Last Updated on June 29, 2022 by Ecorf
Parents are passionate about the wellbeing of their children. These kids need to be enjoying their youthful time, and taking them on a paddling trip is one of the ways to spice things up for them. As a parent, getting your kids out there in that water is a perfect way to bring priceless smiles to their faces. Moreover, they need to start enjoying some of these kayaking trips, so they can have some fun stories to tell to their peers.
But one thing is missing. All that fun might not come true if there is limited security. Of course, these kids and may have a hard time navigating the water in the event of a mishap. Moreover, you want to give them fun as much as you want to keep them safe too. Besides, there’s nothing that you want to protect more than the lives of your kids. Now, you need infant life jackets not only for bolstering their security on the water but to also give them the confidence of being safe amidst any turbulence.
On the other hand, finding a comfortable infant life jackets can be an arduous task if you don’t know what to look for, and what not to look for. That is why we have done in-depth researches to bring you the best life jackets and vests that would not only guarantee the security of your kids but also provide flexible usage when on the water. So, read on to discover all you need to know about selecting the comfortable infant life jackets.
Table of Contents
What Is An Infant Life Jacket?
What is this infant life jacket you’ve heard about, and what does it do? The infant life jacket is similar to the Personal Flotation Device (PFD) used by adults. The primary difference is that it is miniature and is designed specifically for use by infants/children/kids.
Ideally, the infant life jacket is not for every kid. The general rule is that kids and infants are only qualified to use jacket/vest only when they have weighed about 18 pounds, and when they can wear a Personal Flotation Device (PFD). So, if your kid or infant must make use of this jacket, then you have to be sure that he or she meets up with the requirements. Besides, kids that are between 4 and 11 months tend to weigh 18 pounds.
How To Select the Comfortable Infant Life Jackets
We’re now getting to the most crucial part of the review. How can you sort through the thousands of infant life jackets in the market to choose one? The truth is that many factors aid in the selection of comfortable infant life jackets. Once you miss them, then you are liable to make the wrong decision. Discover below some of the features that must be present in any PFD or infant life jackets.
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Sizing
The size of the infant life jacket is one of the most critical factors that determine the choice of the device. The most important thing is ensuring that the kids’ heads are above the water. Therefore, you shouldn’t fall for the notion that a more significant or oversized infant life jacket would help the child to grow into it over time.
As a rule of thumb, your selection of the infant life jacket should be in line with the dictates of the United States Coast Guard (USCG) guidelines. The approved sizes posit that children should have infant life jackets that are about 30 to 50 pounds.
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Type II Rating
The United States Coast Guide (USCG) posits that the infant life jacket for kids should conform to the Type II rating. The rating herein implies that the jackets would have a float collar and a head pillow. These features enhance the safety of the wearer (the child) on the water by keeping the child’s head upright when floating.
Another feature that makes the Type II Rating ideal for kids is the tendency of turning the unconscious wearers to the face-up position, especially when they suffered a mishap. The infant life jackets with this rating also have a crotch strap for keeping the jackets from riding over the head while floating. Also, the grab handle integrated into the jackets makes it easier to assist and retrieve a child out of the water.
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Type III Rating
Have your children acquired some swimming skills? Then it is time to take the notch higher by using the Type III Rating of the UCSG infant life jacket. The rating in this instance entails that the jacket can aid the movement of the wearers. So, if your child can swim, then handing down the Type III Rating infant life jacket that is similar to the adult variation is the best thing to do.
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Automatic Inflation
The infant life jacket must be automatically inflatable anytime the wearer (the child) goes into the water.
Benefits of the Comfortable Infant Life Jackets
It has been affirmed that the infant life jacket helps to bolster the safety of the wearers (infants/kids/children) when on the water. That is not all there is to the jackets, because many other benefits are tenable.
Some of the other benefits of using the infant life jacket are the comfort of wearing them, and the provision of attachment points for a tether. That would be used to attach the kids to the boat for their safety. Moreover, the infant life jackets provide more sustainable flotation than the conventional Personal Flotation Device (PFD).
Frequently Asked Questions on the Comfortable Infant Life Jackets
Here are the answers to some of the questions asked about the infant life jackets.
- Which Type of Life Jacket is Best for My Infant? The UCSG Type II Rating is perfect for infants that cannot swim. It also aids in turning the infant or wearer to face up in the water. The Type III Rating can also suffice if the infants can swim.
- What Age Must a Child Wear a Life Jacket? Kids of 11 months or children of 12 years and above are required to wear the infant life jacket while underway in any boat that is 20 feet or less in length.
- Do Infant Life Jackets Expire? The infant life jackets do not expire because they make use of a carbon dioxide (CO2) tank for inflation. Therefore, you need to confirm the duration of replacing the tanks (usually between 1 to 3 years) before a replacement would be required.
The Top 5 Comfortable Infant Life Jackets
The year is about winding up, and you’re preparing to go in the water with your child. The selected infant life jackets highlighted below are some of the perfect options you can find out there in the market.
Security is the watchword for this infant life jacket. It comes with headrest with grab handle and two straps with quick-release buckles for protecting the kids using it. Other features you would like about it is the neolite kwik-dry design, the support for infants less than 30 lbs, and the compliance with the USCG Type II Rating.
Pros:
- USGC Type II Rating
- Fits newborns weighing between 15 and 30 pounds
- Great for boating and watersports
Cons:
- Some users complained that their infants don’t like the back head piece
- Way too small for the wearers
This is not only affordable but comes with the durable nylon shell with PE flotation foam. It also has the USGC approval as an approved life jacket, just as it great for introducing little swimmers (infants) to the water.
Pros:
- Durable nylon construction and PE flotation foam
- Specially-fitted for infants under 30 pounds
Cons:
- Definitely a bit larger than expected
- Some users hinted that the vest might not clearly be a US Coast Guard (USGC)-approved infant life jacket
The yellow coloring of this vest would draw your attention because it helps to improve visibility. Aside from that, there is the US Coast Guard approval, the fitting for infants less than 30 pounds, and two buckle designs.
Pros:
- Bright colors for visibility
- Two buckle design
- Ideal for infants less than 30 pounds
Cons:
- The zipper is hard to zip
- Needs to have a V-neck
Here is something for younger infants. This infant life jacket is designed with the kids between the weights of 9 to 25 pounds in mind. More so, there is the three-piece collar design that comes with an additional flotation on the sides. Those help to create sufficient space for cradling the infant’s head in the centre of the collar for maximum comfort and security.
Although the vest doesn’t have the approval of the United States Coast Guard (USGC), it makes up for it with the Dry-Lex Aerospacer liner for drainage, breathability, and overall baby’s comfort.
Pros:
- Suitable for babies weighing between 9 and 25 pounds
- Allowed the babies to have a full range of motion
- Adjustable mesh and webbing system for comfort, security, and venting
Cons:
- Not great at floating
- Isn’t technically USGC approved
This infant life jacket is designed with safety in mind. It beats its peers because of the support for infants from 30 pounds up to 50 pounds. That is not leaving out the USGC Type III Rating, the durable flotation foam, the adjustable belts, and the leg/chest strap for keeping the vest from riding up.
Pros:
- Ideal for infants between the weights of 30 to 50 pounds
- USGC Type III approved
Cons:
- The straps tend to go between the wearers’ legs
- Makes sitting difficult
- Very bulky
Infants Should Wear Comfortable Infant Life Jackets
Your kids/infants need all the protection they can get from you. While you’re enjoying the time on the water with them, ensure you have the right infant life jacket to keep them secured. We would recommend the Full Throttle Infant/Child Nylon Vest because of the support for both infants weighing 30 pounds and less and those weighing above 50 pounds. If you can deal with the bulky weight and the tendency of the straps to get in between your infants’ legs, then you would enjoy other features like the adjustable belts and the durable flotation foams.
You can’t afford to miss out on the impressive upsides that come with the infant life jackets. So, select one from the list today and start securing your infants when introducing your little swimmers to the water.
