HI Buddies,

We just came across a great review of BubbleBum on Kate and Kaboodle – a family friendly product review blog:

Kinsley will be four in a few days and is at the age where she can be in a car booster seat in the car. I plan on keeping her in her car seat until she reaches the limit but there are times when I need something more portable if she is traveling with others.

Many parents are faced with scenarios where their child has to be picked up by another adult who may not have a booster seat or need something portable for vacations. The award winning BubbleBum Booster Seat is a perfect solution!

BubbleBum, the cost effective, portable, lightweight, brightly colored, inflatable car booster seat for children aged between 4-11, easily deflates and folds flat so that kids or moms can carry it in a backpack or purse, making it perfect for vacations, rental cars, taxis, school pick up or car pooling.

I know what you are thinking because it was my first thought as well.  An inflatable car booster seat?  Is it safe?  Even Kinsley asked me that question when I first strapped her into the booster seat.

BubbleBum is serious about safety and has been awarded the IIHS (Insurance Institute of Highway Safety) “Best Bet” in their booster seat evaluation report two years in a row, where they’ve branded BubbleBum as one of the best for safety.

Not only that,  BubbleBum has been awarded a seal by Mom’s Best, including the 2012 Top Choice of the Year Award in Kids Travel by Creative Child Magazine, PTPA (Parent Tested Parent Approved) Media Awards and the JPMA Awards.

So what did we think?  First I want to share with you how it works.

The BubbleBum comes in a nifty carrying bag.  It is deflated and folded in half.

The energy absorbing material is super strong, similar to life vests, and the stitching is reinforced throughout.

On each side of the seat is a red positioning clip.  This is where your car’s seat belt will insert and hold the booster down. It also ensures the lap portion of the belt lays on the lap and not on the soft tissues of the abdomen.

The BubbleBum only works with three point harness seats.  If they shoulder belt sits above the child’s shoulder, another positioning belt can be installed. It attaches to the bottom of the BubbleBum, comes up the back of the child and grabs the belt over the shoulder.  It can be adjusted to the belt lays where you need it.

Set up was quick and easy. After it was inflated, Kinsley and I headed out to the car to try it out. Just set the BubbleBum down in the seat.

Put the belt through the first strap, position it across the childs lap, put the second clip on the belt and fasten.  I then adjusted the shoulder strap adjuster for Kinsley’s comfort and safety.

Once she was strapped in, we took it for a spin around the block (since she is two pounds and two weeks from the minimum safety requirements). I asked her how it felt and she said it was comfortable and that she felt like a big girl. I asked her to try to wiggle out but she couldn’t.  She was strapped in pretty good.

Although I am not quite ready to graduate her to a booster,  I feel this will be a safe, affordable option in a few months for riding with other family members and when we travel.  The portability is a huge plus since she can easily store it in her own backpack once school starts and we don’t have to worry about buying additional booster seats for everyone that will pick her up.  The quality is great and it is so easy to use!

Hi Buddies,

I just came across this review and thought you might like to see it. You can also check out the website A Momma’s Journey  which is really interesting

Bubble Bum, the Car Booster Seat in a Bag

Booster seats is a must have particularly when traveling with kids in the car. And since car booster seat are required on every kids ages 4 to 11 years old and weighted between  40 to 100 lbs,  no wonder why with BubbleBum makes it easier for parents to travel with their kids anywhere, any time. BubbleBum is a portable, inflatable and foldable car booster seat which perfect for travelling. It’s not only it’s light-weight, compact but it’s also affordable alternative to buying a standard booster car seats.  This is a great car booster as well to use when traveling with kids on the plane.  Also, perfect for taking taxis, school cars and even rental cars. A must have for any family vacation too that you might have in mind anytime you need to take a booster seat because you can take Bubble Bum with your purse or  backpack.

When it comes to safety requirement required by NHTSA, Bubble Bum meets all US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard so you don’t have to worry about if it’s unsafe. Enhanced with the comfort of the shoulder belt positioning, the Bubble Bum also clips in place of  “arm rests” that would fit in smaller spaces where possible for three kids to fit in across the back seat of any vehicles, which definitely great for play dates or picking kids from school.

And that’s what I love about this Bubble Bum booster seat ($39.99 ARV) because we don’t need to take off my son’s car seat to put on my car. Sometimes, it’s annoying to take the car seat off and then put it back but with this inflated Bubble Bum, I don’t need to and that makes my life so much easier and fast. It’s also easy to deflate for storage which I could carry any time whenever we need a booster car seat. However, this car seat can be used only with a 3 point car seat belt and it comes with stretchy carry bag for convenience of making it transportable in the back of your trunk or in a flight bag.

So, if you need an extra booster car seat consider Bubble Bum because this is the only car booster seat you can find in a bag available in BubbleBum, Target and Babies ‘R Us. It’s also available in select Target stores nationwide.  You can also follow them on Pinterest, Twitter and Facebook.

Hi Buddies,

As you know we love to read reviews about BubbleBum; when I saw the name of this site, Peanut Butter and Whine, it brought more than a smile to my face and well you know what, this is just a great site and we really appreciate the feedback:

My regular followers know that I babysit Baby Alice during the week while her
parents work. As with everything in life sometimes I get all 3 grandbabies at
the same time. THIS is when the problems start! I have 2 carseats. I can’t
squeeze a 3rd carseat in the back for nothin’ no how… no way!!
TA DA!!!
BubbleBum!! I couldn’t be more giddy if I tried!! Seriously! This is perfect for
me!  SO many reasons!!

Read the full review here:

Peanut Butter and Whine – BubbleBum!! Car Booster Seat

Thank you thank you thank you for putting a smile on my face!!!!

HI Buddies,

Please see a really great review of BubbleBum below which was on MomFavorites.com and you should check out the website for some great articles:

My Very Own BubbleBum Review + Giveaway

Let’s play a game of “Would you Rather!” Would you rather pick Option A or Option B?

 

I pick Option A.  I’ve sworn I will not own a mini-van.  Nothing against all you mini-van drivers.  I get it.  Really, I do.  I’m sure it makes your life easier.  Especially if you have more than two kids.  I may even end up eating my words one day.  But, for now… I drive an SUV.  A 10-year-old SUV with over 100,000 miles on it.  Cool, it is not.  But, it is the first car I ever purchased it, and I love it.

Except for when we need to put three kids in the back seat.  Then, I hate it.  And, lately, I’ve been hating it a lot more often.  My Highlander does not fit three traditional car seats in the back row. Yep, there are latches for three car seats, but I’ve tried it, and I swear, it can’t be done.  Not with the array of car seats I’ve tried, anyway.  Fortunately, my oldest son is now booster seat ready, and I’ve been introduced to the BubbleBum.  Love the name, and double-love the convenience of the product.

The BubbleBum is a genius product.  It comes in a little carry case that is so light (and small) you could carry it in a purse or travel tote.  To use it, you inflate it by mouth, install it easily in the car where a three point harness seat belt is, and use the seat belt adjuster if necessary.  It’s suitable for ages 4+ that weigh 40 lbs or more.

 

 

We’ve used it several times now.  My nanny can take my son to school with the other kids in tow.  My oldest in the BubbleBum, my youngest in a forward facing car seat and her little guy in the rear facing car seat.  Awesome.  We’ve also used it when we were visiting family.  An older cousin wanted to ride in our car with my boys.  No problem.  We didn’t have to move any bulky car seats, just pulled out the BubbleBum from the trunk, inflated it and Voila…. happy kids.  (And happy parents!)

$39.99 vs. $34,999 You Decide

I was considering getting a new car that would fit three children more easily.  Instead, I’m using my BubbleBum.  Saved me about thirty-four THOUSAND dollars.  I’d say that’s a WIN!  Since we’re looking at it like that, you probably won’t want to wait to go claim your BubbleBum… They’re at Target.  Listed here.

But, you could hold your horses just a wee bit and enter our Rafflecopter app below.  We’ll be giving one lucky Mom Favorites reader a BubbleBum in their choice of color (purple or black).

P.S. I’ve always thought I had a bubble-bum.  Now it’s undeniable.

P.P.S.  I did have safety concerns about the BubbleBum.  In all honesty, I believe it’s probably safer to be in a regular five-point harness car seat.  It’s what we usually use.  But, sometimes, I need a little more flexibility, and I’m sure you do to.  That’s why I decided to share BubbleBum with you.  I think it’s perfect for travelling, fitting in that occasional third kid or picking up an unexpected passenger.  I implore you to do your own research to decide if using the BubbleBum is right for you and your family.  Here’s some information you may appreciate from CarSeat.org.

Hi Buddies,

Check out the recent review of BubbleBum on More 4 Mom’s Buck, a really great website

Making kid travel more convenient with BubbleBum inflatable booster seat – review

I think that it goes without saying that moms are busy. If you looked at our after school activities for two kids you might wonder where how we fit everything in that short period of time. From one practice to another, there can be a lot of quality time spent in a car. As the kids get older, the idea of carpooling with other parents is a welcome relief. The obstacle to this idea scenario, the booster seat.
How many families carry a spare booster seat or two in a car? Personally I don’t have space for extra stuff. Luckily there is a new solution to the booster seat issue, BubbleBum.
BubbleBum is an inflatable, portable booster seat for kids ages 4-11. The whole device folds flat. Stuff it in your purse, backpack or bag and you have a booster seat at the read. Another option is to keep one in the stow and go section of your car. No more excuses why a child can’t be protected.

Hi Buddies,

Check out this recent review on Westside Mommies:

Westside Mommy

A Mom’s Guide to the Westside of Los Angeles

The BubbleBum Inflatable Car Booster Seat Makes Commuting with Kids A Breeze

 

Easy Rider

Parents of young children traveling by plane often have the dilemma of the pick-up.  Either chance a taxi ride with no child booster for the car seat — as in most states this is allowable by law for short hauls in hired vehicles, or trouble a relative or friend to arrange for a booster for when they pick you up.  You can now spare yourself the worry, thanks to the arrival of BubbleBum.

The BubbleBum inflatable car booster seat is an affordable ($39.99), convenient  alternative to carting around a booster on a plane, and avoiding airline bag fees to check luggage.  It tucks compactly into its own stretch carry bag, and can be blow up and ready to use in seconds.  It is lightweight (1 lb.), yet when inflated it is sturdy and comfortable.  Designed for children aged 4-11 and weighting 40 to 100 pounds, it is a handy extra seat for kiddie carpools, and because of its narrow footprint, it can fit three-across in a back seat along with other boosters.

The BubbleBum meets all US motor vehicle safety standards as required by NHTSA (FMVSS213), so you can feel confident in using it as a daily booster as well as a booster-in-a-pinch.  As a testament to parent satisfaction the BubbleBum has been awarded a seal by Mom’s Best, including the 2012 Top Choice of the Year Award in Kids Travel by Creative Child Magazine, PTPA (Parent Tested Parent Approved) Media Awards and the JPMA Awards.  BubbleBum has been awarded the IIHS (Insurance Institute of Highway Safety) “Best Bet” in their booster seat evaluation report two years in a row, where they’ve branded BubbleBum as one of the best for safety.

Source: http://westsidemommy.wordpress.com/2013/04/16/the-bubblebum-inflatable-booster-makes-commuting-with-kids-a-breeze/

Hi Buddies,

We just came across a review of BubbleBum on Simply Southern Couponers:

BubbleBum Inflatable Car Booster Seat Review

Founder Grainne Kelly, mother of two, was appalled by the lack of child booster seats available from car rental places even when booked in advance. BubbleBum is the innovative, inflatable car booster seat for kids aged 4-11. It inflates within minutes and is right around a pound in weight. When not in use, you can simply deflate by rolling it up and stowing away in the glove compartment or backpack for the next use.

Simply Southern Couponers was given the opportunity to review a product from BubbleBum. As a mom of three little boys under the age of 6 car seats and booster seats are a must when we travel. I drive a Toyota Camry and we all know fitting three bulky car seats in the back seat can be a hassle.

As you can see with one harness car seat and two toddler lap belt seats space in my back seat is very limited. We have to literally push the seats over when we try to buckle the two lap belt seats just to get the boys buckled in. Sometimes making Eli’s car seat a little wop sided. Upon taking the black BubbleBum out of the package and reading the instructions the boys were excited to see how this new seat was going to work. I unscrewed the cap just a little, blew air into it just like you were blowing up a beach ball. Didn’t take but a few times and we had a new inflatable seat. I asked both Andrew and Ty to try the seat out and see how they liked it.

As you can see in the picture they both sat comfortably in the seat and we had plenty of room to buckle up without having to move any seats. BubbleBum is perfect for sending to grandma’s house, a friends house for a sleep over, going on road trips, fly ins with car rental, or to keep in the other vehicle. There is even enough room to fit three across the back seat with everyone being comfortable. If you are looking for a portable, lightweight and compact booster seat I highly recommend the BubbleBum to any parent.

BubbleBum ($39.99) and is sold online at BubbleBum Website and is also available in select Target stores nationally. Available in black and purple.

You can check out the website at http://www.simplysoutherncouponers.com/

 

Hi Buddies,

We just came across a really great blog site and they have reviewed BubbleBum:

We spend a lot of time in our vehicles.  There are many errands to run and practices or lessons to attend.  This means that our 5 year old spends a lot of time in his car booster seat.  His big sister has recently graduated out of needing to sit in one.  I thought that would cause a bit of jealousy and anxiousness on his part.

Luckily, we were given a BubbleBum Car Booster Seat around the time his sister stopped needing her car booster seat.  This new and fascinating item has helped to distract him from the fact that he must still use a car seat.

The BubbleBum seat intrigued him because it is an inflatable car booster seat.  Joey was amazed when I pulled the seat from its packaging and quickly filled it with air.  Until we placed it in the car, he used it all over the house.  It was at the dinner table with him as well as placed in various seats around the house while he sat reading a book or two.

Finally it was time to move on to the car!  He was thrilled to remove his old car booster seat and replace it with a BubbleBum!  It is a slimmer design that most booster seats, which means if you needed to place three of them side-by-side… they would fit with ease!  No more shoving and pushing and stretching while trying to get three booster seats in place.  It may be great exercise, but it’s tiring!

Joey said the BubbleBum is also more comfortable.  His exact word was ‘soft’.  If he is more comfortable during a car trip – mommy is happy!

I like that the BubbleBum is easy to store!  Having several nieces and nephews that may travel around with me at a moment’s notice – I can keep a BubbleBum in the trunk of my car without sacrificing much space.  It is quickly pulled out, inflated and installed.

Source: http://www.abloggymom.com/2013/04/the-bubblebum-car-seat.html

Hi Buddies,

We just came across a great review on Examiner.com:

There is a new product on the market that is proving to be more than a passing trend.  The Bubble Bum is a portable and inflatable child booster seat that has been tested by safety experts and found to be remarkable.  The positioning clips make the shoulder/lap belt fit perfectly in place across your child’s hardest areas of the shoulder and hip bones, where it is the safest.  The Bubble Bum also has a safety clip on one side that keeps it secured to the seatbelt, and not just resting freely on top of the seat.  For proper placement, view the installation video here. 

Transitioning from the forward-facing car seat to a booster seat is tricky, and with stricter federal guidelines from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), many states require that a booster seat be used until the child reaches the height of 4 feet 9 inches and up to 8 years of age, at which point the shoulder/lap belt begins to lay properly across the child’s body.  The Bubble Bum is intended for children approximately age 4 through 11, or for children who are between 40 to 100 pounds.

You can read the full review by clicking on the link below:

BubbleBum booster seat makes travel with kids safe and easy

Hi Buddies,

Check out this recent review of BubbleBum:

BubbleBum Inflatable Car Booster Seat

March 2, 2013

BubbleBum, the cost effective, portable, lightweight, brightly colored, inflatable car booster seat for children aged between 4-11, easily deflates and folds flat so that kids or moms can carry it in a backpack or purse, making it perfect for vacations, rental cars, taxis, school pick up or car pooling. In addition, its compact size allows for fitting 3 across the back seat.

About Bubblebum:

BubbleBum was founded by Safekids USA Certified CPST Grainne Kelly from Northern Ireland who, like many other parents, was appalled by the lack of car booster seats available from car rental desks even when booked in advance.

She believes that every child deserves to be protected. Through her research she discovered that some of the main barriers for use of boosters and the lack of information or education available to parents along with the inconvenience of the conventional rigid designs and resistance of children to use a “baby seat”.

BubbleBum removed the barrier to entry from children and the inconvenience factor as it is so easy to inflate and deflate for storage. Now Grandmas and sitters can carry one with ease in the glovebox or simply in their purse.

BubbleBum was a winner at the Mother & Baby Travel Item Awards in the UK, the Practical Parenting Magazine Awards and the Ulster Bank Business Achiever Awards in 2010-2011. Grainne Kelly was also crowned the BT Northern Ireland Business Woman of the Year 2011.

We want to help educate parents and carers to understand the importance of using booster seats.

It is very clear that parents do not intentionally place their children at risk. With so many options available it can be very daunting. We want to help parents with booster age kids to ensure that they know the facts.

Abby Grace (age 8) tested the BubbleBum out for me. She has taken the BubbleBum on church trips in the church bus. Here is what she had to say:

“The BubbleBum was softer than my normal booster seat, and it was very comfortable. I really liked the purple color. It was easy to buckle and unbuckle. It felt very save because of the extra shoulder straps.

The only thing I didn’t like was that it didn’t have arm rests like my booster seat, so when I leaned over, I slipped out of it a little bit. (Dad’s note: she was trying to lean way over, not something she probably should have been doing!)

I liked taking it on the church trips. The other kids thought it was cool, and it was really easy to carry around. I will definitely use it again, especially on long trips!”

From a mom’s perspective, I was pleasantly surprised at how safe the inflatable seat looked and felt. After it was inflated, it felt very solid. I had no qualms about letting my daughter ride in it.