouncy houses come in a variety of shapes, sizes and designs, you’ll need to know how many kids may be bouncing at one time. Having an approximate weight total will be helpful in determining what size to get. Anticipate that adults may want to get in so rent with the thought that the house should accommodate them, too. If you have lots of small children coming to the party, see if you can rent a baby size bounce house at half price. This way the babies can bounce and be safe from the big kids.
4. Have plenty of help. It’s difficult to keep your eye on the children and run a party simultaneously so enlist another adult, or pay your teenager, to help with crowd control. It is very important to make sure the children follow the rules for bouncing so no one gets hurt.
5. Make sure that you have electricity where you need it. Remember that bounce houses need electricity to stay inflated, so make sure you have an outside jack that has enough power to keep the air flowing without blowing a fuse.
6. Make sure everyone stays hydrated. Have plenty of water on hand because children get thirsty when they bounce. Having water bottles on hand makes it easy for kids to stay hydrated and have fun.
7. Enforce the rules. Set the rules before anyone enters the bounce house then sit the children down as a group and go over the rules. You also need to be willing to pull anyone out who doesn’t listen or pay attention. Bounce houses are fun for kids but they can be very dangerous if kids begin to rough house or do flips or karate. Remember that this is on your property so you’re liable if a child gets injured. If they don’t want to pay attention take them out to reduce the chances of an accident.
8. Let the party goers know about the bouncy house. Spell out on the invitation that you have a bouncy house and request that the children come dressed in play clothes. Additionally, request that jewelry and other items that could pierce or poke the plastic not be worn. You may also want to set a rain date, depending on the forecast.