Last winter, we traveled to meet family for a ski adventure in Colorado.  When I went to rent the car, I was appalled at how much they wanted to charge me for a booster seat rental. I could easily go to a big box store and buy one for the price of one day’s rental.  I didn’t do this, as my son is borderline for the age requirement to ride without one in Colorado, which I quickly googled on my phone.  We decided to risk it.  Foolish, perhaps.  Thankfully, we were all safe.

Bubble Bum’s Inflatable, Portable, Foldable Car Booster Seat is a convenient solution to traveling with toddlers and older children.  I wish I would have had one in Colorado.

Carpooling? Vacationing? Squeezing three kids across the backseat? This revolutionary inflatable car seat is ideal to keep on hand! It meets all U.S. and European safety standards, yet deflates to fit in a handbag. This compact, portable booster inflates in one quick minute and weighs less than 1 lb. Ideal for caregivers, taxi rides, rental cars, and more. For kids 4 years and up, from 40-80 lbs. and 3’4″-4’9″ tall. Storage pouch and shoulder belt positioning strap included. Imported.Winner of the JPMA Innovation Award Meets tough European safety standards, even when deflated! European regulations require that child safety seats be tested in the “worst case scenario.” To pass testing, the car seat was inflated, deflated, and then crash tested. The portable car seat is designed to position the vehicle’s seatbelt correctly and will prevent “submarining” (i.e., slipping under the seat belt) in a crash. Invented by a Nationally Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST), who is also the mother of two Car booster seat measures 13″L x 13″W x 4 1/2″H inflated; deflates to fit in a 12″L x 6″W pouch Only for use with a three-point seat belt.

I actually had put off doing this review for a few weeks, as I assumed this was going to be a crappy product.  I have to say, I am impressed.  I assumed it would be toxic smelling. It is not (well a little).  I assumed it would be like a pool toy. It is sturdier than I imagined an inflatable car seat to be.

If I lived in the city, or was traveling to one, where taxi travel was a way of life, then I definitely would carry one of these around.  In fact, I have put my kids in taxis in San Francisco without booster seats, and I was scared with how aggressive the drivers can be.  I didn’t know what else to do, as I wasn’t able to lug a car seat around the city.  It is actually an item of contention in our family, as I will make us walk miles to avoid the taxi.  Now, this problem is solved.

I like products that solve problems. This one does.  With many states implementing stricter booster seat laws (in California you child must ride in a booster until eight years old), this is a great solution.  Even though  my son is about to turn eight, we  will keep him in a booster as long as possible for safety reasons.

Unfortunately, there is not much green about it, but that is the way of car seats.

disclosure: The products described above were sent to us as free samples. Prior assurances as to the nature of the reviews, whether positive or negative, were not given. No financial payments were accepted in exchange for the reviews. The reviews reflect our honest, authentic opinions.