BubbleBum Inflatable Travel Booster Seat for Car, Portable Booster Seat for Car - Backless, Foldable & Narrow Slim Fit -Travel Car Seat for Kids 40-100 lbs - Black

This is an outstanding idea - and its well executed. This booster seat is incredibly lightweight, its easy and fast to inflate/deflate, its very compact when deflated (folded or rolled up), its made of quality and durable materials - and its easy on the cars interior (wont damage your seats). From the functional standpoint, this seat is small and sits a little lower than more conventional booster seats. The belt guides are sturdy and made of quality materials that shouldnt damage seat belts over time. Overall - this is a great product. Nevertheless, I need to temper the positive aspects of this booster seat with the fact this type of booster seat (lap belt guide only) should only be used with a secondary type of restraint - like a safety vest that incorporates belt guides for both the lap and shoulder belts. A great example is the Ride Safer vest system by Safe Traffic Systems. The Ride Safer vest not only properly guides both the lap and shoulder belts, its reinforced, padded and is designed to better distribute crash forces over a much larger area than what a standard seat belt is capable of. I think this is a two-way relationship as well, though. The best application of the Ride Safer vest is in conjunction with a quality (certified) booster seat like this one. I think it is important to frame an opinion, and help the reader understand the perspective from which a review is written - especially when that opinion is regarding safety equipment. I have a two-decade background in military safety, relating to both off-duty (ground) safety and aviation safety - to include mishap investigation. This experience includes investigating motor vehicle mishaps (there is no such thing as an accident). Motor vehicle fatalities account for over 30,000 deaths per year in the U.S. (33,561 in 2012*). Children account for approximately 1,200 of these deaths. While this number seems tiny compared to the total number of fatalities - the number of child fatalities per mile is comparable to adults. The exposure rate of adults is simply higher (the number of hours the average adult is on the road when compared to children - and children account for only 1/6th of the population). The number of children injured in motor vehicle mishaps in the U.S. is however staggering - approximately 170,000 children per year. One of the biggest contributing causal factors for child injuries and deaths is the child being out of position relative to the restraining device - preventing the safety equipment from restraining and mitigating the forces of the crash properly. The only purpose a booster seat serves is to better position (elevate) a child relative to the shoulder strap, to prevent the shoulder strap from riding up a childs neck and face by ensuring the proper angle of the shoulder belt (relative to the childs shoulder and neck). This angle is critical for any occupant. If the occupant sits too high relative to the shoulder belt (typically an adult or tall child), a collision can cause geometry-related secondary spinal injuries (mid and lower back) caused by the shoulder belt transmitting too much crash energy to the mid and lower back. If the occupant sits too low (typically with a small child), a collision can result in the child sliding under the shoulder belt - which can severely injure the childs neck (and face). The biggest problem with using a booster seat that only guides the lap belt is in the assumption that booster seat will keep a child in the correct position relative to the shoulder strap for the entirety of your travels (and therefore safe). If you have a kid - then you know any assumption that your child is going to stay in one position is simply not even remotely similar to reality. Kids move and wiggle around a lot, and a booster seat equipped with simple lap belt guides is not going to do anything to maintain the proper shoulder belt alignment with your precious, perpetual motion, micro human. Unfortunately, the results can be tragic. This is why I strongly believe in a certified safety vest like the Ride Safer safety vest in conjunction with a properly designed booster seat. A certified and tested safety vest physically attaches (and therefore attaches your child) to the seat belt, and the vests belt guides help ensure the childs position remains correct at all times - and the booster seat ensures there is not any excess force transmitted to the childs neck and head in a collision by providing the proper geometry of the shoulder belt relative to the vests upper belt guide. This particular inflatable booster seat is the perfect travel companion - especially with a certified safety vest. While automotive safety vests and booster seats are not certified and should not be used for air travel, they can be easily packed and used in taxi cabs, and in the event the front seat is the only available place for the child. While not optimal (a back seat is considered safer than the front seat for children), a child can safely travel with the combination of this booster seat and the safety vest in the front seat of a car, truck or two-seat sports car - and this is also legal in most states (check your local laws for specific requirements and restrictions). If this is done, you should of course ensure the child is sitting as far back from an airbag (if so equipped) as possible, or if your car is equipped with an airbag deactivation device (many cars do this automatically based on the weight in the passenger seat), then it is recommended it be deactivated for individuals weighing less than about 65-70lbs. I would not recommend using this booster seat (any booster seat) by itself in the front seat. I would only recommend the use of a booster seat in the front seat when used in conjunction with a certified safety vest that meets Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS 213). This review and my mentioning of the Ride Safer safety vest in this review were both unsolicited by their respective manufacturers. I did not receive any compensation (in any form) for my review. *NHTSA DOT HS 812 011

UPDATE (4-STAR REVIEW): With a vacation and a rental car planned, we needed a portable booster seat, so this time I ordered two other different travel-friendly booster seats from Amazon. We required that a travel booster seat be lightweight, take up little space in our luggage, be accepted by our daughter (now age 8), and most-importantly, safe. The other two booster seats arrived and unearthed the previously dreaded BubbleBum, and let her have her choice by sitting on each in our car at home. Given the three choices, she chose the BubbleBum. We used it in the rental car during our Spring Break 2017 vacation, and she used it, no problem. So, Ive updated my review from 2-stars to 4-stars to reflect our success. My daughter would probably still prefer the seat have more of a tapered edge on the front (under her legs), so she didnt feel like she was sitting on a bubble (no pun intended), but it worked sufficiently for its purpose. I did have to check on her to make sure she was sitting upright and to the back of the seat, or else her safety would be compromised, and she needed help getting buckled-in each time, but that just took 3-minutes. Its not perhaps the most ideal item, but when traveling, you sometimes have to make due, and thats what this is. I would not recommend this for longterm use, and neither does the manufacturer. I would recommend this for short-term use while traveling. PREVIOUS, 2-STAR REVIEW: This is a great idea, and I really wanted it to be a success for my family, but it didnt work for my 7-y.o. The seat is too small to comfortably sit on for any length of time, and is much like trying to sit on a balloon. My daughter is not a big child and is actually on the petite side and it doesnt give sufficient seating area for comfort. It would be better if it was made big enough to cover a car seat more, because when inflated it was only about 12x14, or so. Additionally, she found a way to flip it up behind her and not sit on it, and Id be driving down the freeway and glance over my shoulder to find her in an unsafe position on the seat of the car, rather than the inflatable booster seat; not good. Also, without arm rests, I kept finding my daughter sitting on it in creative ways, such as turned sideways or with it up behind her back. In short, she hated it.

I definitely appreciate the manufacturer filling the void for a narrow booster seat, with the bonus of traveling well, but it isnt perfect. Pros: It is actually 12 across, as advertised. I have found several seats on amazon with widths that are not their actual width, which makes it difficult to select a seat when you have major size restrictions The color is beautiful The seat is as substantial as you can get when going the mini/inflatable route. The material is decent quality, as are the plastic hooks that hold the seat belt It easily fits back into the storage bag. Cons: It is inflatable, therefore a bit unstable. I bought this primarily for travel in spring with my not quite four year old, but since we have had a terrible time finding narrow boosters for our new car, I had my 9.5 year old twin boys try it out. After they resigned themselves to sitting in the little pink seat, they found it tippy, weird, and some what challenging to get the red hooks on the belt. They both managed to do it after they were shown twice, but it took much longer than their previous boosters (Britax Parkways). It took a good 2-3 minutes, which feels like forever early in the morning when you are trying to get everyone where they need to be on time. They both managed proper positions without the need for the shoulder belt guide (thank goodness, because I couldnt handle waiting for one more hook) Although they both managed to sit their bottoms on the seat, my child with a more bubble bum didnt fit as well as my thinner child. Bottom line, this isnt the most comfortable, secure, or kid-friendly seat, but it does the job if you are pinched for space, in either your vehicle or luggage space. We need to be under 17 inches wide, and will be trying the cosco no back booster and the graco turbo booster with affix next...Just FYI, the Clek Ozzi and Olli are over 18 with the arm rests, just in case you were getting excited that it may work, with the advertised seat width of 12.5

Product Review: This inflatable booster worked great for us! My husband was quite skeptical but we both thought it was perfect, especially for traveling. My daughter is 6 but quite slim, and since she just clicked over the 40-lb. weight minimum for boosters, she is still in a convertible booster with a 5-point harness because I believe its safer and she doesnt complain so why not? However, we recently took an airplane trip and since we already had to travel with my younger sons carseat, we did not want to lug 2 full sized seats through airports. We decided since driving on our trip would be minimal once we got to our destination, to go with this booster. Im so glad we did. It inflates and deflates like a breeze. It rolls up and fit in my daughters backpack until we needed it. It was easy for her to use, comfortable to sit on, and the belt guides were easy to use and kept the seatbelt perfectly placed on her shoulder. It will be perfect to keep in my car to use when we have an unexpected friend ride along with us because its small and will fit nicely in the middle seat between our two very large Britax convertible seats, which hard boosters probably would not. Id purchase again without hesitation. Warehouse Seller Review: I ordered this item as New/Like New from Amazon Warehouse Deals. We received it in a torn and re-taped box (as expected) but sadly the item had clearly been used. It had food (?) crumbs all on it, along with a large amount of dog hair. So, we returned it and since we needed it right away, we bought the same item at Walmart for almost the exact same price.

We needed something for our 6 yr old for a 5 day vacation. After looking around at a few products, some very similar, I decided on BubbleBum. It worked out perfect. Its compact, fitting easily into luggage or a backpack. It installs/uninstalls very easy, with no hassle. The only issues I had, its skinny, her butt just fit onto it. My biggest issue though, the location of the mouth piece to blow it up, which sits right in the crack of the seat. Its elevated just enough to not be touching it all the time, but it does touch a very dirty part of any cab/Uber, etc, just because people sit there. I had to buy alcohol wipes to sanitize between rides. I think these should be included, just because travel does sometimes mean taxis and such. Other than that, we loved this thing. Now, I do see some reviews complaining about being uncomfortable, or whatnot with long trips and such, but the thing is, that is not what this is meant for. Its for quick, in and out uses when you have no choice and cant bring a real car seat or booster. If youre long term car traveling, just bring an actual booster.... With that said, for what this is made for, and how it is meant to be used, it works, and it works well.

We really like our booster seat, but it is a bit big to travel with. In fact, every time we went to the airport, they made us try and stuff it through the x-ray machine. We would tell the TSA person that the last time or last two times, it got stuck, but they were persistent. And of course, it got stuck again. We decided that we needed an alternative for travel. After research, there are two decent options: the Trunki/Boostapak, which also functions as a backpack and is made of hard plastic, and the inflatable BubbleBum. Both are considered safe and include an adjustable belt positioning strap. The BubbleBum, however, is more practical for long car rides compared to the Trunki since the BubbleBum is naturally more comfortable (inflatable cushion vs. hard plastic). So, if you plan to fly and then travel in a car for a bit, this is your only option. Which is fine because this product is awesome. In fact, we purchased another one for the other car just because it is so convenient. If your child has a play date but needs to bring a car seat, or if you find that you have to suddenly transport one of your childs friends in your car, you are ready. If you need a third booster in between two larger car seats, this one will work. It is easy to use, my child--who can sometimes struggle with securing a seat belt--has no difficulties putting this one on. Additionally, it literally takes about 15 seconds to take it out of the bag, inflate it, and secure the positioning strap on the seat belt. If there is one con, it is just that you will have to check to make sure your child put the safety belt through BOTH red loops (pictured) on each side. Since I generally install the seat first, securing the positioning strap on the safety belt, I slip the safety belt into the red loop so that my child will just have to worry about positioning the strap and then buckling in on the other side, and slipping the safety belt into the other red loop. Thanks to all the other reviewers for writing such detailed reviews as it convinced me to purchase the first one. Hopefully, you likewise found this review helpful.

Seat works great for travel. Easy set up and storage.

Purchased this nifty booster seat to use between two big boy Britax Frontier Car seats. My backseat is not wide enough to accommodate a standard high back or back less booster seat between too car seats. I have been looking for a skinny booster to increase my kiddo car seat arrangement for play dates and came across this model. It is being used my my 5 year old or one of his friends when I bring other kids home for play dates. It works a treat. It positions my son correctly for the seat belt to sit where it should and with the side clip you know that lap belt part is in the right place. Too high and their internal organs can get damaged if the belt tightens and they are thrown forward :( On occasion another child will use this seat and my son sits in front with me in a high backed booster. I feel the other child using the booster is nice & safe. I have had no issues with my kiddos sliding off the sides of this seat when going around corners but then it is wedged between to car seats so there really is no where for them to go. I would agree that the seat is a bit short and could be uncomfortable on long journeys if it cuts into the back of the childs legs. This is the reason I have given it 4 stars over 5. Perhaps the company might read the reviews and feedback for this booster and make some adjustment to increase its length. For me it suits its purpose wonderful and very pleased to have found it.

I am giving this five stars because it does what I think it is designed to do: serves as a stopgap measure when no other option is available. This is no way is adequate for anything other than short rides when you cannnot carry a proper booster seat. We used it for four cab rides - one to hotel from airport, one back to airport from hotel and two short urban cab rides while in city we were visiting. It does not boost very high, slides easily and can position seatbelt appropriately with some care and attention while child focuses on not moving around much. Both the seat, and the child on the seat, and the belt positioner move around easily and children need to focus to make sure everything is in the right place. If you cannot carry a regular booster seat with you this is a good tool to make sure that rides are safer. But you should never consider this a replacement for a booster seat for regular travel that extends beyond short trips. Our son is eight and about 58 pounds and still requires a belt positioner to have everything at the correct height. I included picture from three cab rides. The belt positioner should be lower in third picture. It was the first time I used it and did not have height correct. Good for travel conundrums or very short rides where regular seat is difficult or impossible to manage. Requires help by adult installing seat and positioning things correctly but also cooperative child who will sit still.

Just got back from a 4-day trip using the BubbleBum booster seats. We bought two for our 4 year old twin girls (weighing approximately 43 lbs each). We tried the booster seats out in our car first, to make sure they were comfortable. We packed them in our checked luggage and got them out at the rental car facility. Easy installation in a minivan. The girls were not able to thread the seat belt through the red clips, so we had to help them each time. They could also easily push the seat belt release, so we had to explain to them that was not safe and didn’t have any problems while riding in the car. We also had to explain that the shoulder strap needed to be across their chest for safety. (They are use to sitting in a Britax Marathon, which they can buckle-up themselves, with 5-point harness). Overall, we are very pleased with the product. Our car trips were typically 15 minutes to 1 hour long and the girls didn’t complain about being uncomfortable. They actually fell asleep a few times. We’re glad we didn’t have to pay the $10 per day, per car seat to the rental company, and we look forward to using these boosters to give friends a lift or for use in friend’s/ relative’s cars. We will continue to use our Britax Marathon convertible car seats until they reach the weight/height limits though.