There is no reason why infants shouldn’t be exposed to calm, relatively warm water as early as possible. If your family enjoys lake-based boating vacations, you’ll obviously want to bring the little ones along with you.
With the right life vests, designed to keep tiny humans safe and comfortable, your new arrival can be on the water long before they’re even beginning to find their land legs!
The following reviews should make choosing the right infant life jacket easy – so you won’t feel all at sea!
Contents
Best Life Jacket for Babies: 2018 Reviews
| Rank | Life Jacket | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Stearns Infant Puddle Jumper | $ |
| 4 | Full Throttle | $$ |
| 3 | Salus Bijoux Baby | $$$ |
| 2 | Stohlquist Nemo | $$$ |
| 1 | O’Neil Wake Waterski Infant | $$ |
#5 – Stearns Infant Puddle Jumper
The brilliantly-named Puddle Jumper is Coast Guard approved, and designed to keep your baby’s head upright, and clear of the water. It features strong grab handles to easily allow a parent to get hold of their baby.
This is quite a bulky life jacket, and the neck strap is not adjustable. It also doesn’t ensure that your baby is flipped onto their back should they land face down in the water.
Pros
- Coast Guard approved
- Strong grab handles
- Head kept upright and clear of water
Cons
- Doesn’t turn child onto their back if they land face down
- Neck strap is not adjustable
- Bulky
Most Suitable For?
Pool use, whether at home or on vacation.
Value For Money?
The Puddle Jumper has very limited use. There are similarly-priced vests that will ensure your baby is turned onto their back quickly.
- US Coast Guard-approved infant life jacket
- Oversized head support encourages face-up flotation
- Made with a soft Hydroprene shell and durable Crosstech flotation foam
#4 – Full Throttle
Full Throttle offers a Coast Guard approved infant life jacket that includes a pop up pillow for head support. This life vest ensures your baby remains upright in the water, and a waist belt and leg straps ensure it fits securely.
This is one of the bulkier baby life vests, and some babies can find it uncomfortable to wear. However, it will keep them as safe as possible, and minimise risk to life should the worst happen, and they find themselves in the water. It is also very safe for parents who wish to take part in baby aquafit sessions as a form of exercise and bonding with other infants and parents.
Pros
- Head pillow
- Keeps baby upright in water
- Coast Guard Approved
Cons
- Bulky, and can be uncomfortable.
Who Is It For?
This life vest is ideal for very young infants who cannot yet support their own heads, thanks to the pillow head rest. However, it would also be suitable for older infants in a range of water-based settings.
Value For Money?
If you will regularly be in and on the water with your little one, this is a very affordable and very safe life jacket for them. A rashguard shirt worn underneath the life vest may help minimise discomfort.
- Blue/green/fits Youth 50-90 lb
- Stretchable Flex-Back insert for added flexibility
- Five segmented hinge points for added Maneuverability
#3 – Salus Bijoux Baby
Salus Bijoux Baby offer a fully adjustable infant life jacket with a unique three-piece collar design, which cradles the baby’s head. These life vests come in a range of bright, baby-friendly colors, and are very comfortable, allowing for a full range of movement. They are also designed to automatically turn baby onto their back should the end up face down in water at any point.
This life jacket isn’t Coast Guard approved, but would be fine for pool or shoreline activities with your baby – paddling, or aquafit sessions, for example.
Pros
- Head is cradled by unique collar design
- Full range of movement
- Automatically turn baby face up
- Comfortable
Cons
- Not Coast Guard approved
Who Is It For?
This is more for parents who will be taking their babies to pool-based activities, and for those families with a pool at home, although it would also be suitable as a general vacation item for your baby.
Value For Money?
If you have a pool at home, or will be regularly taking your baby to pool-based activities, this is definitely a good investment for peace of mind.
- Winner of the Canadian Safe Boating Award (CASB) for Best New Safety Product
- Designed for babies 9 to 25 pounds (chest size 12 to 18 inches around). Adjustable mesh and webbing harness system for security, venting,...
- Three piece collar design with additional flotation on sides to cradle baby's head in center of collar for security and comfort
#2 – Stohlquist Nemo
This PFD from Stohlquist provides quick-release buckles and wrap around flotation, which keeps your baby’s head clear of water. Some people have observed that the zipper can chafe, but this could be addressed by having your little one wear a thin waterproof undershirt. This is a very bulky life jacket, but does provide excellent protection.
Pros
- Quick release buckles
- Wrap around flotation
Cons
- Bulky
- Chafing from zipper
Most Suitable For?
This life vest is ideal for a variety of vacation experiences, including those where infants will be close to open water, such as a family boating expedition on a lake, for example.
Value For Money?
This is higher-price life jacket, but is very safe, and ideal for a range of environments and situations.
- Coast Guard Approved life jacket for toddlers and infants weighing less than 30 lbs
- Quick release buckle over entry zipper for added security
- Adjustable crotch strap and convenient grab handle
#1 – O’Neil Wake Waterski Infant
This one is Coast Guard approved, and features a head rest and quick release buckles, so getting baby in and out of the life jacket is a breeze.
It does seem quite thick, which may be uncomfortable, and potentially cause an infant to become too hot. Something to keep an eye on, but it’s the only downside to a great product.
Pros
- Quick release buckles
- Coast Guard approved
- Head rest
Cons
- Very thick and bulky
Who Is It For?
This is a good life jacket for families enjoying time on cool, open water with young babies.
Value For Money?
If you and your family spend a lot of time at the lake, or inshore sailing, this is definitely a good buy – just keep an eye on your baby, and make sure they’re not getting too hot.
- Infant vest for 30lbs and under
- USCG Approved Vest Head Support Panel with Safety Loop
- Adjustable Safety Belt between legs
Final Decision?
If you’re regularly out on the water, and want to know your baby is as safe as they can be, the O’Neil Wake Waterski Infant is the clear winner from the infant and baby life vests we’ve reviewed here.
Last update on 2018-06-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API