BubbleBum - BubbleBum Inflatable Travel Booster Seat

How old is your kiddo? We have just about every version of travel car seats bc we do long haul travel a lot.  For the 0-3 crowd, the Cosco Scenera is perfect. Cheap, light, straps easily to a travel stroller using a luggage strap, so you just strap it on and strap your kiddo in, for getting around the airport. Also cheap enough to be left behind if you only need it in one direction.  For the 2-5 crowd, the WayB Pico (FF only) is really nice. Also light, though you’ll want the backpack that’s another $80+ to store it if you’re going through airports. Kind of a B to install, but really compact and nice.  For the 4+ crowd (we started at 3.5,which is a bit young tbh), the Ride Safer Travel Vest is amazing. They wear it and you clip the seatbelt into it. It also has an optional top tether just like a FF seat’s top tether, for an added layer of security.  For the 6+ crowd, the bubble bum inflatable bum booster is great. 

I always got all of my car seat recommendations from the website Car Seats for the Littles (csftl.org). If you do a google search for “car seats for the littles travel”, you’ll find the ones they recommend. We got an inflatable BubbleBum travel booster for our kids when they were younger based on CSFTL’s recommendation, but that recommendation is based on size and age, and our kids are both tall for their age.

We used an inflatable booster for our oldest when we went to a wedding that was at a remote site where everyone parked in a big lot and took a 16 passenger van/ mini bus to a beautiful spot in the desert. If one or both of your kids meet the specifications for a "BubbleBum," it's a good option.

We have a Cosco Finale. It's super light (like, easily heft it with one hand; we sling them over a shoulder if need be, but typically check them for free with the airline when we fly so as not to bother) and affordable, with a 5 point harness up to 65 lbs and then can convert to a backless booster (up to 100 lbs). Might not work for a plane, but we feel comfortable with our kid using the regular lap belt now (thought I've looked into the CARES harnesses). We do also have a Bubble Bum seat, but we prefer the Finale.

I am a CPST here in the US, so I have an extensive collection of car seats. I do a baseless install with a Nuna pipa, but I just installed the revolve slim today for my 1 year old (he is small) my 4 year old uses a Graco tranzitions and my 6 year old uses a bubble bum inflatable booster. My 4 year old has also used a ride safer travel vest. I’ve seen people manage 3 across with the graco slimfit. I’m not sure what seats you have access to. It’s doable though. My kids haven’t complained about being cramped when we do 3 across. We don’t drive more than 2 hours usually in one direction. If we are doing a longer trip, we drive my large suv.

We used an inflatable booster (Bubble bum) starting around that age. Biggest issue is keeping the kid ON the booster, lol. It’s smaller and they can slide off if they move around a lot. I also found that ours in particular didn’t last super long - maybe a year or two but I did have to do a repeat purchase in the not super large window that we needed it. The cost and convenience are good though.

We don’t drive much when we travel, so our 5yo (similar stats for height and weight) uses a Bubble Bum. I got it specifically because it’s UK and EU certified and I didn’t want something that would be disallowed in Europe.  We previously had a Cosco Finale for travel, but are probably done with it in harness-mode based on height. It was fine on the plane in harness mode though, and pretty lightweight to tote around. I never checked it - always flew in-cabin. 

For plane no car seat for the 5 year old Travel car seat is a bubble bum. Super easy to use. Portable and light weight. Can’t wait til my daughter is 4 so she can use it too and we don’t need any traditional car seats when traveling

I don’t know the age of your child, but these bubble bum boosters are great. They are inflatable. I have traveled with them in the past. https://bubblebum.co/?srsltid=AfmBOoojj2rkI_zJ3IQMis4reRMOssFHKCzvpMcBKTsRbt6J85Tiui7Z

Some ideas- 1. get cheaper seats delivered to your first hotel and return them to Amazon after the trip. Get three blow up boosters (I like Bubble bum) if you need to have a seat to get from car rental to hotel 2.Rent seats from the car rental place.