We all know what it is like to travel with kids. While the final destination can provide lots of fun memories, getting there can be a drag, literally. The amount of gear needed and messes made can exhaust any parent. Bubblebum to the rescue! This company, based in the U.K., has developed several products designed to make family travel easier and more comfortable, and most importantly, safer.
Their signature product is the Bubblebum Booster Seat. This innovative, inflatable booster seat weighs just 1.2 lbs and is easily inflated and deflated for travel and storage. The seat is designed for children ages 4-11, with a recommended weight range of 40-100 lbs.
I was a bit skeptical of how safe it could be, since I’m used to the more rigid, plastic design. However, it has been extensively tested in Europe and U.S. and is considered equal in performance to traditional backless booster seats. The Bubblebum meets and exceeds all U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and is a multiple year winner of the “Best Bet” Booster Seat by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
The seat has two positioning clips on either side that easily attach to the lap portion of the seatbelt to hold the belt in the proper position (low on the hips/thighs) and the Bubblebum in place. We were immediately impressed with the seat. I was able to inflate/deflate it in seconds, and fold and put in its nylon carrying bag for easy transport and storage.
My son commented on how much more comfortable it is than other seats and loved its name. In the short time we have had it, I have found multiple situations where the Bubblebum has made life much easier. Instead of lugging his enormous seat on vacation with us, the Bubblebum was perfect to tuck in my carry on. No worries about the airlines losing or damaging a seat or paying for a seat from the rental car company.
We also had to pick up a child at preschool unexpectedly and didn’t have his seat. Bubblebum to the rescue! I keep it in my center console at all times. At only 13” wide, the seat is great for a three car seat across scenario, even in the smallest car.
When my parents were in town visiting, the seat provided a way for them to transport my son without having to take out his large, heavy seat from my vehicle. It’s perfect to have around as an extra booster! It also fits in my son’s backpack if I need to send him with a booster for someone else to pick him up from an activity.
The next product we tried was the Bubblebum Sneck, a travel pillow filled with microbeads designed for providing extra support and comfort on longer trips. It has a Velcro strap that easily attaches to the headrest behind your child (in a backless booster or no car seat is best). I didn’t love the material it was covered in, but it didn’t seem to bother my son. He loved being able to rest his head and support his neck, which are two of his biggest complaints when he’s not in his high back booster seat.
The Sneck would also be great for travel on other modes of transportation because it can be folded into different shapes to fit your child’s resting needs. I hooked the Sneck up to my passenger headrest on a longer trip and also liked the ability to comfortably rest (though of course moms only get a few minutes of that)!
The final product in Bubblebum’s trifecta of travel accessories is the Junkie. The Junkie is an organizer designed to fit in between two children in the backseat, but can be used anywhere in the car to collect clutter and gather travel necessities. The Junkie attaches to your seat with the seatbelt so it does not slide around when being used in between car seats; a big plus when your children always want to reach in and grab something!
A large pocket in the middle has ample space for toys or snacks. The included reusable bag that fits down in the middle allows for easy transport of things in and out of the car. Half of the bag is insulated for keeping drinks or other food cool, a great option especially for longer trips.
The Junkie also has two trays which fold out, much like a small airplane tray table, which my kiddos loved having to hold their snacks or small toys. They are a little wobbly, though, so I don’t recommend using them for anything heavy or pressing on them too hard.
My favorite part of the Junkie is the tech arm, which extends out from the end and can hold a tablet or other device and both children can watch it simultaneously and have free hands. Two cup holders round out the features of the Junkie, which are always handy, and we found them a great space for sunglasses too. When you are done using the Junkie, the sides of the middle pocket collapse down, making it much smaller to store (dimensions are 7.5”x9”X10.5” when collapsed, 21.25”x10.5”X9” when expanded).
The Bubblebum Company has provided a line of car and travel related products that are innovative and convenient. There are clearly parents on their research team because features have been well thought out and cater to the needs of parents and children who are on the go. We will always keep ours close at hand and definitely use it for all of our travel and carpool needs. I consider Sneck and the Junkie “nice to have” items, but the Bubblebum is a “must have.” There will be one purchased to keep at Grandma’s in the near future!
Bubblebum Booster Seat, Sneck, and Junkie
Manufactured by Bubblebum US LLC
Bubblebum Booster Seat
$29.99
- Durability: 5
- Ease of Use: 5
- Comfort: 5
- I would purchase this for my child: Yes
- I would purchase this as a gift: Yes
- Overall rating: 5
Bubblebum Sneck Neck Pillow
$14.99
- Durability: 5
- Ease of Use: 4
- Comfort: 4
- I would purchase this for my child: Yes
- I would purchase this as a gift: No
- Overall rating: 4.5
Bubblebum Junkie Car Organizer
$39.99
- Durability: 3
- Ease of Use: 4
- Comfort: n/a
- I would purchase this for my child: Yes
- I would purchase this as a gift: No
- Overall rating: 3.5
All ratings on a scale of 1-5 with 5 being highest.
Meet the Reviewer!
Christy Petrak is a systems engineer currently taking a leave of absence to raise her two children, Thomas (5) and Eliza (2). She enjoys spending time with her family, swimming and baking/decorating cupcakes.
