Infant Life Preserver – Purchasing Personal Flotation Devices for Your Baby
It is essential that you use some kind of infant life preserver or personal flotation device that can help keep your baby safe from the very first time you take him into the water. Be sure you know how much your baby weighs so you can ensure you buy the correct size. Don’t buy a life vest for your baby to grow into: if it’s too large, he could fall through it. The following checklist might make it a little easier for you as you shop for infant PFD’s.
- Check the fit. To check the fit on an infant life preserver, try to lift the child by the shoulders of the vest. If the vest raises three inches or more without moving the child, then it’s too big. Life vests must be well fitting and in excellent condition with no tears or rust on the metal. The straps should be in working condition. A child’s life vest should also have a crotch strap, lifting ring and flotation collar.
- Choose the correct type of life preserver. Choosing the right type of infant life preserver is crucial for safety. Many infant life vests have a foam core, which will keep your baby afloat, but not completely buoyant, until help arrives. Your baby’s life preserver should always have a collar, which will allow him to float face up if he is unconscious.
- Test the life preserver. Check to see whether the infant life preserver keeps your baby afloat in a pool or other shallow body of fresh water. Many stores allow returns or exchanges if the PFD was not exposed to salt water. The life preserver should keep your baby’s head and shoulders out of the water, and it should not ride up while he’s wearing it.