The pandemic has brought along a whole new definition of normality in our everyday lives and hygiene has become top priority in many families’ daily routines. Answering to this rising demand in the past year, there are many devices that offer sanitizing functions to small everyday objects by using UV-C lights, much like the bigger machines that sterilize baby bottles at home. But how exactly does UV-C kill bacteria and viruses, and are they truly effective? There is actually a lot of information out there on this topic, but with all the scientific terms and jargons, it can be mind-boggling to tease out the important information. Here below are some of the questions I had when I first looked into this rabbit hole and what I managed to find and summarize after doing some research on the topic. Hope it helps fellow curious moms who want to keep their families healthy and germ-free!
Where does UV-C light come from and how does it kill germs?
The sun emits 3 types of UV rays: UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C. UV-A gives you a nice tan, UV-B gives you a sun burn, and UV-C actually destroys any living thing on earth. Luckily, the earth’s atmospheric layer blocks out the short wave-length UV-C rays, and therefore all living organisms on earth never have to develop a natural defense mechanism against it, not even harmful organisms. The UV-C rays damages the DNA of the organisms and prevent them to multiply and cause illnesses, that is what makes UV-C light so powerful in inactivating bacteria and viruses.
Some disinfecting devices claims they can reduce 99% of germs while others say they can reduce 99.999%, is there a lot of difference?
This percentage tells you how effective the device is against bacteria or viruses. Taking a colony of 1 million bacteria as sample size, the ability to reduce 99% of the colony means there are 10,000 bacteria left alive. The reduction rate is exponential therefore every extra 9 you see behind the decimal point means the bacteria or viruses are reduced by 10 times more. This means the ability to reduce 99.999% of nasties is 1000 times more effective than the ability to reduce 99%, eliminating all but 100 bacteria in the colony of 1 million! So those “9s” DO matter, and the more the better!
What determines the strength and efficiency of the UV-C sanitizing device?
The disinfection happens when UV-C rays directly hits the surface with the virus and the effectiveness of disinfection depends on the dose of UV-C ray applied. There are 3 major factors that contribute to the dose of UV-C given: strength of UV-C rays, distance between the light source and the virus, and the exposure time. Therefore, when a device boasts of having a high number of UV-C LEDs, or a short disinfecting cycle, it does not necessary mean that it is more powerful than others in the market. According to the FDA, many home sanitizing appliances deliver a low dose of UV-C light and therefore might need longer exposure cycles to be effective.  So, based on the above information, to reach a strong disinfecting result, we need to expose the object to a strong enough dose of UV-C light for a long enough period of time with uninterrupted direct exposure from all sides.
If UV-C light is so destructive to living organisms, and can damage our eyes and skin with direct exposure, what should be a safe and responsible way of using this amazing technology?
There is some debate out there about the harm UV-c rays can cause to human beings, but most materials I found conclude that we need to use it with extreme caution. For a UV-C device to be truly safe, the LEDs should be enclosed in a complete radiation leak-proof casing when it is performing its sanitizing cycle. Any accidental opening of the closed environment should immediately terminate the cycle and the LEDs turned off. Unfortunately, since this kind of home-use sanitizing devices have only become more popular recently under the pandemic, many newly designed products have not yet gone through and passed the necessary safety tests as consumer goods. In many of them, the UV-C light source can be exposed to the naked eye and skin during its operation, causing potential harm. I find this article quite helpful in explaining this point.
What are the benefits of using UV-C sanitizers instead of disinfecting wipes to clean our daily objects such as keys, phones, or the bite ring that was dropped on the sidewalk by your toddler?
I only found out recently that disinfecting wipes do not instantly sanitize the objects and needs a few minutes for the chemical solutions to work their magic. The same solution also leaves residue on the surface that you might not want your child to come into contact with all the time. Besides, the wipes are only good for hard surfaces and wouldn’t be as efficient on soft materials such as soft toys. UV-C sanitizers, on the other hand, zaps away most bacteria and viruses without leaving any residue or something for the earth to digest in the landfills.
BLAST-UV away the nasties!
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Bombol team has been doing tonnes of research on the UV-C disinfecting technology. We found that since there are so many factors contributing to an efficient disinfecting result, very few devices currently available in the market have managed to achieve the delicate balance between having the strong enough amount of UV-C dose, combined with the correct time exposure, and optimum distance in a truly contained and safe enclosure. As if that is not big enough a challenge, we had to make this device foldable into the size of a wallet, genuine to the Bombol spirit of lightening the load of parents-on-the-go! We dedicated the past year to design our very own UV-C disinfector, BLAST UV, that we can proudly say that we got all angles covered, figuratively and literally! Come find out more about BLAST-UV and all the nerdy techs behind the portable disinfecting device that can reduce bacteria by up to 99.999999% and Sars-COV-2 surrogate by 99.99%*. Yup, we got THAT many “9’s”!!!
Stay Sparky!
* SGS Laboratories and Harrens Labs have independently tested and certified that Blast UV™ Disinfector inactivated 99.99% of Human Coronavirus 229E virus, a recommended Sars-Cov-2 surrogate by ASTM [US} and TGA [Australia], and killed 99.999999% of Staphylococcus Aureus and 99.99999% of Escherichia Coli Bacteria, in just 5 minutes.
We are here to answer your questions
You can probably imagine having a portable booster can be a game changer, not only when it comes to travelling with kids, but also when visiting relatives and friends who do not have a highchair to host your munchkin. Additionally, it is a lifesaver for setting up home-schooling for your little one right next to your workstation at home without having to lug around that heavy cumbersomehighchair from the kitchen!
Pop Up has won numerous design awards such as the Reddot award, iF Design award, and Good Design Award, just to name a few. It has also been included in the prestigious Best-of-Baby award of The Bump in 2019 and 2020, and as one of the best travel high chairs for babies on “Ode Magazine” in 2021.
Since the launch of our Pop-Up booster a few years ago, we have received some “popular” questions about the booster and its correct use. So, we thought this blog post could be a good occasion to provide everyone who already has or is interested in the Pop-Up, and who might have the same questions in mind, with more information so you can make the best out of your Pop-Up!
From what age can my baby start to use the Pop-Up booster?
Pop-Up is suitable for babies who can sit up steadily without help and without swaying (around 6-9 months of age depending on the individual development of your baby). The adjustable5-point harness is great for smaller babies to give them extra security when using the Pop-Up. When your little one is older and a bit taller, you can release the two shoulder straps and the 3-point harness instead.
Until what age can my child use the Pop-Up Booster? Is there a weight limit?
The Pop-Up booster is compliant with the EU and US booster safety norms. The toughest one is the US norm where a booster needs to survive 500 poundings with 22.7kg (50 lbs). To be on the safe side, we tested the Pop-Up booster with 20.000 poundings of 75kg (165 lbs) and it passed! So you don’t need to worry about any weight limit as long as your child weighs less than 75kg (165lb)! Children can safely us the Pop-Up until they are tall enough to sit on an adult dining chair without the boost of height (around 4 years old).
How is the Pop-Up secured onto the adult chair? What if my very active child sways forcefully from side to side, will the booster tip over together with the adult chair?
According to many international safety rules, the booster seat needs to be secured onto the adult chair in at least 2 places: around adult chair’s back and around the chair’s seat area. That is why our Pop-Up comes with a big security belt that is long enough to go around the seat back of most dining chair designs and to go around the seat of the adult chair that allows you to fasten it tightly under the chair with a big buckle. To test if the booster is installed correctly on the chair, you should be able to lift the booster together with the adult chair secured tightly to it.
If your toddler is super active and likes to sway from side to side forcefully, the below pre-caution is valid for all kinds of boosters, not just our Pop-Up. Before putting the child in it, please make sure that Pop-Up is installed securely and passes the above “booster-lifting-with-chair” test. It is also especially important to use an adult chair with a sturdy base and legs that take up a bigger surface area.
Never use the booster on high bar chairs, foldable chairs, stools with no backrest, nor benches.
What is the surface material of Pop-Up made of? How can we clean it after use?
Pop-Up’s surface material is a polyester fabric that has a special PU finishing on top that is non-toxic yet gives it the stain-resistant and water-resistant superpower. You only need to sponge clean the booster with a mild detergent and the booster is good as new! Do not immerse the Pop-Up into water and avoid abrasive or alcohol-based detergents.
I find my brand new Pop-Up really difficult to open by pulling on the red tab, what am I doing wrong?
Like a pair of new shoes, the Pop-Up needs some time to soften up, especially being folded closed in its box for a while by the time it reaches you. We recommend opening the booster for the first few times by “pre-opening” the seat’s backrest by hand first before pulling the red tab. This will be a bit easier until the booster loosens up a bit more and you getting the hang of it. To illustrate this better, we have made a tutorial video to show you exactly how it’s done:
Ask away!
We hope this article helped to answer most of the questions you might have on Pop-Up, or how to use a booster in general. But do drop us a line at shop@bombol.com or leave us a message on our Facebook page if you need any further information.
Stay Sparky!
Not a Bouncer just for babies!
Not long ago we have celebrated the 10thbirthday of our Bamboo Bouncer. It is not for nothing that the Bamboo remains as the only bouncer in the market that can accommodate your child from birth to almost 5 years old (18kg)! Through the years, we have collected various customer feedbacks and gained more ideas on how to make the already pretty perfect Bamboo Bouncer into something that is close to FLAWLESS – The Bamboo 3DKnit Bouncer! We have recently been ranked as one of the best baby bouncer on the product review platform “OdeMagazine”!
To those who are new to Bombol’s baby bouncer, or would like to know more about our Bamboo 3DKnit bouncer, we have put together the below Q&A. Hopefully, this can help you understand the bouncer a bit more and see where the value for money on this long-lasting piece of furniture is that grows with your child, and the one after, and maybe the one after that…
Why is the Bamboo 3DKnit so special when compared to other bouncers that cost only a fraction of the price?
Useful for a lot longer
Our bouncer is the only one in the market that allows you to use from newborn until almost 5 years old (up to 40 lbs / 18kg) as it is certified both as a bouncer and a chair. Other bouncers in the market might be cheaper, but you can only use them between 6 to 15 months.
No more sweaty necks and backs
The 3DKnit technology makes the seat completely breathable so sweaty necks and backs of baby can get more air! We can also engineer different support strengths into different areas of the back rest all in one go with no seams. So, your child can have just the right amount of support on the neck and back area or wherever it is needed with extra comfort.
Super Sturdy
Furthermore, our patented frame is made of aeronautical grade aluminium (similar to that used in aerospace / car industry). At the same time, its patented front curves create soft bounces just from your child’s own movement. There is no need for battery powered gimmicks that can easily breakdown.
Super Comfy
When baby is older, the bouncer can be converted into toddler mode and be used as a relaxing lounge chair for chilling out, reading, or watching TV. It is a piece of furniture your child can truly call his own for years to come.
What is the “DBR”?
The patented Dynamic Back Rest allows the child to choose his own sitting position by the shifting of his body weight, just like an office chair. It also has infinite degrees of inclination and when your child is leaning back, he can lay flatter than other bouncers, letting his belly and chest area to open up more. This way your baby is not always seated in the same position with his belly folded up even when in the inclined position.
Which setting to use at which weight / age?
Our 8 months old baby is 22 lbs / 10 Kg and can sit up but not walk. What setting is appropriate? It seems that he has grown out of the newborn configuration (S) but is still too young for lounge seat (L)?
According to the American safety regulation, as long as baby is not yet walking, the newborn configuration (S) needs to be used. But if you think your baby is getting a bit bigger now, you can adjust the T-shaped safety harness by shifting the buttons on either side to another button-eyelet located on the lateral for a looser fit.
So if even he is over the 20 lbs / 10 Kg limit he can still use the newborn configuration (S)?
Of course! For our product, the weight is not a determining factor of the configuration you use because the frame can hold beyond 165 lbs / 75kg anyways! But the weight is usually a guideline provided by safety regulators to indicate the approximate age the baby is in and therefore which mode you need to use.
What is the filler material of the Bamboo 3Dknit™ seat? Is it a sponge or a foam?
The Bamboo 3DKnit™ bouncer does not use PU or EVA foam as padding. We use a polyester 3D spacer material that is much more breathable and is recyclable.
We are always here to answer your questions
Should you have any other questions or would like us to clarify any of the above points, please send us an email at shop@bombol.com or leave us a message on our Facebook page. We have also prepared a series of tutorial videos showing you how to install and use the Bamboo 3DKnit bouncer.
Stay Sparky!
Once Upon a Time in Milan
Fred and I became parents for the first time in 2006, that was when we were introduced to a whole new world of all things baby! Like all diligent new parents, we did a lot of research on what we needed to buy for our first little princess. Unfortunately, we were quite disappointed with what we found, both in terms of design and function. These two important aspects could not seem to coexist in one product! We were living in Milan, Italy at the time, and with Fred being a product designer and I was working in the fashion industry, we literally breathed and lived “design” every day.  Naturally, we dreamed of injecting more “design” input into the baby furniture industry by creating items that we think can meet our expectations on form and function, at same time revolutionize this sector.
The first item we wanted to work on was the piece of furniture that our daughter used the most – the baby bouncer. It was my lifesaver as I could put Yasmine in the bouncer on the floor next to me while I hung up laundry, prepared meals, even outside the bathroom door! But the more we used our bouncer, the more room for improvement we think it has.
What features does an ideal Bouncer need to have?
From our first-hand experience as final users, an ideal bouncer should have all or most of the below features:
It should bounce gently even without our intervention (to keep baby entertained while giving our arm / foot a rest), but should have no electrical parts to generate the movement since they tend to breakdown easily and cannot hold too much weight.
Particularly important is proper neck and back support for the little one, especially when the babies have not yet developed strength in their spines (usually before 6 months old).
There should be multiple inclination positions on the seat’s backrest to accommodate baby’s different activities, be it playing or relaxing. Our daughter suffered a lot from colic and we found that a more comfortable position for her was to sit more inclined so her tummy could open up more, thus soothing her cramps.
We would like our baby to enjoy her favorite chair for as long as possible, beyond the usual 6-9 months age and weight limit of most bouncers in the market. Preferably the bouncer would be sturdy enough to last her a few years and eventually can be passed on to a younger sibling.
Let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work!
After identifying our dream bouncer’s most important features, Fred started his work on the drawing board, literally! Initially he wanted to use bamboo as the frame material due to its pliable yet stable nature, but since we were in the north of Italy and were surrounded by expert engineers from various industries, he soon realized that aero-space grade aluminium is actually a better and more durable option. But we liked the idea of bamboo so much that we kept it as our bouncer’s name!
When we got the frame design sorted out, we turned our dining table into a little sewing workshop where I used my very rusty sewing skills (from my fashion school days) to make trial samples for the seat cover and back rest using my mother-in-law’s sewing machine from the 70’s! The entire design journey took us almost 1 year and in late 2009 we became proud parents, this time to our Bamboo Bouncer!
All Made with Love
Another year later, with our marketing budget being non-existent, some truly kind friends, Mimmo & Sabine and New Target Web, helped us to produce our very first product video on a shoestring with free models (our own baby Nisha and a few adorable kids of our friends)! Out of pure nostalgia, here is the video (watch out for our little Nisha with a green bunny dressed as a boy because we only had a couple of baby boy models):
A New Era
We celebrated Bombol’s 10th birthday last year and we are so proud that our Bamboo Bouncer is still being appreciated by so many kids around the world. Through the years, we have gathered many constructive feedbacks from our customers on the bouncer. We have taken these comments seriously and worked on an updated version of the bouncer, Bamboo 3DKnit, which we launched earlier this year.
We are constantly doing our best to improve our existing products and our creative juice is always flowing to come up with exciting new ways to help modern parents to lighten their load. Stay tuned for more innovations and Stay Sparky!
A Foldable Booster is Definitely a Game-Changer!
It is always better to use your own booster seat than a public one
Hygiene concern is a big issue these days and all parents are very much on the alert to keep everything their baby uses as clean as possible, especially when eating out. Many restaurants or hospitality spaces do offer highchairs for their little guests, but they might not have the time to keep their equipment as clean as we would like them to. Having your own booster seat is the best solution in this case when you can clean it properly after use and your child can have a clean booster to sit on every time.
Say “NO” to chunky furniture also in Grandma’s house!
Our parents have made so many sacrifices for us since the day we were born and continue to do so when they become Grandparents. They babysit our kids, take them on holidays, and spoil them with sweets before passing them back to us still sugar-high! So many grandparents have a complete set of baby gear at their homes so they are fully equipped to take on the grandkids at any time. After an action-packed weekend at Grannies’ the kids have gone home, and they are stuck with the bulky high-chair in their kitchen for the rest of the week / month! This is when a foldable booster seat can come in handy for them: it can be folded and stored away in the drawer until the next visit without taking up space. No bulky furniture they need to move in or out of storage either.
It’s chair for home away from home, wherever you go
Kids tend to get attached to things very easily and would like to drag along everything that belongs to them, furniture included! This might help them to feel more secure when they are away from home or familiar surroundings. For a toddler, sitting at a table for a meal outside the home environment might feel a bit intimidating at times, so having brought along his own chair could help him ease into the situation a bit faster. A foldable booster seat makes taking along his own dining chair beats lugging a highchair to your friend’s house!
