Infant Life Jacket: Three Secrets to Choosing the Best Alternative
When you’re out on the water having a fine time safety is essential. An infant life jacket is intended to keep your little ones safe no matter what water activities they may be partaking in.
Here are three secrets to selecting the best infant life jacket for your baby or toddler:
- An infant life jacket should fit properly
Water safety for infants is a serious thing. An infant should not travel on a boat until he weights at least fifteen pounds. Infants should always wear life vests, according to the U.S. Coast Guard’s Office of Boating Safety. Babies less than fifteen pounds do not fit correctly into a lifejacket, putting them at great risk.
Pick your child up by the shoulders of the life jacket. You’ll know you have the correct fit if your baby’s chin and ears do not slip through. Children’s lifejackets come in sizes rated as: “less than 30 lbs,” “30-50 lbs,” “less than 50 lbs,” and “50-90 lbs.”
- Infant life vests should be approved by the US Coast Guard
One of the most important considerations is that the jacket should be a Type II; US Coast Guard approved flotation device. The Type II rating means that the head pillow and vest design aids head up flotation in the water.
- Look for safety features
Besides having a snug fit, an infant life jacket should have a crotch strap to prevent the baby from slipping out of the vest, and a head pillow that will keep his head up and out of the water. An infant life jacket should also be equipped with a grab loop, so you can easily reach your child if he falls into the water.
Even babies can enjoy the water, and you can have peace of mind with a neoprene life vest, which will protect your child, while allowing him the comfort that comes with freedom of movement.