more information from the cpst’ (child passenger safety technicians)

The BubbleBum Booster seat is more than just an inflated cushion. Let us explain…

First let’s start with the inflatable air chamber component of the BubbleBum. It is constructed of durable material similar to that of life vests and other life saving products. Inside the air chamber cushion is memory foam.

Here is how memory foam creates stability:

1. Memory foam by nature, keeps trying to expand with air, so in the event of a puncture, the BubbleBum remains structurally sound
2. The memory foam helps to distribute the air evenly inside the air chamber.

**The European regulation requires that child safety car booster seats are tested in the worst case scenario which of course is deflated. The BubbleBum was inflated and then opened to allow to deflate and crash tested. It was in this state that the approval was obtained..

Next, let us talk about the BubbleBum cover that goes around the air cushion which consists of webbing, the belt positioning clips and the energy absorbing material cover:

Webbing

The webbing which holds the inflatable cushion in place and also hold the lap belt positioner clips on either side of the seat forms an integral part of the design, function and structural stability of the BubbleBum. While this webbing does not restrain the child (it is the vehicle seat belt that does the job of restraining) we have ensured that it is the same strength as that required for the vehicle seat belt.

Belt Positioning Clips

The Belt Positioning clip are constructed of high press metal and ABS. These positioning clips hold the lap portion of the belt low down on the child’s lap and away from the soft tissue of the abdomen.

Energy Absorbing Material:

Another advantage of the BubbleBum is that it is made entirely of energy absorbing material. Booster seats are supposed to be covered in energy absorbing material in order to absorb the energy of the crash, not just for comfort. With a rigid booster seat this is difficult to achieve and we can see that a number of the leading babyseat manufacturers are beginning to see the potential of this technology and are starting to use inflatable chambers.

Some other key benefits to BubbleBum:

Encourages child independence:

Some parents have commented that it is cumbersome to get the lap belt into the clips. We have asked them to instruct the child to do it while the vehicle seat belt is buckled. We have found that children are actually much more dexterous than adults and much quicker at installing the BubbleBum which is a bonus by encouraging independence in the child.

We designed BubbleBum with the barriers to booster seat use in mind, these barriers include inconvenience, cost and resistance. We address each of these barriers below:

Inconvenience:

many parents are faced with scenarios where their child has to be collected by another adult who may not have a booster seat. BubbleBum can be carried with your child on each journey, should it be a sleepover or a schooltrip.

Cost:

car rental firms charge between $7-$9 PER DAY rental and more often than not do not have availability of a booster seat even when prebooked.

Resistance of child:

Children like to be cool in front of their peers. It is even more difficult if the other kids are not using booster seats. We have found that even kids who were not using a booster seat thought that the BubbleBum seat was cool and funky and had no objections to either using or carrying it. It is so important to build the self esteem of our children.