BubbleBum Inflatable
The BubbleBum inflatable booster seat doesn’t have as much name recognition as some of the more well-known brands, but it’s still a good seat. Based in Northern Ireland, BubbleBum was founded in 2009 by Safekids USA Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician Grainne Kelly, a mother who wanted a safe booster seat when traveling. The seat is making a name for itself. It was named the winner at the Mother & Baby Travel Item Awards in the United Kingdom and it received the Practical Parenting Magazine Award as well as the 2010-2011 Ulster Bank Business Achiever Award. The IIHS named it a 2011 Best Bet, and the seat exceeds federal motor vehicle safety standards as well as European safety standards.
Designed for kids ages 4-11 between 40 and 80 pounds, the seat deflates and folds flat for easy packing when traveling. It obviously provides zero side impact, head, neck and torso protection, but the tradeoff is a lightweight, easy-to-carry seat. The BubbleBum is readily available when traveling internationally – it’s marketed in places like Switzerland, the UK, New Zealand, the United Arab Emirates, Finland, Belgium, the Netherlands and Austria. The U.S. price is a firm 39.99.
Quick Specs
- Dimensions: 8 by 5 by 5 inches
- Weight: 1.3 pounds
- Seat Type: Backless booster
- Features: Narrow design makes it convenient for fitting three kids in the back seat, can be deflated and folded up when not in use.
- Side Impact Protection: No
- NHTSA Ease of Use Rating: Not Rated
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Strengths
The numerous awards received are impressive. Its track record meeting federal safety standards in the U.S. and abroad is stellar. The way these are marketed, if your own BubbleBum seat is lost or destroyed when traveling internationally it’s easy to pick up another one. Weaknesses It may not provide a good fit for some children who are big for their age. For parents looking for lots of protection in a car seat, this isn’t it. Compared to less expensive backless boosters like the Evenflo Big Kid AMP and the Cosco Highrise, the price is a bit high. |
Prices
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| Valerie Baldowski is passionate about writing about everything from childrens safety and juvenile products to gardening tools. She is the mother of a high energy 8 year old child so she is accustomed to researching childrens products and services. Her writing and researching began at an early age… See more about Valerie |
