As soon as the temperature warms, I try to be on the water as much as possible, from boating to kayaking to just sitting by the pool. So, I was still pregnant when I started researching life jackets for babies and my daughter was just two weeks old when I brought her for her first day of boating on the lake.
What I discovered was that finding baby and toddler life jackets—especially those under 20 pounds—can be challenging. You want to be sure your child is safe, but also comfortable and stay in place. So whether you need an infant or toddler life jacket for the pool or for boating, here’s what you should consider.
Life Jacket vs. Swim Vest
In your research, you may come across two terms: life jacket and swim vest. They are not interchangeable.
A life jacket is a personal floatation device (PFD) designed to keep a person face up with their head above water in an emergency. Life jackets are required by law on boats or in open water situations.
A swim vest is less buoyant and designed to assist children learning to swim. They keep a child balanced in the water and encourage the proper swimming position. Swim vests are not approved by the U.S. Coast Guard as PFDs and cannot be used on boats or in open water.
In this article, we’ve included both life jackets and swim vests. Maybe you want to find the safest PFD for your baby or toddler for a boating excursion. Or maybe you want to help your toddler feel more confident in their swimming techniques. Either way, we’ve got you covered.
How to Choose a Baby or Toddler Life Jacket
The most important thing you can do to ensure your baby is safe on the water is to make sure that they have a life jacket that fits correctly. Infant life jackets are meant to support kids who weigh less than 33 pounds. After that, you’ll want to opt for a child-sized life jacket, which supports up to 55 pounds.
If you’re looking for a baby or toddler life jacket for boating, you’ll want one that’s approved by the U.S. Coast Guard. A type II PFD is meant to keep children floating in relatively calm waters. And while the Coast Guard approves life jackets for babies, it notes that infant life jackets may not work for the tiniest babies under 18 pounds. So, if you’re going to be taking to the water with a tiny infant, be sure to check the fit of the life jacket in a pool ahead of time.
Now that you have the right size, you’ll want to focus on features:
- Head support. Many life jackets for babies and even toddlers have support that can hold their head out of the water if they’re unable to do so themselves.
- Leg straps. Another important safety feature is a strap that goes beneath the legs, making sure baby can’t slip out of the life jacket.
- Stay-in-place comfort. A life jacket only works when it’s being worn, so you want one that your child won’t mind wearing. For many kids, that means choosing a thinner jacket.
Stearns Infant Classic Series Life Vest
We all want our babies to be safe on the water, but some of us like every extra bit of precaution. If that’s you, you’ll love the Stearns Infant Classic Series Life Vest, designed for babies up to 30 pounds. The large head rest is meant to make sure that baby turns face-up in the water, so that they’ll be able to breath even if they’re not able to turn themselves. That’s the biggest reassurance, but there are also smaller safety features: the prominent handle makes it easy to scoop baby up quickly and the bright green colors makes them easy to spot in the water.
It’s helpful to have an infant vest that’s specially designed for infants under 30 pounds, which is exactly what this vest provides. Plus, it features two adjustable chest straps and a crotch strap to ensure a tight fit. It’s made of durable nylon so it will last through whatever fun your family will have this summer.
Features:
- Encourages face-up flotation
- 1 inch wide straps
- Rescue handle
Keep in mind:
While the Stearns Infant Classic Series Life Vest is great from a safety perspective, it’s fairly bulky, so smaller infants in particular might find it bothersome or hot. However, if your baby will tolerate it, this jacket is a great, affordable safety option.
Be sure to also check out Stearns’ Type II Life Vest for kids between 30 and 50 lbs.
Gogokids Kids Swim Vest
This lightweight swim vest is designed for your up-and-coming swimmer. It enables your child to keep their balance while providing buoyant support as they learn basic swimming skills. Equipped with multiple adjustable straps and crotch support, this swim vest ensures a safe and secure fit for your child.
Gogokids specializes in children’s swim vests, so you can rest assured they offer a safe, high-quality product for children learning to swim. According to their size guide, they recommend a size small for toddlers between 2-3 years or 26-35 lbs. Their swim vests can accommodate children up to 60 lbs.
The vest is made from an outer layer of 2mm neoprene and a filling of EPE foam for buoyancy support. These materials are both lightweight and sink-friendly, making for a more comfortable swimming experience.
Features:
- UFP 50+ protection
- Grab handle
- Padded crotch strap
- Quick-release buckles
Keep in mind:
This vest is NOT rated by the U.S. Coast Guard for unconscious, life-saving purposes. It is strictly to aid a child who is learning to swim. This life vest would not be suitable in a theme park or on a boating excursion.
Oceans7 Life Jacket
Suitable for children who weigh between 30 and 50 lbs. This life vest is equipped with three adjustable straps and an open-sided design to maximize safety and comfort. Your child can use wear this life jacket while learning to swim or for general boating activities.
The Oceans7 brand has both infant and child-sized life jackets which are U.S. Coast Guard-approved PFDs. Because these vests are approved by the Coast Guard, they can be worn in pools, lakes, or oceans. Oceans7 life vests are helpful tools for children who are learning to swim, but they can also be used as safety precautions for water sports and boating activities.
The vests feature quick-drying fabric that is breathable and lightweight. Both the infant and child-sized jackets include crotch straps and adjustable straps to ensure a safe, secure fit. When the straps are adjusted properly, the vest should not rise about your child’s head.
- Fully enclosed jacket with extra head support
- Chest: 16-20 inches
- Weight: 8-30 lbs
- Crotch strap
- Two adjustable buckle closures
- Open-sided design for maximum comfort of multiple sizes
- Chest: 20-25 inches
- Weight: 30-50 lbs.
- Crotch strap
- Three adjustable buckle closures
REALIKE Kids Swim Vest
REALIKE kids swim vests range in sizes from S-XL for children between 22 and 88 lbs. Their small size is recommended for toddlers ages 2-4 or 22-33 lbs. This swim vest features fun, kid-friendly designs and heavy-duty materials that are environmentally friendly and safe for all skin types.
The bright, fun designs of this swim vest will get any kid excited to learn how to swim. Sometimes, all the encouragement they need is a cute picture on their safety gear. REALIKE swim vests offer buoyancy support for little swimmers, keeping them balanced and upright in the water.
The sleeveless design allows children to keep their arms free for swimming, while the jacket wraps around their torso for comfort and security. According to their sizing guide, they recommend a size small for children ages 2-4 or 22-33 lbs. The REALIKE brand is so confident in its product that it offers buyers and 100% money-back guarantee!
Features:
- UFP 50+ protection
- Grab handle
- Padded crotch strap
- Quick-release buckles
- Double safety buckle
Keep in mind:
This vest is NOT rated by the U.S. Coast Guard for unconscious, life-saving purposes. It is strictly to aid a child who is learning to swim. This life vest would not be suitable in a theme park or on a boating excursion.
Frequently Asked Questions
At what age does my baby need to wear a life jacket?
Any baby on the water should wear a lifejacket, and it is required that any children under 13 wear a life jacket while boating. However, the U.S. Coast Guard doesn’t test life jackets for babies that weight less than 20 pounds
What’s the difference between a life jacket and a life vest for babies?
The terms life jacket and life vest are used interchangeably. If you’re boating, your child should have a coast-guard approved personal floatation device (PFD) that is approved for a specific use. For calm water boating, a type II PFD is recommended.
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