"I'm almost there!" Photo credit: fabio bruna flickr photo stream
Baby S’s cousin just flew in from England last Thursday, and boy are his arms tired! (No worries. I can see myself offstage…)
We arranged for a friend to do a pick up at JFK using our car. This would eliminate waiting for the dreaded airport shuttle van, and its many stops, getting them to their destination that much quicker. (10 pts!) There was just one snafu – the car seat. (eff!)
Now, we have a seat for Baby S already in the car, but of course, but I wasn’t sure if Cousin H would fit in it. The convertible seats should fit most children until they are 4 years old, and able to graduate to a booster. The issue was Cousin H had just celebrated big boy-dom with his 4 year old birthday on Tuesday, and he is of the beanstalk variety in that he is well past “most” in height, therefore making the safety features, well, not so safe.
Luckily, we were told Cousin H was traveling with his car seat, and all was solved! Still, it did make me think of all the times we’ve traveled, and the “to bring or not to bring” car seat monologue was recited…We have done everything from lug the car seat from home (I’ve worn it as a backpack through the airport terminal. Take that Urban Backpackers!), rented with the car rental agency (very sticky), to rely on public transport at our destination to avoid it all together.
So, in honor of Cousin H’s English pedigree we will focus on two other recent UK transplants: 2 different booster seats made specifically with portability and convenience in mind so you can, and will, bring them everywhere. Whether you are using it after the plane ride in the taxicab in Istanbul, or for the carpool from school, this is…
BOOSTAPAK VS. BUBBLEBUM!
Q: First, how are they considered more portable than the average booster seat?
A: The BoostApak is actually a child-sized backpack that converts into a booster seat designed to be carried, and worn, by the child himself. The BubbleBum is inflatable, and can be deflated and stored as needed in your luggage when not in use.
BoostApak!
BoostApak! Photo credit http://www.trunki.com
From the same minds that created Trunki, the popular ride-on luggage for kids, as well as the 2011 winner of UK Apprentice, this product already has much warranted hype, and a devoted following…of bums.
PROS:
* Child is carrying their own seat, so your hands remain free! (to carry their other stuff…) It can also promote responsibility, and a sense of freedom.
* Doubles as storage! As mentioned above, they are holding all their own gear, and can access it themselves easily. It is also FAA approved as hand luggage.
* From a reputed kid-centric travel company.
CONS:
* It’s “heavy” at 3.3 lbs…empty! Some have reported that it is too heavy for their little ones to hold once filled, defeating the purpose of it being portable for the child. (Although, some would argue that this is actually a pro as the heft makes them feel the product is a “sturdier” seat, and were already expecting to have to carry it around anyway.)
* You cannot access your gear while in use. When in use the child is actually sitting on the backpack portion, so anything that is of value and will be needed during the trip (i.e. snacks, games, books, snacks) need to be taken out prior to heading out. A quick solution to this would be to put everything in a gallon Ziploc inside the backpack so it can be easily pulled out without a fuss.
* It counts toward your hand luggage allowance. This is only a con for those of you who are sneaky enough to use your child’s hand luggage allowance for your own benefit. (i.e. everyone)
BubbleBum!
Bubblebum! (Googling that term was not fun...) Photo credit http://www.deardrmoz.com
Invented by an Irish mother of two, Safekids USA Certified CPST Grainne Kelly, the BubbleBum has already won many awards both this side of the Atlantic, and beyond!
PROS:
* Narrow profile – It finally solves the conundrum of having to fit three car seats across the back seat. Making it a reality without having to upgrade to a Suburban, or having to saw off tiny limbs. (It is only 12 inches wide versus the next smallest in US the market which measures between 17 & 18 inches. The BoostApak is a bit behind with just below a width of 15.75 inches.)
* Inflatable/deflatable – Can deflate to store when not in use. So, you can stick it in your luggage (or handbag, even!) without taking up valuable space. Check the luggage, and you are lugging nothing across that terminal, but your 3 screaming kids – high five? And, it is reported that you can puff it up in as little as a “few” puffs.
CONS:
* Now, I am not sure how many puffs are in a “few,” but this can be a potential con, in comparison to the BoostApak. There are times when you do not even have a moment for a puff or two (I’m still talking car seats here…), like when jumping into a cab, or trying to deplane the aircraft. So, even though it is about the size of a large envelope inflated, it’s one more thing to carry if you can’t deflate in time.
* The weight minimum is higher than that of the BoostApak. (BoostAPak is recommended for 33-79 lbs / BubbleBum 40-80 lbs) And, many reviewers have mentioned that, because of its low profile, it doesn’t properly fit those on the smaller side as the shoulder strap tends to not sit correctly on the child’s neck, as it cuts too high.
Are we there yet?...My head's going to fall off! Photo credit http://www.parentingwithouttears.com
Situations for the BoostApak and BubbleBum:
* Car travel in a new destination. This can include after a flight, boat, or train ride, as you hop into your rental or taxicab.
* You can keep one as a spare for when you have a visiting friends in your home, and car.
* On the flip side, if your child is going to a friend’s house for a sleepover, or if they are in a carpool, you can send them with their booster so you know they are being transported safely back home.
Both the BoostApak and BubbleBum are a great way to save money on rentals while away, and a simple way to make travel safer when you might be tempted to take a risk. Lastly, both are very competitively priced compared to most other boosters on the market.
BoostApak: $68.88
BubbleBum: $39.99
Remember, these and other booster seats are not FAA approved for airline travel. You must only use hard backed car seats or FAA approved child restraint harness systems. Go to http://www.faa.gov to see their brochure if you are unsure about regulations. You can also always call your seat’s manufacturer or visit their website.
The BubbleBum is already being sold via its US site, while the BoostApak is rumored to be making its debut sometime this year!
Baby S has a few more years till any bubble boosting, but I look forward to seeing them in action on our shores. Perhaps we’ll do a test run with Cousin H (big boy Cousin H).
Now, clearly, I didn’t do a proper side-by-side point system comparison where the booster seats duke it out in an excel spreadsheet format, but hopefully I’ve shed some light on the benefits of each. Each seems like a quality backless booster that would do in a pinch! It just seems to come down to your own personal preference, and which matches your needs best. (For example, do you have a skinny sports car, and are you not scared of the color purple, or what googling “BubbleBum” might bring up in Google Images?)
…If you’re still undecided…Jennifer Garner uses the BubbleBum! She’s got dimples, so her judgement is sound.
Anyone on this side of the pond manage to have gotten their bums on one of these yet? Do tell!
And, since I know you’ve been waiting for it since the beginning of the post…Buckle up; here is your reward. 🙂
Traveling with Baggage 