How many times have you wished for an honestly portable car seat that can be folded up to the size of a standard carrying bag and then installed in minutes?
That same need and frustration have motivated the creators of the BubbleBum to manufacture their first inflatable backless booster seat in 2009.
Today, this seat is a multiple awards winner, sold in twenty-seven countries, and produced in compliance with the European and American safety standards.
Even though this seat has been on the market for eleven years, parents are still suspicious of it and concerned about the safety measures.
For this reason, I have decided to write an all-encompassing and the best Bubble Bum reviews, debunking the internet myths and revealing the real perks and flaws of the BubbleBum!
Table of Contents
- Where to Get it? Hot Deal!
- What Is BubbleBum?
- BubbleBum Booster Seat Review
- How Do You Use It?
- How Do You Deflate a BubbleBum Booster Seat?
- How Do I Know That BubbleBum Is Really Safe?
- What Problems Can Occur if I Decide to Use BubbleBum Booster?
- Final Verdict
- FAQs
- What are the BubbleBum age and weight requirements?
- Are Bum boosters legal in Australia?
- Is BubbleBum safe?
- What are the BubbleBum booster seat dimensions?
- Has BubbleBum ever been recalled?
- How long does BubbleBum last?
- How do you deflate a BubbleBum car seat?
- BubbleBum vs. hiccapop: Who is the winner?
- BubbleBum vs. mifold: Who is the winner?
- Final Thoughts
Where to Get it? Hot Deal!
While this seat is generally very affordable, at this moment, it's even cheaper. Sometime, there is a 33% discount (on big shopping occasions like Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday or Cyber Monday) on the BuubleBum Inflatable Booster on Amazon.
Down below, I displayed the current price, customer ratings, and a link leading you to the hottest deal right now.
- The Ultimate Travel Booster Car Seat: Unlock the convenience of the USA’s Original backless inflatable booster seat. BubbleBum is the only inflatable childrens booster seat for your car with a...
- Safety You Can Count On: BubbleBums patented ComfortMax technology exceeds all US federal car safety standards (FMVSS213) for booster car seats 40 lbs and up to 100 lbs. Your car booster seat comes...
- Take Anywhere Travel Car Seat: Your inflatable carseat is perfect for everyday use, car rentals, taxis, vacations and carpooling. Take your new backless booster seat on all your school trips and...
- Easy Installation: Simply blow into the air valve until the BubbleBum is fully inflated, or until you can no longer inflate it by mouth. Twist the valve to close tightly, and place BubbleBum on your...
- Global Award Winner: BubbleBum has won the ‘Mom's Best Award,’ and the ‘Parent Tested Parent Approved' award, plus dozens more. Ask our millions of happy car seat customers how much they trust...
Since you can find only three different designs on Amazon, for the most versatile offer, including all designs, you can order the seat from their site directly and get exclusive offers such as:
What Is BubbleBum?
BubbleBum is an innovative product moving the baby equipment industry one step further.
It essentially presents an inflatable booster seat with a smart design that takes up very little space and still provides a 100% safe ride to your kid.
For big families, often on the go, this booster seat is a lifesaver.
Weight-wise it is the lightest backless booster on the market, coming in pretty handy when you're already cluttered with a bunch of luggage.
Despite the popular belief, this seat isn't unsafe. In fact, it complies with European and American safety standards, so it's pretty much like any other no-back booster seat.
BubbleBum Booster Seat Review
Once I saw this booster seat, I couldn't resist buying it, more out of curiosity than the actual need.
I decided to let my seven-year-old use the BubbleBum during short rides, at first, and once I've tested it, we started carrying it with us everywhere.
In the continuation, I will describe in detail everything I've learned about this handy little booster, passing out the knowledge to all of you in doubt.
I want to start with the outlook.
BubbleBum Booster comes in a great variety of colors and designs. It is made of strong material, similar to the one used for life vests.
It looks and feels very durable, doesn't tear easily, and definitely has a strong structure.
When I first saw the seat, I thought that the seat's integrity is supported by air only, but that's not the case.
On the inside, there is memory foam maintaining the structure even when the seat is deflated. It is reinforced with the webbing harness.
You can feel that the materials are very tightly and closely woven, so it does seem honestly durable to me.
The seat weighs barely 500g, or the weight of three bananas, to be more precise. It comes in its own stretchy bag, and It is very narrow, measuring 11 x 4.5 x 11 inches.
This leaves a tone of space in the back seat once you correctly position it, so it's perfect for carpooling or errands when you will have a bunch of stuff in the car.
Now, the seat is recommended for the kids between four and eleven years, that is between forty and one hundred pounds in weight.
I have to point out that I am not supportive of this idea.
I think kids should remain in a harnessed seat with a high back for as long as possible, and it definitely is possible for them to remain in a forward-facing seat until at least 65 pounds.
On the other hand, for seven years in a row, this seat has been awarded the "Best Bet" Booster by the IIHS, so I guess the safety is not a concern.
Luckily, I haven't been in a situation where I could test its performance in crashes, but its actual purpose is to elevate your child so that you could correctly restraint him/her with a seat belt.
Therefore, in car crashes, the seatbelt should protect your child; the BubbleBum seat is there only to reinforce its performance.
How Do You Use It?
The entire installation of the BubbleBum seat takes no more than 30 seconds. You should take the seat out of the stretchy bag, unroll it and find the valve in the corner.
Firstly, untwist the valve, then inflate the seat using your mouth, and twist it shut. That's it; the inflation should not last for more than twenty seconds.
Now, to make sure that the seat is comfortable, do not over-inflate it. It will feel like a bubble and be unstable and flimsy.
From this moment on, there are 3 more steps to do.
- Place the BubbleBum on the backseat of your car.
- Buckle up the standard adult seat belt usually.
- Thread the sides of the lap belt through the red belt guides on the BubbleBum
These side belt clips serve to position the lap belt over your child's pelvis and away from the abdomen area, which is the optimal position for the lap belt to be.
If you don't thread the lap belt through these clips, the seat may slip in the case of an accident, so this step is critical.
Now, there's another part you can optionally use - the shoulder belt adjuster.
I do not recommend using these adjusters ever because the seat belts are not crash-tested with any additional equipment, and you can never be sure that the seat belt will perform with the adjuster.
If you still decide to use it, follow the video instructions I will provide.
Here are the video instructions that could help you with the correct installment of the BubbleBum booster seat.
How Do You Deflate a BubbleBum Booster Seat?
Firstly, to deflate a BubbleBum booster seat, detach the seat belt from the belt guides on the seat.
Then take the BubbleBum and place it on a flat surface, find the valve and open the cap on it.
When the cap is opened, you start rolling the BubbleBum away from yourself to push all the air out. Then turn the lid on the valve shut, and you're good to go.
The booster seat comes with its carrying bag, so you can put it in and store it until the next use.
How Do I Know That BubbleBum Is Really Safe?
BubbleBum inflatable booster is no different from the other backless boosters on the market. Its purpose is to raise children in the seat so that the seat belt can be correctly positioned.
It passed rigorous crash tests, both inflated and deflated, so it definitely is safe for use.
The BubbleBum booster exceeds the USA and EU R44/04 & FMVSS 213 safety regulations.
What Problems Can Occur if I Decide to Use BubbleBum Booster?
I haven't had any problems with my BubbleBum, and I have it for a long time now.
However, one parent reported on Amazon that the seat did not perform well in a crash.
Namely, the seat slid off the seat when the collision happened, leaving the child with only a seat belt.
How did this happen?
I cannot explain because the seat has been tested under the same circumstances.
The parent possibly forgot to thread the lap belt through the belt guide on the side of the seat, but it is not specified in the reviews.
The other situation that could happen is the air leaking.
One mother reported their seat was leaking air, so it would deflate in a couple of minutes whenever they installed it.
After contacting customer service, she got her seat replaced in no time, with no additional cost, except for shipping.
The seat probably leaked air because it was left in a hot car a couple of times, as she admitted. This is another critical safety measure to know with these booster seats- never leave them in a car in hot weather.
That is clearly stated in the instructions. It would be best if you always deflated the BubbleBum before leaving it in a "burning" vehicle.
In fact, the best practice is to remove the seat from the car when you are not using it.
1. Advantages
I have BubbleBum for two years now, and it has proven very functional. What I like about it is the compact and lightweight design that allows me to bring it everywhere I go.
When I am running errands, I always take my son with me, and BubbleBum Booster has made things so much easier.
I don't have to install the bulky high back booster for every short ride. Instead, I inflate the seat in seconds, and we're ready to go.
Another fantastic advantage of this seat is the narrow design.
If you're carpooling, this inflatable booster seat is perfect because you can fit three across with no effort. It's way more space-saving than the classic booster seats.
Because of its small size and effortless installation, it's a perfect product for a taxi or rental car.
The shoulder belt adjuster makes every belt fit and secures your child safely in whatever car model.
Our family loves this product because it is very portable and comes in handy when we travel and don't have space or energy to bring our bulky booster with us.
2. Disadvantages
Generally, I love this booster seat. But, is it flawless? No, it's not.
One major problem that I have with this seat is the age range.
Supposedly the seat is appropriate for children between four and eleven years.
If you look at the official NHTSA's recommendations, the best practice is to keep your children in a forward-facing harnessed seat until seven years old.
So a 4 years old child shouldn't even be in a belt-positioning booster, let alone an inflatable booster seat. It is way safer for children this small to ride in a harnessed seat than a backless booster.
Another disadvantage of the BubbleBum is the installation.
YES, the seat is easy to use, but hear me out. When you thread the belt through the two clips, if you really happen to get in a crash, you won't be able to unbuckle your child fast enough.
Now imagine your child is 4 years old; they wouldn't be able to unbuckle themselves, either. I think these belt guides are a bit of a safety hazard.
Yes, they keep the seat in place, but they also make it hard for kids to exit the car in emergencies.
- The Ultimate Travel Booster Car Seat: Unlock the convenience of the USA’s Original backless inflatable booster seat. BubbleBum is the only inflatable childrens booster seat for your car with a...
- Safety You Can Count On: BubbleBums patented ComfortMax technology exceeds all US federal car safety standards (FMVSS213) for booster car seats 40 lbs and up to 100 lbs. Your car booster seat comes...
- Take Anywhere Travel Car Seat: Your inflatable carseat is perfect for everyday use, car rentals, taxis, vacations and carpooling. Take your new backless booster seat on all your school trips and...
- Easy Installation: Simply blow into the air valve until the BubbleBum is fully inflated, or until you can no longer inflate it by mouth. Twist the valve to close tightly, and place BubbleBum on your...
- Global Award Winner: BubbleBum has won the ‘Mom's Best Award,’ and the ‘Parent Tested Parent Approved' award, plus dozens more. Ask our millions of happy car seat customers how much they trust...
Final Verdict
To sum it all up, I do genuinely like this booster seat. It is simple to use, fast to install, and undeniably functional.
To be entirely honest, this is hands down the most portable booster seat on the market. Yet, I wouldn't take a risk and ride my 4-year-old child in it despite all this.
I think it's great for older kids and quick rides when you're running errands or have no time to install a harnessed booster, but when you need full protection, there are much safer options on the market.
Customer reviews are predominantly positive, but the parents are not thrilled with the product's stability and fit.
Here is the final overview of the positive and negative aspects of the BubbleBum Booster Seat:
- Lightweight
- Easy to use
- Belt fit adjuster
- Narrow
- Comes with a carrying bag
- It takes 20 seconds to install
- Dangerous if left in the hot car
- Not the safest option for kids under 5 years
- Red clips on the side could be a safety hazard
FAQs
What are the BubbleBum age and weight requirements?
To use the BubbleBum car seat correctly, your child must be between 40-100 pounds of the maximum weight limit.
The kiddo must also be between 40-57 inches tall. Finally, the shoulder belt must lay across the middle part of the children's shoulder.
If the children don't meet and comply with the conditions listed above, they cannot use the BubbleBum booster car seats.
And, you should not rush to place them inside if they're not ready. You can cause severe accidents and injuries to your little ones.
Are Bum boosters legal in Australia?
Given that the distribution of backless booster seats is no longer legal in Australia, BubbleBum Boosters are not approved for use likewise.
Is BubbleBum safe?
Like other car seats on the market, the BubbleBum inflatable booster seat has been crash-tested to meet and exceed European and American safety standards.
It passed the EU ECE R44.04 and the US FMVSS 213 safety regulations concerned with performance in crashes and materials' safety.
It even won the Best BET Booster Award, so yes, it is safe.
What are the BubbleBum booster seat dimensions?
The backless booster car seat measures ‎11 x 11 x 4.5 inches and weighs only 15 ounces. As a result, it's one of the smallest portable and compact boosters on the market.
Has BubbleBum ever been recalled?
So far, there haven't been any recalls regarding the BubbleBum booster car seats. They all meet and exceed all NHTSA, FMVSS, IIHTS, and similar safety rules and regulations.
The seats also undergo numerous crash tests; therefore, they are safe for long and short-term uses.
And, you can check the two lists that contain the names of all car seats with their recalls.
How long does BubbleBum last?
Unlike other booster car seats on the market, the BubbleBum booster car seat will last only four years after the date of manufacture.
It has a slightly shorter lifespan compared to those we've used to. But, it also has a specific design.
Still, if you have a car accident, you should replace the booster car seat instantly, as you can no longer use it.
How do you deflate a BubbleBum car seat?
Bubble Bum is pretty straightforward to deflate.
First, you need to place it on a flat surface, open the cap on the valve, and then start rolling away to push out the air.
Once fully rolled up, you close the cap on the valve and store the BubbleBum in a carry bag.
BubbleBum vs. hiccapop: Who is the winner?
The overall quality falls into hiccapop due to the machine-washable cover, the way you inflate and deflate it, and it's bigger size to meet the comfort needs of your little ones.
On the other hand, the BubbleBum backless booster also features the same or similar standards, comes with the travel bag, seat belt strap in the accessory parts, etc.
But, as many parents find the hiccapop more quality and cozier than the BubbleBum, we will give our vote to its wholesome premium features.
But, we're not neglecting the BubbleBum as both have the disadvantage of not being travel-friendly. They're more for everyday errands.
BubbleBum vs. mifold: Who is the winner?
The best car seat will depend on your demands and your child's needs.
For example, if you want to fit three across for more comfy rides, you should pick the BubbleBum model.
However, if you're a busy parent living in a city, you will need something more practical to fit your bags and compact to bring everywhere.
Thus, it would be best to choose a mifold booster seat.
If you need elders and grandparents to look after your kids, a mifold is the best solution for such circumstances.
But, if you need a wholly deflating and rolling-up booster car seat, then you should pick the BubbleBum booster.
I will leave the decision to you.
Final Thoughts
And with that, I'm finishing my BubbleBum booster seat review.
I honestly hope that you found all the essential information about this product.
As someone who has been using the seat for the past two years, I can say it is genuinely the easiest-to-use car seat on the market.
It is recommended for kids between four and eleven, yet I would recommend it only for kids older than five.
With no more than 500g of weight, it is a perfect travel companion and your first choice when running errands.
As for the safety, it passed crash testing even when deflated, so there is no reason to worry.
- The Ultimate Travel Booster Car Seat: Unlock the convenience of the USA’s Original backless inflatable booster seat. BubbleBum is the only inflatable childrens booster seat for your car with a...
- Safety You Can Count On: BubbleBums patented ComfortMax technology exceeds all US federal car safety standards (FMVSS213) for booster car seats 40 lbs and up to 100 lbs. Your car booster seat comes...
- Take Anywhere Travel Car Seat: Your inflatable carseat is perfect for everyday use, car rentals, taxis, vacations and carpooling. Take your new backless booster seat on all your school trips and...
- Easy Installation: Simply blow into the air valve until the BubbleBum is fully inflated, or until you can no longer inflate it by mouth. Twist the valve to close tightly, and place BubbleBum on your...
- Global Award Winner: BubbleBum has won the ‘Mom's Best Award,’ and the ‘Parent Tested Parent Approved' award, plus dozens more. Ask our millions of happy car seat customers how much they trust...
