It’s not too often that I am presented with something completely new in the travel with kids product line. When I received the new BubbleBum booster seat
for review, however, I was surprised: how could a small, lightweight, bright purple cinch bag contain a child’s car booster seat?
And yet it does. The BubbleBum is the first (to me, anyway) completely portable, travel booster seat for traveling families. The BubbleBum is lightweight, surface washable, and bright purple (a color tested and approved by kids of both gender). And yes, BubbleBum meets all US Federal Safety Standard regulations by the NTHSA. Watch a demo video of how Bubble Bum works.
Our review of the Bubble Bum couldn’t have come at a better time. While my kids have outgrown the need for a booster, my nephew (age 4) is in the prime of his car seat years. His mom (my sister, East Coast Pit Stops for Kids editor Kate Lepore), and I tried it out in a very real-life situation many families face: while on vacation.
Kate was flying solo with Homer (4) and Greta (1.5) from Massachusetts to vacation with us in Southern California. Her hands already overflowing with Greta’s 5-point harness car seat, she hated the idea of also lugging along (or paying to check) Homer’s booster seat. Nor did we want to buy a new one at our destination. The BubbleBum was the perfect solution. It packs down to a small sack when stowed, fitting in luggage or a carry-on, and takes less than 30 seconds to inflate (yes, you inflate it) and position. While the BubbleBum doesn’t have a full back, it does include a very helpful attachment to position the car’s shoulder belt to the correct level for your child. It deflates and stores away as fast as it’s set up. When it’s inflated, it’s 13x13x4.5, which means it even fits when your family is using two other car seats in a three-seat back row of a car or van.
We used the BubbleBum our entire week vacation, and Homer found it perfectly comfortable. (Bear in mind, however: if your child is used to having a full backrest to their booster, they may slouch a bit without it…it’s certainly hard to nap in the Bubble Bum.) It was easy to move the BubbleBum from one car to another, or from one seat to another. It will fit in any car with a shoulder belt, and is designed for kids over age 4 and 40 to 100 pounds. Note: The BubbleBum is not approved for use on airplanes (but there’s little use for a booster on-board, anyway).
We’ll definitely be bringing the BubbleBum for future vacations, but Kate took it home with her to Massachusetts, because it will also be helpful for preschool car pools and playdates closer to home. She’s also use it while in taxis in the city.
