Air Balloon Flights With Infant

[steph_goodrum]

I'm thinking of booking and buying a handsfree infant-carrier, so that whoever is holding the baby can have both arms free to hold on. Also, the baby will be strapped in.

I personally wouldn't necessarily think this is a good thing given the unpredictably of the landing. Although it covers the problem of holding on and escapism, a 19 month old is going to be quite heavy to climb in and out of the basket with and may hinder any emergency exit if needed but if the landing does cause the basket to tip over poor little Johnny could be cushioning Mum or Dads fall and with speed that could prove quite dangerous I would imagine.

[jen]

We've flown twice in Hot Air Balloons in Florida and although it was a wonjderful experience I personaly wouldn't have wanted to do it if our children had been so young.
Ours too were around 6 & 9 but we wouldbn't have done it any younger or they wouldn't have seen anything, being held for around an hour wouldn't be much fun for either the youngster or parent.

The landings for us both times were pretty straight forward but you did need to be pretty agile getting out when they wanted you to. On our first flight I along with another women had to jump out and grab a hold of the basket before we completely touched down and on the second flight I had to stay in with another women whilst everyone else jumped out and we had to balance the basket and lean to stop it turning over.

Ok not everyone has to do something but the thing is moving and it's not as easy as it would seem to get in and out of the basket.

Although it is an amazingly smooth ride, the burner is very loud and could scare the little one, plus holding the child up so she/he could see puts them closer to it and it does get very hot, husband is somewhat bald and his head was burning!

What ever you choose to do I wish you well but maybe if it were me I'd wait until they were older and could enjoy for themselves.

Jen

[Tony G]

Thanks for all the replies, I feel I am as prepared as I can be before the ride.

We've decided that my nephew will stay at the villa with his mum and clock up some pool time while the rest of the party go floating.

This isn't the first time I'm going to Orlando, and it certainly won't be the last. We'' take them next time.

[CCollins]

Let us know how you get on - I would love a Balloon flight!