Bringing the kids’ carseats on holiday is always a bit of a pain. If you don’t bring them who knows what the car rental company will give you, but if you do they are difficult to transport and take up valuable luggage trolley space.
We first discovered Bubblebum Inflatable Booster Car Seats five years ago, when we bought our first one from Amazon, for our Italy holiday trip (I even mentioned it in a blogpost back then look). We’ve recommended it to many friends over the years, and our original one is still going strong. We’ve brought it on holiday numerous times, it’s gone to Granny’s and is used if we collect the kids’ friends from school. It’ll fit in the awkward middle seat of a car where regular rigid boosters won’t and it folds up when deflated to a very compact size to keep in your hand luggage if you’re going abroad, or in a schoolbag if it’s needed for the school run. It’s also perfect for bringing in taxis or when getting a lift.
Our original Bubblebum was bright purple in colour with a matching pouch to transport it but there are several colours available these days, and we were sent the patriotic Irish shamrocks one to review.
The initial reaction wasn’t as expected, as the kids fought over who could “own” the new bubblebum. It’s approved for kids aged between 4 and 11 so all three of mine qualify (there’s a recommended weight range of 115-36kg). It does the same job as an “under the bum” rigid booster, but it’s inflatable. It’s easy to blow up and deflate. .
It’s fully tested and passed EU and US safety regulations. There are buckles on both side to guide the seatbelt through to make sure it’s fitted correctly and it’s also got a shoulder strap to adjust the seat belt, making it safer and more comfortable
Since the Bubblebum is compact it allows three seats to fit across the back of all cars, even the smallest. (I haven’t tested this myself on all cars mind you, but I can confirm personally that it fits in the middle of a Ford Focus, a VW Passat and a Nissan Almera).
As we’ve been using and recommending our original one for travel and carpooling for years, I’ve no hesitation in recommending it.
Where to get one?
Bubblebums are currently available in Lidl Ireland for only €24.99 while stocks last, the black version only.
You can buy many different patterned ones, like our Irish shamrock one on Amazon – affiliate links below.
Or You can WIN a black Bubblebum below!
TO ENTER
LIKE Bumbles of Rice on Facebook
LIKE Bubblebum on Facebook
COMMENT below and tell me what you’d use it for most.
GOOD LUCK!
Some of this competition is hosted by Facebook but it is not endorsed by Facebook. No cash alternative. The winner will receive a black Bubblebum Booster Seat sent to them directly by Bubblebum. Competition closes Thursday 21st September at 9pm. The winner will be announced here and on Facebook and notified by email where possible. The winner must contact me within 7 days to claim their prize. Competition only open to ROI and UK addresses. Judge’s decision is final.
Disclosures
I received no payment for writing this post. I did receive one Bubblebum Booster Seat for the purpose of review, and Bubblebum are providing another for the winner of the giveaway.
Bumbles of Rice is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk.
Liked both pages. Would be so handy for my mams car. The big kid is always swanning off and it would be so handy for her to have something in the boot and of course extra guests in my own.
Very comprehensive review. thanks.
Makes me think I should search out one in this little corner of the world. I can see how useful it would be…wonder if our “regulations” would accept it…interesting to find out.
I would love this, it would save a lot of car seat swapping between cars in my house!
This would be great as bringing kids back and forth on playdates and keeping them safe in your car without transferring seats. Wish I’d one when we were on holidays too!
We borrowed one of these for holidays this year. Really handy. How nice it would be to have one of my very own! 😉
Travelling and for grandad’a car.
Would love one of these for playdates! It’d be so handy to have an extra seat that’ll actually fit in my car!
Fantastic seat. I’ve borrowed one from a friend but would love one of my own. So handy for travelling
Congratulations Susan your name came out of the hat!
We would love to win this; my daughter has one in pink and her little brother wants one in green (his favourite colour). He is four and just getting to the stage of play dates. These are fantastic for sending with your child on a play date or for bringing little friends home with them, to make sure everyone is safe!
Such a really handy product. Would be perfect for taking the little ones out to the shops or holidays or anything at all – love it!!
Perfect for grandad doing the school run when I’m in work….they look fantastic
Travelling, Granny’s car, aunties car…you name it! 3 kiddies so it’d get lots of use. Great page – thanks a million! Niamh
Would love this, with 5 kids it would save a lot on moving car seats to hubbys car
Mummy taxi extending to friends and family. In need of emergency, easy to use and store spare car seats!
I’d use this for hols…..i have one already and love it, but two kids now so would love another one 🙂
I would use when our little girl is on sleepovers with her cousins! So handy!
I would love to win this fab prize as I know it would be a fantastic item to have especially when my son and I take the bus to visit the park and library in the town next from our village. Leon loves the novelty of traveling by bus and this simple outing is one he loves and with this prize I would enjoy our outing all the more with the peace of mind that this would bring regards his safety.
Yes please I’d love this!
I would love this for doing the shared lifts to activities and for grandparent’s cars!
Liked both pages. We have brought our own car seats on holidays 2 years in a row now and we don’t even hire a car! This would be so handy for holidays and as a spare for grandparents
This would be a very handy addition to our current spare seat to help out a parent in need when required
Be great for grandparents car or on play dates, brilliant for holidays too esp as so portable
It would have plenty of use here too: from ferrying children around the place to using it when my nephews are home on holidays. I always wondered about those seats whether they were any good… great review 🙂
Would love this as it would cut the amount of ‘normal’ bulky booster seats we need to bring to France!
I need one of these because we can only have one friend over for play dates because we’ve only one extra booster seat. With two, the small boy can have to friends!
Would be so handy for safely transporting one of my kids friends home for a playday
We’d love one of these; it would be so much easier than the usually car swap of bulky ones and would be ideal for holidays too.