An infant life jacket is a must to have when you are planning to take your baby out on a boat. Be sure to find the right kind and size for your sweet little baby.
After you have bought your infant life vest, you need to test it with your baby to see if it is working properly. This is the most important step of saving your little one’s life. Please don’t ignore or postpone it until the actual event. Doing so might lower your baby’s survival chance, if anything happens.
You can test it out at a community swimming pool. If the life jacket is not working like it is supposed to be then you need to get another one. You might be able to ask for a refund or exchange.
I think money shouldn’t be an object of saving your little one. And please keep your baby wearing the life jacket at all times when you are out riding a boat. Most of the time people drown because they are not wearing their life jacket and they actually own one.
Some baby life jackets can also be used for swimming actives such as training your little one to learn how to swim early or if you just want to have some fun with your baby in the water. But you might need to find one that your baby is happy to wear. It is useless if your baby don’t want to use it and cries all over about it.
Table of Contents
Three Best Newborn Life Jackets That I Would Go With
According to my research these are the top three best baby life jackets that I would go with. Each one of them has its own uniqueness and has a very high average rating.
All three of these life vests are for infants who are under 30 pounds. If your baby weighs more than that size, then you need to find a different size for your baby.
Having the right size and weight of the life jacket is very important. Your baby’s survival is depending on that. That’s why trying it out first is very important. And you need an infant Type II PFD to go on a recreational boat. PFD stands for personal floatation device. Please go here to learn more about the safety of a life jacket.
Just want to let you know all three of these baby life jackets are USCG approved. If you don’t know what USCG stands for, it stands for United States Coast Guard. I have to admit I didn’t know what it was before I was doing some research.
Stearns Infant Classic Boating Vest
If I ever need an infant life vest, this is my number one choice. Comparing with the other two jackets, this one might be the cheapest from the time I just checked.
If you are on a tight budget, this is the one you should go for. This jacket is made in two different colors and also with different prices as well. The colors are red and blue.
I would suggest a bright red color in case of an emergency. I mean bright red color is much easier to spot than any other colors. I think the color red looks pretty nice for either boys or girls.
Do you really think your baby minds at that age what the color is? They pretty much just wear whatever we give them right? 😛
Features And Review About This Vest
- The vest is made with Nylon material and Nylon is supposed to be durable and comfortable for its softness.
- It has a useful handle that is easy for you to get your baby out of the water.
- In the font of the vest, it has a zipper for closure.
- The neck part is like a pillow to make your baby’s face to stay away from the water.
- It also has chest and crotch straps to tighten to fit your baby.
Pros: The jacket is comfortable, affordable and durable. Many use this jacket on a boat, in the lake and for swimming.
Cons: It might be a little bulky.
O’Neill Infant Nylon USCG Vest
This is my second choice in a life jacket. You can select between four different colors.
The jackets have been made with three different colors. To see what the rest of the jacket looks like, please click the image on the left.
I would like to mention the price is also a little different on the colors. This one is just as popular as the first one.
The rating for the vest is a little slightly lower and in term of price it might be higher compared with the first vest. Of course the price is subject to change daily.
Features And Review About This Baby Life Vest
- It is coasting with Nylon Shell material.
- It is comfortable and soft
- To take off the jacket, you can do so with the fast release buckles.
- You can also get this in child and youth size if your infant grows out of it.
Pros: Great quality, keeps baby’s head out of the water. Designed for boating activities.
Cons: This one is also bulky.
Stohlquist Infant Personal Life Jacket
This is my third choice and you can select between three different colors. The colors are red, blue and yellow.
I would still go with either the yellow or red color for this design of a life vest. A yellow color is just as easy to spot as the red.
To clean this jacket, you would need to hand wash it with soap and water. That means it might not be a good idea to toss it into a washing machine.
Just to let you know this vest is made in China. Some of you might mind about that. As for me I don’t really care, as long as it is made with high quality and durability.
Features And Review
- The crotch strap can be adjusted.
- It has a convenient handle to grab your baby as needed.
- It is constructed with 200 denier oxford shell and liner.
- The jacket is a type II PFD and with 7 pounds and 6 ounces of buoyancy.
- It has added security with the quick release buckle over the front zipper.
Pros: The top has a nice V cut design that doesn’t get in the way of the baby’s face. It’s easy to put on and fasten.
Most of the babies have no complaints wearing it and seems comfortable. Has good features compared to others in the same price range, like the grab handle, zipper, and adjusters on both sides.
Cons: A few are saying it is uncomfortable when their infant is wearing it. It might not be as comfortable for the baby if they are wearing it while sitting in the car seat.
