But for some, the ability to inflate balloons is a challenge, even if they are doing it with a helium tank instead of their mouths. In order to blow up balloons without risking a giant balloon pop in your face, or to inflate balloons without an explosion, it is important to follow our tips below that will make balloon blowing a breeze.

Everyone has seen them. The infamous balloon popping videos that make balloon popping look like a load of fun. The helium or air is crammed into the balloon until the latex is stretched to the point of breaking, and KABOW! the balloon pops. 

The problem is, this is not so fun when you are the one inflating the balloon. You may have a limited supply of balloons for your event and you need to protect as many as possible, or you may just have a sensitive nervous system and the thought of the explosion puts you on edge. Whatever the case may be, learning to blow up balloons without a balloon disaster is a great skill to master.

If you will be blowing up balloons with your mouth, it may take a bit of practice to get going. Start with round 9" or 11" latex balloons. Some people prefer jewel-toned because the latex feels a bit thinner and that sometimes makes it easier to inflate. 

Step 1: Stretch the balloon a bit with your hands before beginning to blow. This warms up the latex and makes it easier to fill with air. Put the entire opening of the balloon between your lips and hold it near your lips with one hand and hold the bottom of the balloon straight out with the other. This stretches the balloon neck so the air can flow evenly into the hole.

Step 2: Next, begin to blow. There will be a bit of resistance before the inflation begins. Do not blow with all your might because it may give you a headache, especially if you start blowing hard before the inflation starts. The trick is to start the flow of air and then keep blowing. Once the inflation begins, you will need to pause every few breathes to inhale. When you do this, clip off the neck or opening of the balloon with your fingers on the hand near your mouth. This prevents the air from flowing back out. Inflate the balloon until it feels taught, but make sure the neck is still pliable. This will keep the balloon from exploding and it will enable you to tie off the end.

Step 3: Now that the balloon is inflated, tie a knot in the tail. You have done it! The balloon is inflated. Watch the video below or see our tips for tying a balloon knot.

Those wanting to inflate balloons with helium will have a much easier go, but there is a greater risk for popping the balloon during inflation. The important thing when inflating with helium is to make sure the neck stays pliable, just like when you are inflating with your mouth. This neck will go around the nozzle on the helium tanks, but there should be some give between the inflated part of the balloon and the neck that is wrapped around the nozzle. 

Once it is inflated, you can either tie the balloon or secure it with a balloon clip. Clips are easier on the fingers, so if you are blowing up a lot of balloons, consider investing in clips. It is also important to attach a string to a helium inflated balloon before letting it go. Otherwise, you will lose your newly inflated balloon as soon as you finish blowing it up.

Do not feel discouraged if it takes a while to get a hang of blowing up balloons. Some people love blowing them up, but have issues tying them. Others have nimble fingers for tying, but inflating makes them lightheaded and ill. 

Over time, and with some practice, you can be an expert balloon inflater. Once your friends realize you are good at this, you may just find yourself the designated balloon-inflater for all future celebrations!

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