Infant life jackets are a must-have if your little one will be around water. Here are the 10 best infant life jackets you should consider in 2021.
Best overall infant life jacket: Stohlquist Infant
Best life jacket for comfort: Stearns Heads-Up Infant Vest
Best infant life jacket for smaller babies: O’Neill Wake Waterski Infant Vest
Best Budget infant Life Jacket: Stearns Infant Classic Life Jacket
Unique design Infant Life jacket: Full Throttle Infant Safe Vest
Table of Contents
Things to consider before buying an infant life jacket
Type of Life Jacket
There are many different types of life jackets. All of the types have different characteristics, which in turn affect who uses them and the way they use them. The types vary in terms of floatation, comfort, and buoyancy.
As per the safety standards, all infant life jackets are required to be type II. This type provides the children with head support that they so much need. Also, the design gives the kids a bit more freedom for extra comfort.
Size
The size is very important as it is recommended that you should pick an infant life jacket that is a perfect fit for your baby. As you will notice in our list, most safety vests come with an adjustable strap, which ensures a snug fit. However, if the vest is too big, this would mean that you would have to fasten the straps tighter, which is not recommended against your baby’s sensitive skin.
To avoid this occurrence, you should know your baby’s measurement before hand and ensure that it matches with the product that you plan on getting.
Regarding weight, most vests have a weight recommendation of 0-30 lbs, so you do not have to worry so much about weight.
Head support
Headrests are very important in infant life jackets. This is because in case of an accident and your baby accidentally falls in the water, it forces your child to float on their backs. This snuffs out any chances of drowning as the head is placed near or above the water surface.
Some headrests are bulky, which means that they function better but, in turn, sacrifice comfort. On the other hand, some are smaller or even come fitted as a collar, and this contributes to the comfort that your baby experiences.
Grab handle
All good infant life jackets will have a grab strap fitted just below the headrest. This makes the rescuing process a breeze. Just ensure that the grab handle is easy to spot and get to in the water.
US Coast Guard Certification
Since the child’s safety is the number one priority, you should check that the life jacket you are getting is up to the USCG standards. It is a requirement that all infant life jackets in the US are USCG certified.
Color
Color plays a very important role in life jackets. A brightly colored life jacket is easy to spot in the water, making the rescuing process fast and easy. Therefore, avoid colors that may be difficult to spot in the water.