We were recently introduced to BubbleBum – a portable inflatable and affordable (it retails for $39.99 in the US) booster seat for kids 4 to 11 years old.
Since this booster seat has not been approved for use in Canada yet, I enlisted the help of my friend Rae (and her family) in New York City, to help test it out.
Here’s what she had to say about BubbleBum:
What We Loved
Portable
When deflated and folded, the seat is roughly the size and weight of a travel pillow, and it comes with a travel bag so it actually LOOKS like a travel pillow!
It’s such a better travel choice when you’re flying and need a booster for a rental car.
Easy to Inflate
When I realized I had to inflate it, I kind of groaned. But it took about 15 seconds to inflate it! Plus, the air valve is well designed–you screw it open and closed, so you can’t lose the valve top.
Seat Belt Straps
There are seat belt straps attached to the booster seat, and a shoulder strap positioner (that you can attach or take off, depending on the size of your child) so your child stays in place in the seat.
A Narrow Seat
The BubbleBum boasts the ability to fit three seats in the back seat of a car, and I believe it. It’s really narrow.
What We Disliked
The Narrow Seat
The BubbleBum is intended for kids from 40-100 lbs, but I’m not convinced larger kids would fit on the seat or be comfortable in it.
Seat Stability
Because the seat is inflatable, my daughter had a grand time rocking back and forth in it. When strapped in a car, I’m sure a child would be fine in the seat, but I don’t think I would use the BubbleBum as a primary booster seat because you would probably have to re-inflate it over time.
Our Overall Experience
It would also be a fantastic booster seat for taxis, and for secondary cars (grandparents’ or babysitter’s car), because it’s easy to store and assemble when needed.
I wouldn’t recommend the BubbleBum as a primary booster seat, just because the daily use would wear down the seat.
I think the BubbleBum is an awesome travel accessory. I’ve seen the tired parents lugging multiple booster seats through an airport and the BubbleBum looks like a lighter alternative.
If you’d like to know more, head over to BubbleBum’s website.
This is brilliant!! We could SO use this when we go to Italy this summer! My son is too big for a high chair, yet still too small (poor thing!) to sit on a regular seat and comfortably reach the table! Besides, booster seats and high chairs in restaurants are always so gross and dirty!!!!
I think the BubbleBum is mainly meant for a booster seat in cars. I’m not sure if it would be that steady on a chair for dining as it doesn’t have straps to keep it in place. Rae just put it on a chair for the photos just to demo how it would work in a taxi or car and to show how narrow the seat is. You might be able to use it as a booster at restaurants and at home but I would double check with the manufacturer just to be sure!
I hadn’t even realized that it was meant for the car…I jumped the gun because I was so excited!! lol! I’m sure they have something similar out to use in restaurants. If not I can always patent the idea ;-)))
I wonder when/if Transport Canada would approve something like this. It’s very neat! Guess us Canucks are just going to have to wait 🙂
Hard to say Wendy if or when they will approve something like this. I think it’s a great idea especially for travel as it doesn’t take up a lot of room like a normal booster would. The waiting begins….
This would be awesome as a booster for a restaurant! Perfect for wiggly ones who need to move while waiting 🙂
What a great idea! Will have to check one of these out for my niece
What a great idea. Love how portable it is.