What’s it like to use the Ickle Bubba Radial i-Size Plus 360 Spin Car Seat day-to-day?
Whilst it might not have both light and sound confirmation when ISOFIX is installed correctly, like the Maxi Cosi Pebble Plus, the Ickle Bubba is still quick and simple to install and use daily.
Our tester Sarah commented how much she liked the handy 360-degree swivel feature that allows easy switching from rearward to forward-facing depending on your child’s age and height and agreed that this feature made it easier to get her son in and out of the car, especially since he has long legs for a four-year-old.
One downside is that the swivel function can be tricky to locate initially. It's controlled by a grey lever located on the flat surface between the leg and the seat. To activate it, you need to slide the lever backward while spinning the seat. “Unfortunately, this detail isn't clearly outlined in the instruction manual, so we had to search for the sliding catch to release the seat and start the rotation,” says Sarah.
Sarah notes that the finger groove for pulling the lever isn't deep enough, and the spinning function isn't as smooth as with other rotating seats her family has tried. However, after getting the hang of it, this becomes less of a concern.
When it comes to fitting the car seat, the Ickle Bubba is slim enough to fit in most cars and alongside a second car seat in the back but bear in mind that the ISOFIX base is quite bulky. As a result, Sarah felt that there wouldn’t be enough space in her BMW 5 Series for a person to sit comfortably in the middle seat if needed. Unclipping the car seat from the ISOFIX base can also be a little awkward, as it requires pressing both buttons simultaneously for removal.
From a user point of view, Sarah says, “My son found it easy to climb into the car and get into the seat to wait for one of us to buckle him in using the seatbelt rather than the five-point harness.”
When configured for an older child, strapping them into the car seat is straightforward. You just use the car's seat belt, which slides through a loop above the shoulder. “However, it can be a bit tricky reaching over their lap to clip them in, especially if they're wearing bulky coats," says Sarah. "While my son couldn't quite reach to clip himself in, he could undo the seatbelt once we parked."
Sarah also tested the harness on her 14-month-old and noted that the padded straps sit snugly across the shoulders and legs, and when fastened, they securely clip together between the legs.
Read next: Best lie-flat car seats for newborns
How comfortable is the Ickle Bubba Radial i-Size Plus 360 Spin Car Seat?
Designed to grow with your child from birth right through until your child reaches 150cm (or is roughly 12 years old) one of the Ickle Bubba’s standout features is its comfort and durability.
Sarah says, “Both the headrest and harness height can be adjusted to suit as your child grows which is such a useful feature. I also appreciate that the headrest can move up or down using just one hand by pulling on a pull cord at the top of the seat.”
The seat belt configuration feels comfortable as the top part of the belt is threaded through the seat above the shoulder, so it stretches across the chest at the right height.
Although her four-year-old no longer has regular daytime naps, Sarah found the three recline positions on the Ickle Bubba to be useful for longer car journeys and says her son fell asleep quickly and looked comfortable once reclined: “The recline handle is easy to use and is accessible using one hand - useful while driving if hopeful of an impromptu nap!”
For little ones, the well-padded infant insert, and memory foam headrest provide an extra layer of comfort and protection on car journeys.
Sarah notes that comfort may be an issue for taller children like her son, who is 108cm tall. “While he usually sits comfortably in the car seat when I'm driving, there are instances when my husband, who has longer legs, needs to adjust the driver's seat, reducing the legroom for my son due to the larger ISOFIX base. So, I'm uncertain if we'll be able to use the Ickle Bubba until he reaches age 12, as his legs continue to grow.”