Updated October 18, 2026 · NurseryCue Editorial Team
Hire for Baby vs Ickle Bubba
Ickle Bubba
Hire for Baby
Higher score in this comparison
What sets them apart
| Compare | Hire for BabyReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | Ickle BubbaReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Reference models | Britax Unity Isofix, Maxi Cosi Mico Plus, Booster Car Seat | Aries Auto-Fold Stroller, Pisces Ultra-Compact Stroller, Venus Jogger Pro, Venus Prime Double Stroller |
| Price from | A$45 | £99 |
| Child height range | 145cm | 40-150cm |
| Rear-facing limit | up to 12 months | 105cm |
| Markets | AU | GB, GG, IM, JE |
| Rotating seat | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Load leg or rebound bar | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Seat weight (kg) | Not confirmed | 6 |
| Seat lifespan | 10 years | Not confirmed |
| Recalls | Not confirmed | Solar Group 1 2 3 Isofix Car Seat 01/02/2024 23/02/2024 |
Same on both: ISOFIX or LATCH (Yes).
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Key differences
- Hire for Baby scores higher overall: 9.0 vs 8.9.
- Support channels: only Hire for Baby offers Phone.
- Support channels: only Ickle Bubba offers Email, Chat, Help centre.
- Founded is lower at Hire for Baby: 1988 vs 2013.
- Ickle Bubba is available in 3 more countries.
- Seat types: only Ickle Bubba offers All in one.
- Markets: only Hire for Baby offers AU.
- Markets: only Ickle Bubba offers GB, GG, IM.
Our verdict on each
Hire for Baby
Hire for Baby suits Australian parents who want a car seat for one stage of a child's growth rather than a permanent purchase. Infant carriers start at AUD 45, each seat has a stated expiry of 10 years, and that hire model sets it apart from buying a Britax or Evenflo seat outright.
Ickle Bubba
Ickle Bubba suits parents who want the pushchair, the car seat and the sleep furniture from a single British brand, and who put a light frame above a premium badge. The lightest stroller weighs 4.9 kg and places 2 of 42 brands on weight.
Score breakdown
| Area | Hire for Baby | Ickle Bubba |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.8HigherInfant hire starts at AUD 45, ranked 3 of 24 brands on starting price, and the cost score is 9.8. | 9.0Entry price sits at £99 against a top of £1,099, and ranks 10 of 43 brands on entry. |
| Offer | 8.8A rental option and infant, convertible and booster seats in infant, convertible and booster cover several growth stages, with a spare parts shop alongside. | 9.2HigherA one hand fold, a cabin size fold, a warranty of 2 to 4 years, and capacity to 22 kg. |
| Trust | 8.0Long trading history since 1988 under Hire for Baby Pty Ltd, a stated seat expiry of 10 years, and support on phone only. | 8.2HigherFounded 2013 in GB and run by Ickle Bubba Limited, with 14 days to return a purchase, and support on email, chat and help centre. |
Which one suits you
Pick Hire for Baby if cost matter most.
Pick Ickle Bubba if offer matter most.
How they place
| Ranking | Hire for Baby | Ickle Bubba |
|---|---|---|
| Strollers and pushchairs | 30 of 65 | 3 of 65 |
| Travel systems | 15 of 36 | 3 of 36 |
| Infant car seats | 16 of 32 | 4 of 32 |
| Convertible and extended rear-facing seats | 16 of 33 | 4 of 33 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Hire for Baby | Ickle Bubba |
|---|---|---|
| Seat types | Infant, Convertible, Booster | Infant, Convertible, All in one, BoosterCovers more |
| Standards | Not confirmed | R129, R44 |
| Legal entity | Hire for Baby Pty Ltd | Ickle Bubba Limited |
| Headquarters | Australia | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 1988Lower | 2013 |
| Support channels | Phone | Email, Chat, Help centre, Community |
Cribs and bassinets
| Fact | Hire for Baby | Ickle Bubba |
|---|---|---|
| Products | Breast pump | Crib, Cot, Bassinet, Bedside crib, Mattress |
| Maximum age | 24 months | 48 monthsHigher |
| Maximum child weight (kg) | 15 | Not confirmed |
| Mattress included | YesHas it | No |
| Mattress size | 120 x 60 cm | 140 x 70cm |
| Converts to | Not confirmed | Toddler bed |
| Smart features | Not confirmed | No |
| Rental option | YesHas it | No |
| Warranty | Not confirmed | 2 to 4 years |
Strollers
| Fact | Hire for Baby | Ickle Bubba |
|---|---|---|
| Stroller types | Compact, Double, Jogging, Pram, Travel, Travel system | Full size, Compact, Travel, Jogging, Double, Pram, Travel systemCovers more |
| Price up to | A$285 | £1,099 |
| Lightest model (kg) | Not confirmed | 4.9 |
| Folded size | Not confirmed | 45 x 25 x 56 cm |
| One-hand fold | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Cabin-size fold | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Suitable from birth | Not confirmed | Lie flat seat |
| Maximum child weight (kg) | Not confirmed | 22 |
| Compatible car seats | Britax, Cybex, Mother Choice, Maxi Cosi | Not confirmed |
Feeding
| Fact | Hire for Baby | Ickle Bubba |
|---|---|---|
| Pump type | Hospital grade | Not confirmed |
| Spare parts shop | Yes | Not confirmed |
Baby stores
| Fact | Hire for Baby | Ickle Bubba |
|---|---|---|
| Money-back period | Not confirmed | 14 days |
Baby carriers
| Fact | Hire for Baby | Ickle Bubba |
|---|---|---|
| Carrier types | Not confirmed | Soft structured |
| Weight range | Not confirmed | up to 15 kg |
| Newborn without insert | Not confirmed | No |
| Carrying positions | Not confirmed | 3 |
| Waist fit | Not confirmed | 57-173 cm |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Hire for Baby | Ickle Bubba | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seat weight (kg) | Not confirmed | 6below the median | 8.55 |
| Seat lifespan | 10 yearsat the median | Not confirmed | 10 years |
Median across 24 listed brands.
Pros and cons
Hire for Baby
Pros
- Infant baby carriers start at AUD 45, so a stage of car seat use costs a hire fee rather than the full outlay of buying that seat.
- The infant baby carriers have an Isofix latch, so the seat anchors to the car's anchor points instead of routing a belt through the shell.
- Seat types run to infant, convertible and booster, so a family can step up from an infant carrier to a booster within the same hire list.
Cons
- Support runs on phone only, so a question about a swap or a return waits on that channel rather than an email or chat line.
- Hires are available in AU only, so the range does not reach families hiring from outside Australia.
- Rear facing hire stops at up to 12 months, so a family wanting to extend rear facing has to look at a purchase from a retailer such as Britax.
Ickle Bubba
Pros
- The lightest stroller in the comparison weighs 4.9 kg and places 2 of 42 brands, with a one hand fold and a cabin size fold on the same collection.
- A warranty of 2 to 4 years across the stroller range, plus 14 days to return a purchase after delivery.
- Stroller types listed are full size, compact and travel, and the jogging and pram options do not appear in the Kids2Shop range of full size, compact and travel.
Cons
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, so there is no phone line for a problem that cannot wait for an email.
- Mattress included is a no for the Coleby Classic bed, so the 140 x 70cm mattress is a separate cost on top of a frame that converts to a toddler bed.
- A product safety notice covers the Solar Group Isofix car seat, listed as Solar Group 1 2 3 Isofix Car Seat 01/02/2024 23/02/2024, so owners of that seat should read it before fitting.
Who each suits
Hire for Baby
Who it suits
- Australian parents at the birth stage who want an Isofix infant carrier now and a booster later, since the range covers infant, convertible and booster.
- Families who would rather hire than commit to buying, because a rental option is offered and infant hire starts at AUD 45.
- Shoppers who want named models on the hire list, with Britax Unity Isofix, Maxi Cosi Mico Plus, Booster Car Seat given as reference points.
Who should look elsewhere
- Families hiring outside Australia, since the service runs in AU only, where Britax and Evenflo Company sell direct instead.
- Parents who want rear facing beyond up to 12 months, since Safety 1st lists an all-in-one type that the Hire for Baby range does not.
- Buyers who want a seat to keep, since the Hire for Baby model is built around a rental option, where Evenflo Company and Britax sell seats outright.
Ickle Bubba
Who it suits
- Parents assembling a full set in one place, since crib, cot and bassinet and infant, convertible and all in one sit in the same catalogue.
- Travellers who want a one hand fold, a cabin size fold and a 4.9 kg frame, where the Kids2Shop range of full size, compact and travel stops at full size, compact, travel and travel system options.
- Shoppers in the United Kingdom, GG and IM who want 14 days to return a purchase without visiting a store.
Who should look elsewhere
- Parents set on a wrap, ring sling or hip seat carrier, because the only carrier type listed is soft structured and a carrier specialist is a better stop for that choice.
- Families who want a double specialist, since Harppa Baby's double is built around double models, while Ickle Bubba spreads across full size, compact and travel.
- Parents hoping for connected sleep monitoring, since smart features are a no on the bed and a monitor brand is the better route.
Country by country
| Country | Hire for Baby | Ickle Bubba |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Yes | No |
| Guernsey | No | Yes |
| Isle of Man | No | Yes |
| Jersey | No | Yes |
| United Kingdom | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Hire for Baby
How much does it cost to hire a car seat?+
Infant baby carriers start at AUD 45 and the deluxe pram hire sits at AUD 285, so the pram hire is the larger outlay. On the site, Hire for Baby ranks 3 of 24 brands on starting price, which puts it near the front of the listings.
Is hiring cheaper than owning a seat?+
Buying a seat is a one-off outlay, while the Hire for Baby rental option spreads the cost across the stages a child needs it, with infant hire from AUD 45. Only 8.5% of the brands on the site offer a rental option, so most families buying at a retailer make a purchase rather than a hire.
Ickle Bubba
How much do Ickle Bubba strollers cost?+
Stroller prices run from £99 to £1,099 across the collection. Both are product prices paid at purchase rather than a plan that renews, so the entry figure is the whole outlay for a smaller frame. Since both numbers are charged at checkout, they compare more directly with rival brands than a monthly fee would.
How small do the strollers fold, and do any suit cabin luggage rules?+
A one hand fold and a cabin size fold are both confirmed on the stroller collection, and the folded size for the compact model is 45 x 25 x 56 cm. The lightest frame weighs 4.9 kg, well under the 7.34 kg median for the category, so the small end of the range suits airports, stations and small flats.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
- Ickle Bubba vs Momcozy
- Hire for Baby vs Silver Cross
- Hire for Baby vs Evenflo Company
- Hire for Baby vs Safety 1st
- Hire for Baby vs Britax
- Hire for Baby vs VEER GEAR
- Hire for Baby vs Baby Jogger
- Hire for Baby vs Bombi
- Ickle Bubba vs Mockingbird
- Ickle Bubba vs iCandy
- Ickle Bubba vs Colugo
- Ickle Bubba vs Ergobaby
- Ickle Bubba vs Coolblue Belgium
- Ickle Bubba vs Mamazing
- Ickle Bubba vs Mamas & Papas
- Ickle Bubba vs The Little Green Sheep
- Ickle Bubba vs Bc Babycare
- Ickle Bubba vs Snuz
- Hire for Baby vs Bugaboo
Ickle Bubba
Hire for Baby