Infant Life Jackets – The Ultimate Protection for Little Souls
When you decide to take your toddler for a boat ride, the first thing that strikes your mind is safety. Of course, you will love to see him flapping his hands on the water and giggling out of enthusiasm.
List of Best Infant Life Jackets
- Stearns Original Puddle-Jumper Kids Life Jacket
- O’Neill Wake Waterski Infant USCG Vest
- Full Throttle Infant Baby-Safe Vest
- Stohlquist Life Jacket
- Stearns Heads-Up Child Vest
- O’Neill Infant Superlite USCG Life Vest
- Salus Bijoux Baby Vest
- AIRHEAD Wicked Kwik-Dry Neolite Vest
- Stearns Infant Classic-Series Vest
- Airhead Infant Nylon Life Jacket
But most importantly, it’s a life jacket that will take care of his safety and your happiness at the same time. Even if he slips off the boat, a life jacket will be good enough to keep his head out of the water.
The best infant life jackets come with good head support. This helps babies to stay comfortable and float effortlessly on the water. So, once he wears a life jacket, you will at least not have the fear of monitoring him all the time.
Best Infant Life Jackets – Comparison Table
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Although there are different types of infant life jackets to choose for your child, you need to pick the one that keeps him safe and easy as well.
What Factors to Consider in Assuring Safety for your Child?
This is no doubt an obvious question for all parents. Before heading to the beach, this might keep bothering you. But once you come to know about its safety aspects, you will be confident to make him wear one.
So, let’s have a quick look at the factors that make life jackets absolutely safe for your child:
Vibrant and Visible – When your child will be heading to the waters, you need to keep a good watch on him. So, it’s always wise to choose a life jacket that has the most vibrant colors. For instance, yellow, red and orange will be good in terms of visibility.
Foamy and Soft – Life jackets usually come cushioned. You will always want him to rest his head on something soft, isn’t it? This is a reason why these jackets are made foamy. Secondly, it keeps his head above the water for which he won’t end up gasping.
Light and Flexible – What makes a good life jacket for infants is its ability to make the little ones move around freely. Say a big no to the bulky ones and never ever consider them for your kids. Go for the slimmer models as these would never restrict your baby’s mobility.
Easy to Grab Handle – Accidents come uninvited, be it on water or land. Imagine he topples over the water and you go clueless about his safety. Instead, a life jacket equipped with a grab-handle will make it easier for him to come out.
Comfortable to wear – If possible, avoid considering life jackets with too many straps or zippers. I have found a lot of kids giving a frown at such options. Keep it as simple and plain yet effective for him so that he enjoys wearing it instead of forcing you to get rid of it.
How many types of life jackets for infants are available?
The good news is you will find life jackets for infants in five different styles. Let’s have a quick look:
- Type One – If you are taking him for those thrilling adventures having rough waters, these offshore or Type I jackets might bring good results. Usually, these life jackets are designed for easy floating but are bulky and not that comfortable to wear for kids. Remember, he may or may not like wearing it for hours.
- Type Two – This is the right type of life jacket that will give kids complete freedom of movement. You can easily get it for your infant who will enjoy wearing it while boating. These are not at all bulky and a lot less buoyant. If you are heading to calmer waters, this would be a smart choice.
- Type Three – Ideal for immediate rescues, these life jackets for infants are quite comfortable to wear. What you will love about it is that it doesn’t allow the user to flip on his back. So, even if he falls on water, he will be fine.
Apart from this, there are two other types of life jackets. However, these are not really suitable for infants, which are the fourth and fifth types. The fourth refers to those rings kept at the side of swimming pools while the fifth refers to those used specifically for water sports.
How to choose the best life jacket for your kid?
When it comes to assuring protection for your child, especially on the waters, you have to choose the best for him. So, if it’s a life jacket, you have to consider a few factors to ensure that it is the best bet. So, here are a few points based on which you will pick the best life jacket for your little hero:
Check the Weight – Do not make the blunder to choose a life jacket whose weight is a bit heavy than that of your child. What most parents do is they look for jackets with heavier weights for future use.
Well, this doesn’t add to your child’s safety. Rather, he would stay exposed to risks for not wearing a jacket matching his weight. So, it’s always better to look for a life jacket that matches the current weight of your kid.
Check the Accreditation – What defines a good quality, effective and durable life jacket for infants is the US Coast Guard accreditation. So, while buying one, make sure you see the USCG logo that should be absolutely visible. Remember, a USCG certified life jacket is the safest for your kid.
Check the Color – Brighter colors are always good for keeping an eye on your child. If an emergency pops up while boating, a life jacket in orange or red will save the day. Also, infant life jackets in yellow are preferred by a lot of parents for optimum visibility.
Check the Safety Strap – If you are looking for a really good life jacket, it should comprise a safety strap. To be precise, it should be present between his legs so that it does not slip off your child’s head. The ones with grab handle are also helpful during emergencies as it will take no time to pull him back from the water to the boat.
Check the Head Support – This is a very crucial aspect of choosing a good life jacket for infants. As mentioned earlier, there are different types and each type comes with various forms of head protection.
In terms of popularity, the Type Two jackets are better in comparison to other types as these offer stronger head-support. Moreover, these jackets are best for those who cannot swim at all.
How to Test an Infant Life Jacket?
Every time you think about making your infant wear a life jacket, it’s the safety factor that keeps bothering you. So, there is no question of failure, or otherwise, you know the consequences. Therefore, it’s mandatory to run a float test so that you know your baby is safe.
I feel the first thing to conduct the test should be checking the level of buoyancy. For this, it would be best to study the reviews of different life jackets so that you know which one would make him float with ease.
Secondly, make sure that the jacket is not too big or too small for him. Remember, he will always want to float with a big smile on his face and not with an annoying mood.
Next, don’t just buy a life jacket and head to the rough waters. For testing purposes, aim to spend some time on the calmer waters. Say, a shallow pool will do a good job in this respect instead of getting right into a bigger pool or the sea.
The neck-deep test is also crucial. Here you need to let your child go neck-deep in water and release his body. Do it slowly and don’t make him yell out in fear.
Just check that the jacket is keeping your child rested on his back with his head out of water. In other words, it should not ride up. However, Type Three jackets stress more on buoyancy instead of lying back with head support.
A few infant life jackets recommended for your shopping cart:
1. Stearns Original Puddle Jumper Kids Life Jacket
If you want your little one to stay safe and enjoy at the same time, this puddle jumper from the house of Stearns might be a good pick.
Being a smart substitute for bulky life jackets, this puddle jumper is US Coast Guard approved. Once your kid wears it, he will be able to move both his arms and legs while swimming.
Light in weight, it doesn’t get clipped off the user’s body and stays attached firmly. As it is made of nylon material, it is quite durable. Beginners who are about to swim will find this puddle-jumper to be quite comfortable.
Strong float support
Comfortable to wear
Good for toddlers
Takes no time to dry
Coast Guard Approved
Fits well on the user
No grab handle
Unfit for babies less than thirty pounds
Unsafe outside pools
Smells a bit bad
2. O’Neill Wake Waterski Infant USCG Vest
Now give your kids ultimate protection to take thrilling water rides with the O’Neill Wake Waterski Vest. Being USCG approved, it has a head support panel along with a customizable safety belt.
It is light in weight and comprises dual safety buckles for quick release. The back flap is also equipped with a handle that makes it easier to pull him out of water.
If you have plans for taking your boy for kayaking, this would certainly be a great choice. With a perfect fit, it is very safe and comfortable to wear for hours. Although the O’Neill Waterski vest is not apt for swimming, it plays a great role as a lifesaver.
Comes with a crotch strap to prevent slipping overhead
Easily visible for being brightly colored
Face-up float support
Secures well and quite safe
Restricts movement of arms and legs
Not suitable for babies weighing over thirty pounds
3. Full Throttle Infant Baby-Safe Vest
When it comes to assuring safety and comfort for your kid on the waters, you need to provide him the best life-saving accessory.
Full Throttle brings you the Infant Baby Safe Vest that has been designed for babies weighing less than thirty pounds. It comes with a leg strap made of elasticized material.
Moreover, its oversized collar comes equipped with head-support that adds to its safety as well. The grab strap is quite convenient to use while its shoulder strap lends the right fit to the user.
Takes no effort to wear
Apt for toddlers weighing under thirty pounds
Made of skin-friendly material
Light in weight
Solid head support
Thin straps located between two legs
Main strap is not adjustable
Does not fit that well
Not easy enough to ear for long hours
4. Stohlquist Toddler Life Jacket
Have a look at this unisex infant life jacket from Stohlquist that comes with foamed head panels for additional support. Equipped with a foam flap design, it includes a user-friendly zipper along with a buckle.
Furthermore, it comes with a crotch strap that prevents it against slipping it over your baby’s head. Having accredited by USCG, it is not that bulky and fits infants weighing between eight to thirty pounds.
In terms of mobility, it includes double collard and allows your munchkin to freely swim and play. The grab handle leads to quick retrieval in case of any emergency.
Comes with dual neck support
Quite visible for its bright shade
Comes with a strong grab handle
Good to use in pools
Uncomfortable to wear for long
Quite restrictive
Neck opening not that big
5. Stearns Heads-Up Child Vest
The Stearns Heads-Up Vest is a high-quality life jacket designed for fitting kids who weighs between thirty and fifty pounds. It scores high in assuring safety and convenience owing to its rescue handle.
It comes in much brighter shades and hence makes it quite visible for spotting your little one on the waters. Equipped with a couple of adjustable chest straps, this life-saving vest comes in a durable polyester body.
Parents who have plans to take their kids to swimming classes may pick it for consideration. As it allows free movement of arms and legs, your boy will just love wearing it.
Light in weight and durable
Equipped with a crotch strap
Has a grab handle for more safety
Reflective material for visibility
Seems a lot tighter for children
Uncomfortable to wear for hours
Small neck opening
Cannot be expanded
6. O’Neill Infant Superlite USCG Life Vest
O’Neill Wetsuits brings you a super soft and comfy life vest for infants who can now spend quality time on the waters. Having made of pure quality polyester material, it is quite light in weight.
The neck support is made of polyethylene foam that makes it quite comfortable to rest. It has been given Delrin buckles for quick release while its front zipper is a heavy-duty one.
Also, it is USCG approved that makes it a genuine life-saving product. As it zips up quickly and gets easily adjusted, your little one will face no problem while swimming.
Light in weight
Excellent head-support
Approved by USCG
Quick-release technology
Does not fit accurately on the body
Not safe for boating
7. Salus Bijoux Baby Vest
Technology and safety would now come hand in hand to safeguard your son against any danger on the waters with this Salus Bijoux baby vest.
Having awarded for being the best safety product, this infant life-saving vest will fit babies weighing between nine and twenty-five pounds.s
Besides, its three-piece collar design and harness system make it an amazing choice for infants willing to play on the waters. While its mesh back lets your kid lie calmly, the Dry-Lex Aerospace liner makes it quite breathable and perfect for sustaining comfort.
Comes with an exclusive collar design
Allows free movement of legs and arms
Keeps the face upwards automatically
Quite comfortable to wear
Not approved by USCG
Cannot be adjusted easily
Not safe during emergencies
8. AIRHEAD Wicked Kwik-Dry Neolite Vest
If you are in search of an innovative life jacket for your boy, Airhead will leave you impressed with its Kwik-dry Neolite vest. What makes it unique is its Wicked design.
Its two straps along with zippered closure and quick release buckles make it quite user-friendly. In fact, safety gets strengthened for its crotch strap, the grab handle, and the headrest as well.
The color combination is great and quite visible to spot your boy at a distance. Most importantly, this Type two jacket is USCG approved and suitable for kids weighing within 30 pounds.
Comfortable to wear and looks stylish
Perfect for boating and water sports
Offers a snug fit and secures well on the body
Light in weight
Allows kids to move freely
Size is a bit smaller
Not apt for all kids
9. Stearns Infant Classic Series Vest
Whether it’s at the beach or on the boat, your toddler can now enjoy supreme protection and unending entertainment wearing the infant Classic Series vest from Stearns. Comprising a rescue handle, it proves to be a protective accessory for kids who want to spend hours on the waters.
Besides, it has a chest belt that can be customized, and its leg strap will double the little one’s safety for an accurate fit. Its USCG approved design says it all about its quality.
Comes with a good head-support
Leg and waist straps are adjustable
PE floatation foam adds comfort
Open-sided zipper allowing free movement
Not suitable for kids weighing over thirty pounds
Single buckle included
10. Airhead Infant Nylon Life Jacket
Let your kids stay bright and visible to be identified from anywhere with the infant life jacket from Airhead. It is made of superior quality nylon that lends its durability in all seasons.
The four buckles it comes with make it a wise choice in terms of safety for infants. Out of the four buckles, three secures the body while the fourth one protects the legs.
With a big foam collar, it gives ample head support while the grab strap will let the user stay safe. Having made of good quality polyester, this Airhead life jacket is also impressive in terms of durability.
Oversized foam collar
Good head support for the baby
Made of good quality polyester and quite durable
Comes with an adjustable crotch strap
Size is too big for babies
Uncomfortable to wear for long hours
Conclusion
So, if you are in search of the best infant life jacket for your son, we would then suggest you go with Airhead Kwik-dry Neolite vest. It is an amazing life jacket designed for infants who are not more than thirty pounds.
It looks quite stylish for its color combination and unique design, and therefore assures to make your child stand out in the crowd. Its security features are plenty like zippered closure, two adjustable straps, and most importantly, the quick-release buckles.
Additionally, the grab handle and the crotch strap surely make it a sensational pick. It doesn’t matter whether your son loves boating or any water sport. Just make him wear this new-age life jacket and he will enjoy to the fullest.
Certainly, it has the US Coast Guard approval; so there is no question in its functionality. Just check once whether he is comfortable in it. Initially, he might have problems but once he gets a heck of it, there will be no turning back.
Remember, when your kid wears a life jacket, he must enjoy wearing it and must be safe at the same time. If these aspects click, you will know that you have got the best infant life jacket.
More than look, it should be safety that should always matter. In this respect, the above-recommended product is apt to assure you and your kid an enjoyable session on the waters.
Have fun!!
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