AIBU to use a BubbleBum booster seat?

[Chocoholic26]

So I’ve been struggling to find a suitable solution to a car seat issue. We have two DC 4 and 6 and a new baby on the way. When baby arrives eldest will be 6.5. We cannot afford to buy a bigger car. I thought that we would be able to put either baby or eldest in hbb in front with air bag off and have an adult in the back. Unfortunately the way our back seats are means that adults physically cannot fit without pushing the seats into an unsafe position. I’ve researched narrow hbb etc and even the narrowest that I can find still doesn’t allow an adult to sit in the back. So the only solution I’ve found is having one dc in the front when only dh or I are in the car and then when we both are putting eldest dc in the back in the middle on a bubblebum? I’ve always been very cautious with car seat safety and eldest has only just gone from rear facing into a hbb. This is what puts me off a multimac too as the baby seat only rear faces to 13kg otherwise I would have invested. Argh, help, will the bubblebum be okay? He is a big boy for his age and very sensible if that helps? I can’t see any other way of doing it.

If you haven't already, I'd try the mini kid in the front, then play around with hbb and baby seat on the edge and the middle to See if you can then safely sit an adult by the other door.
I actually have a bubblebum, (for school coach trips) and I'm not sure I'd use it daily. I'd prefer one of the old style solid boosters if you can get your hands on one and it will fit.

Ah sorry just seen you've tried that.
What about mini kid in the middle at the back in extended leg position?
Or maybe a different erf might work better. If you happen to be anywhere towards Bristol I've got a Britax two way elite you could test.

If the eldest child is going in the middle, then they will get side impact protection from the neighbouring seats. Legally they don't need a seat at all but I'd still advise a Bubblebum or other small booster cushion to allow for correct positioning of the seatbelt over hips and neck.

Have a look at this OP. We looked into it for our BMW.

www.multimac.com/home

Can you source one of these second hand. Or afford new?

www.multimac.com/home

It’s crazy that you’ve got an expensive car, expensive car seats but you can’t carry all
your family safely! It’s no wonder people just choose what’s cheap and easy when even a person who really cares about this stuff is having to compromise.

Ah thank you, unfortunately we aren’t near Bristol but very kind of you to offer

Yes I’ve had a look at the multimacs. It just annoys me that the baby can’t rear face past 13kg so seems like an expensive purchase that’s only really going to do a year and I’ll be back at square one.

@cautiouscovidity

If the eldest child is going in the middle, then they will get side impact protection from the neighbouring seats. Legally they don't need a seat at all but I'd still advise a Bubblebum or other small booster cushion to allow for correct positioning of the seatbelt over hips and neck.

Legally they absolutely do need a seat at 6.5!!!!

I think you should get a multimac. That should be fine for at least 18months unless you have an enormous baby. The 13kg weight limit will be well within what is safe rather than at 13.1kg it suddenly becomes unsafe.

You are then 2 years away from now when you might be able to swap your car for a cheap but large 2nd hand one. Or in 2 years time there may be more car seat choices or multimac equivalent with higher weight limit.

I think the multimac is your only option or you d really end up with your older child in an unsafe position. Maybe in a year or so you'd be in a better position to change your car?The kids are only going to get bigger and that car just isn't going to accommodate 3 kids long term. I'd be tempted to get an older high milage bigger car or people mover and drive it into the ground.

@jenniferjamesandbarryboo No they don't. If there's no room to fit a third child seat, a child over 3 can legally go without and use just the adult belt:

www.gov.uk/child-car-seats-the-rules/when-a-child-can-travel-without-a-car-seat

As I said, I'd still try and squeeze in a basic booster cushion to ensure the correct seatbelt positioning. A child sat in the middle is not generally at risk of side impact issues.

Similar question came up on Car Seat Advice UK if you care to read through 200+ comments! (Just came to post this and run)

www.facebook.com/groups/CSAUK/permalink/2034077276733393/

Had a search for you on the car seat groups and it seems Axkids do have the slimmest base so might be best for fitting adults in already.

WRT the infant carrier, the Pebble seats won't take up any less space than the Cabriofix but you might want to hold onto the Cabriofix as the newer Maxi Cosi ones are outgrown at 75cm height even if the baby still fits in - whereas Cabriofix often fits for a good 10cm longer. And since you're struggling to fit everyone in you won't want to move to a larger seat for LO for as long as possible!

Joie Juva is a bit slimmer, but it's a basic seat similar to the Cabriofix.

Wondering whether the infant seat might be a bit more stable if you fit it on a base? It might take up a fraction more room and be less comfortable for the adult, but at least it wouldn't move out of position.

If you went for HBB for the 4yo in order to allow 6yo to be on a full HBB, you could look at Besafe izi Flex Fix which has an extra strap to help prevent submarining which is one of the issues with younger children in HBB seats. It's slimmer than the Britax ones which have the same thing.

Thinking about covid restrictions - depending on when your baby is due maybe you could actually just minimise/avoid car journeys with all five of you for a few months after baby is born and then you might feel more comfortable with 4yo in a HBB seat?

On that thread for example, someone has said that they use bubble bum on the occasion that all 5 of them need to be in the car, and when only she or her husband drives the children and the other parent stays at home, the eldest uses their full HBB seat in the front seat.

Aww thanks Bertie for all your help. I’ll have a look at that thread too. Yep I’m planning on putting one in the front when it’s only the four of us. I’m going to try again today with the different combinations. I’m not sure if I tried with the baby seat in the middle now I come to think of it. Another reason I don’t like the multimac is that the baby seat looks so bulky and can’t be put on a pram. I know babies shouldn’t be in the car seat for long but just for the sake of nipping to the shops or to do the school run the multimac looks awful for carrying about. My DH says we won’t be going anywhere anyway ha. We live in a rural town and most of our journeys will be too school, shops etc and I know an accident can happen anywhere but most journeys won’t be on major roads and be at 30mph or less which makes me feel better about using bubblebum for the odd occasion. My parents have a much bigger car and I know I can borrow than for longer journeys or trips away but it’s just not ideal. Will have another go today and let you know how I get on. The neighbours must be wondering what the heck I am up to 😂🙈🙈 x

To not too

Hi everyone, thanks for all your advice. Have just spent some time doing some more combinations and feeling much happier. I’ve no idea what I was doing yesterday but tonight when I tried the baby car seat in the middle or the side next to the hbb, I could fit semi comfortably on the outside without moving the seats too much. Will then put the axkid in the front or another high back booster depending on how mature my 4 year old will be then. I did try the bubblebum as I’d already bought it and it arrived today and if I’m honest I was quite impressed with how it positioned the seatbelt on my eldest. We don’t need to use it now but I definitely don’t feel as bad if I did have to for the occasionally short, local trip. Will probably have to look at getting a new car in another year or so once the kids are older and baby is out of infant carrier but hopefully we’d be in a better position then to do so. Phew, have felt so stressed about this. Thanks again x

Glad you've found a combo that works.
Sorry if I've missed it, but can your front airbag be turned off? If so you can use the axkid, but if not you must never put a rear facing seat in the front with active airbag

That's brill! :) Glad you found a combo that works.