Babies are excellent swimmers, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t need adequate protection when you venture out into the pools or beaches with them. The best life jacket for infant will keep your baby safe and help them improve their movement skills without falling into the risk of submerging or drowning. So to help you buy one, we have compiled a list of the top-rated life jackets for babies with various features, functions, and styles. Read on to know more.
11 Best Life Jackets For Babies
1. Best For Temperature Control: Salus Bijoux Baby Vest
If your baby tends to get hot with other life jackets, then this jacket from Salus offers a good amount of temperature control. Learn more about this product by watching this video.
Pros
The jacket has a large collar, which is designed to keep the baby’s head centered and above water. Salus lines this infant life jacket with material that allows ventilation and thus keeps the baby cool. The back of the jacket has a mesh that makes it comfortable for a baby to lie down in a floating water bed. You can pick this life jacket in five bright colors for easy visibility in the water.
Cons
The life jacket is not certified by the US Coast Guard. A few parents found it tricky to put the jacket on.
2. Best For Young Infants: Stohlquist Infant and Toddler Life Jacket
Stohlquist’s life jacket offers adequate support, thus making it quite ideal for young infants. Here’s a review video summarizing the features of this product.
Pros
This life jacket has a double collar. The thicker collar at the back offers a lot of neck support, which is an especially useful feature for young infants who do not have very strong neck muscles. The jacket has both a zipper and buckle straps, which together provide the best fit for the child. A crotch strap at the bottom ensures a snug fit. The grab handle is large and strong. You can even use the grab handle to hang the jacket for drying. The life jacket is available in a bright yellow color, which is easy to spot. It is approved by the US Coast Guard.
Cons
The double collar may come across as thick and tight around the neck for young infants. The jacket itself can be large and bulky for babies less than six months old.
3. Best Lightweight: O’Neill Infant Superlite Life Vest
This baby life jacket from O’Neill is a lightweight option but provides ample protection.
Pros
The exterior shell is made from polyester for durability. The inside of the jacket is filled with polyethylene foam for good buoyancy. The jacket is soft and comfortable for the baby to wear for an extended duration. A crotch strap keeps the jacket in place while a sturdy grab handle adds extra safety.
Cons
Some parents found the jacket to be bulky and also felt that its fitting is a bit stiff.
4. Best For Secure Fit: O’Neill Wake Waterski Infant Vest
The infant life jacket provides a snug fit along with excellent safety in the water.
Pros
There are dual straps on the waist, along with a crotch strap to provide a secure fit. A large grab handle on the top is easy to reach for an adult while the baby is afloat in the water. The large, flap-shaped collar keeps the head above water.
Cons
Some parents found the jacket so big that it almost came to the baby’s chin and made the little one feel uncomfortable.
5. Best Durability: Stearns Infant Classic Series Vest
This life jacket from Stearns has multiple features for the maximum protection of the baby. Pros
The life jacket comes with an approval seal of the US Coast Guard, so you can be sure that it has been rigorously tested. The exterior shell is made from nylon, which makes it durable. The inside of the jacket is filled with polyethylene foam, which offers excellent buoyancy. A large grab handle lets you grab hold of the baby easily.
Cons
The life jacket may come across as too large and heavy for young infants. A few parents noted that the jacket is unpredictable when it comes to rolling the baby, and some time may roll the baby face down. However, it can be due to the improper fitting of the jacket.
6. Best Easy-To-Wear: Airhead Infant Nylon Life Jacket
The simple design of this life jacket makes it easy to put it on to the baby while on the go. Pros
The large foam collar provides extensive support to the baby’s head when they are in the water. The life jacket is made from polyester that provides excellent durability. The adjustable crotch straps keep the jacket in place when the baby plays in water.
Cons
The life jacket can be a bit big for young babies.
7. Best US Coast Guard-Approved: Full Throttle Infant Baby-Safe Vest
The fit of the life jacket can be customized, thanks to its design and the way you put it on. Pros
There is a buckled strap on the shoulder that allows you to tighten or loosen the collar, and adjust the jacket as the baby grows older. A single waist strap allows a snug fit and also prevents the infant jacket from sliding upwards in water. The large, flap-like collar keeps the baby’s head above water and afloat. The US Coast Guard approves the jacket.
Cons
The jacket can be big for young babies and may slide upwards in such cases. Oversized jackets can make the baby uncomfortable.
8. Best Adjustable: Connelly Babysafe Nylon Vest
This is a secure infant life jacket that offers a decent amount of adjustability. Pros
The shoulder straps allow you to adjust the collar easily. It increases the life of the jacket since you can use it even as the baby grows. A strap on the waist allows adjusting the jacket around the torso. Optimal adjustment prevents the jacket from slipping off. The collar is positioned high and is well-padded. It ensures adequate support for the baby’s neck while floating in the water. The jacket gets US Coast Guard seal of approval.
Cons
The life jacket may be a bit large for young babies.
9. Best For Maximum Visibility: Titop Professional Babies’ Swim Vest
The Titop life jacket keeps the baby afloat and is also easily visible while in the water. Pros
The bright fluorescent yellow of this infant life jacket provides maximum visibility, which is an ideal thing for emergencies. The zipper at the front makes it very easy to put on the jacket and remove it. The jacket is well-cushioned to keep the baby comfortable.
Cons
A zipper is not adjustable like a strap. Therefore, a baby may quickly grow out of it. The jacket is not approved by the US Coast Guard.
10. Best For Buoyancy: Oceans7 Infant Life Jacket
This life vest from Oceans7 is easy for the parent to strap on while also being comfortable for the baby. Pros
The inside of the life jacket is filled with polyethylene foam for buoyancy while the shell is made from durable nylon. There are two straps with buckle at the front that keep the jacket secure even when the baby is playing in the water. The US Coast Guard approves the life jacket.
Cons
Parents feel that the jacket is too small even for young infants. A few parents noticed that the baby seemed to be uncomfortable wearing the jacket.
11. Best Portable: Stearns Infant Hydro Life Jacket
This infant life jacket is designed to be compact and easy-to-carry when you’re traveling long distances. Pros
A zipper at the back of the jacket makes it easy to put on the life jacket and also remove it. Two leg straps allow you to secure the life jacket correctly. The large collar provides support to the neck and also keeps the head upwards when the baby is in water.
Cons
The neck of the jacket may be small for young babies. The zipper limits the expandability of the jacket.
Why Should A Baby Wear A Life Jacket?
Babies need to wear a life jacket in and around water bodies to prevent the risk of drowning. Children between the ages of one to four years are the most vulnerable and have the highest drowning rates (1). Younger infants have a further risk. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, infants can drown in as little as a couple of inches of water (2). You may avoid these risks with a life jacket. Keep reading to know why a life jacket is a good investment.
What Are The Benefits Of Wearing Life Jackets?
An infant life jacket can: There are various types of life jacket available for babies.
Types Of Life Jacket
There are three types of life jacket depending on their place of use and extent of protection (3) (4): Infant and toddler life jackets come under type 2 and 3. Floatation rings worn by children around arms and waist are not jackets, and hence do not get counted as a type of life jacket. It is essential to pick a life jacket depending on the usage.
How To Choose The Right Life Jacket For A Baby?
Consider the following points when shopping for a life jacket for an infant:
Tips For Infant Life Jacket Use
Double check all the straps: Before getting into the water, check if all the buckles are tightly secured. Tug the straps and the zipper a little to know if they are set in place properly. A good fit is essential to prevent the jacket from accidentally coming off in the water.
Check for wear and tear: A tear or any other damage can compromise its safety. It may reduce the buoyancy of the life jacket. So periodically inspect the jacket for any presence of damage.
Stop use if tight: If the jacket becomes tight and uncomfortable to the baby, then it is quite likely the little one has outgrown it. Stop using it since a tight, uncomfortable jacket can constrict the neck and chest.
Why Trust MomJunction?
We have curated a list of the best life jackets for infants and toddlers that will keep them safe on a day out at the beach or backwaters. They can also be used to learn swimming. After searching and analyzing multiple websites and customer reviews, we have found the best products made of high-quality materials that offer optimal protection. We have studied customer reviews posted on multiple websites to offer you an unbiased opinion. You can also browse our buying guide for more information.
References
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