Good Children's Life Vest Recommendation

[sgharford]

I have purchased two different life jackets for my 2.5 year old boy and don’t really like either one. I have tried them both out in pool (one is the Mustang Lil Legends Floater vest that has floatation up around neck, other is a shirt with built in floatation) and both let him roll over face down in the water. Also, given narrow walkway on 43’ DC, found even he gets stuck with Mustang vest due to bulky size.

Was hoping to put him (and my 9 month old who will inherit this vest) in maybe a inflatable vest so not so bulky. Also would like it to keep his head upright in the water when inflated. Anyone found a children’s life vest for children in the range from 18 months to say 4 years old that may meet this criteria?

 

[MicroKap]

I went through this same issue for my kids and my nieces which are older. Unfortunately, lifejackets that are designed to help the wearer float face up (especially if they're unconscience) don't always work. The pool vest and most of the ones at Target, Walmart, etc. are designed for watersports and supposed to hold them upright, but that doesn't stop them from being face down either because there's just as much flotation on the back as there is on the front. For that reason, we still use the Mustang life jackets because they are better even though they are far from perfect. Because of the kids' sizes, they will always be bulky, but that handle on the flotation for the head piece always comes in handy to make a quick grab handle in the instance that you really need to catch your child before falling off the boat or walking down the dock.

 

[sgharford]

Kinda what I figured based on own research. Funny that with all technology and number of life vest manufacturer’s, the perfect children's vest has not been designed and marketed. Granted much better when I was a kid - I can still remember the chafe in underarm area - and zippers that you couldn't get up, or down once you did, due to corrosion.

 

[nyrussell]

we have one for up to a year old that encases the child, not exactly very comfortable, but then again, at that age, a struggling baby is not a great way to keep one safe either. Now that Erin is 2 we have the lil legend and it is not great but is much better than any other if the feces hits the rotary oscillator. My biggest concern. Also, as we don't allow Erin to go forward from the aft deck, she can't get caught in the side decks. You also might want to think about netting around the boat as well.

Noel

 

[Vincentc]

I commend your pool testing. I did the same and learned that many, if not most life jackets probably would do harm than help with small children, often floating the child face down.

Our four children started with swimming lessons when they were old enough to walk, learning early on to hold their breath and become comfortable enough with the water to survive at least a short time till someone discovered their peril, should they fall in.

Our four children all had years of swimming lessons and that gave me more comfort than pfd's. We still required them to wear floation when they were on deck.

I wish I could tell you of a model of CG approved pfd that consistenly floated our children as you would like. I can tell you an item that was the most functional with our children. FLOATIES, those inflatable arm bands, were the floation item of choice with our children. Not approved by CG and disclaimed by the manufacturer, but overall they worked better than many "approved pfd's". Our youngest is now 20, and I can't say with experience that they are still made.

Train your children and test any equipment you use with them.

We had 4 children in 5 years so there were often a good number of young children aboard. My greatest fear was one falling over, undiscovered. I am intrigued with the electronic monitors which trigger an alarm if the sensor attached to the child goes out of a set range. While I have no experience with these sensors, we do have a "radio invisible fence" which works on a similar principle, and appears to be very reliable with Sadie, our Great Dane.

Enjoy your children,

Vincent

 

[NAN-PO 41]

We also are not really happy with the selection of childrens PFD's. Finally settled on Stearns for our 4 and 51/2 year old grandsons. The boys know that they must wear them if they are anywhere other than inside the cabin. We instilled that in them right from day one and they wear them with no arguement at all now. I do believe that swimming lessons are the most important thing that you can do. We started the boys at the age of 6 months ( that is the youngest the Boys and Girls Club will take them ) and they both swim like fish at this point. One other very important point for anyone with a child in a carrier is to NOT strap the child to the carrier. You need the child to float free if they ( God Forbid ) go into the water. I also installed gates on the aft deck of our 41'tc so that the boys couldn't go forward and leave the area with spray curtains when they were small and now that they are older they know that they can only go forward when escorted by an adult.
Fred