As soon as the temperature warms up, I try to be on the water as much as possible — from boating to kayaking to just sitting by the pool. So, I was still pregnant when I started researching kids’ life jackets, and my daughter was just two weeks old when I brought her for her first day of boating on the lake.
I discovered that finding children’s life jackets — especially those under 20 pounds, can be challenging. You want to be sure your child is safe but also comfortable during summer water activities. So whether you need an infant or toddler life jacket for the pool or boating, here’s what you should consider.
- Kids' Life Jackets and Swim Vests Comparison
- Life Jacket vs. Swim Vest
- Our Top Kids' Life Jackets
- Best Overall Life Jacket: Mustang Survival Lil Legends Foam Vest
- Best Baby Life Jacket: Stearns Infant Classic Series Life Vest
- Best Children's Life Jacket: Oceans7 US Coast Guard Approved Life Vest
- Best Swim Vests for Toddlers and Big Kids
- Best for Learning to Swim: Gogokids Kids Swim Vest
- Most Vest Size Options: REALIKE Kids Swim Vest
- How to Choose a Children's Life Jacket
- Life Jackets by Type
- Final Thoughts
- FAQ
Our Top Picks for Kids' Life Jackets
Brand
Price
Why This One?
Top Feature
Our Rating
Buy Now
Mustang Survival Lil Legends Foam Vest
$54.90
Best Overall Life Jacket
Infant, Child, & Youth Sizes
Kid’s Life Jackets vs. Swim Vests: What’s the Difference?
In my research, I came across two terms: life jacket and swim vest. They are not interchangeable.
A life jacket is a personal floatation device (PFD) designed to keep a person face up with their head above water in an emergency. Life jackets are required by law on boats or in open water situations and should always say “U.S. Coast Guard-approved.”
A swim vest is less buoyant and designed to assist children who are learning to swim. They keep a child balanced in the water and encourage the proper swimming position. Swim vests are not approved by the U.S. Coast Guard as PFDs and cannot be used on boats or in open water.
In this article, we’ve included both life jackets and swim vests. Maybe you want to find the safest PFD for your baby or toddler for a boating excursion. Or perhaps you would like to help your toddler feel more confident in their swimming techniques. Either way, we’ve got you covered.
Our Selection of the Best Kids’ Life Jackets
These life jackets will keep your child safe in the open waters, and you can take them on a boat. Life jackets help your baby float comfortably and easily. These life jackets accommodate infants, toddlers, and big kids and are U.S. Coast Guard-approved.
1. A Life Jacket for Infant to Big Kid: Mustang Survival
This life jacket meets safety ratings for both Transport Canada and the U.S. Coast Guard. It’s available in three weight groups with top safety and comfort features.
Every size includes a grab loop, crotch strap, and ventilated mesh back to keep kids cool. The infant vest has a supportive head pillow. For easy mobility, the child and youth vests are designed with soft, segmented foam that has beveled edges to keep from cutting in.
Infant Vest: under 30 pounds
Child Vest: 33-55 pounds
Youth Vest: 55-88 pounds
Customer Review:
“Great fit. My daughter looks comfortable and because it’s coast guard certified we know it’s safer than a lot of the other brands. We are very happy with our purchase.” ~ Amazon review
Best Overall Life Jacket
Mustang Survival Lil Legends Foam Vest
Available in Infant, Child, and Youth sizes, this PFD from Mustang Survival keeps kids of all ages safe in open waters. The Lil Legends Vest has safety features including bright colors for easy visibility, a grab handle, and adjustable closures and crotch strap. With over fifty years of manufacturing safety devices, the Mustang Survival brand knows a thing or two about security. U.S. Coast Guard-approved.
2. Best Baby Life Jacket: Stearns Infant Classic Series Life Vest
It’s helpful to have an infant vest that’s specially designed for infants under 30 pounds, which is exactly what this vest provides. Plus, it features two adjustable chest straps and a crotch strap to ensure a tight fit. It’s made of durable nylon so it will last through whatever fun your family will have this summer.
Features:
- Encourages face-up flotation
- 1 inch wide straps
- Rescue handle
Keep in mind:
While the Stearns Infant Classic Series Life Vest is great from a safety perspective, it’s fairly bulky, so smaller infants in particular might find it bothersome or hot. However, if your baby can tolerate it, this jacket is a great, affordable safety option.
Be sure to also check out Stearns’ Type II Life Vest for kids between 30 and 50 lbs.
Customer Review:
“Stearns is a brand that we have striated for decades! This fit well, did the job it was meant for (kept the head above water and on the back). I would recommend this life jacket for little ones.” ~ Amazon review
Best Infant Life Vest
Stearns Infant Classic Series Life Vest
We all want our babies to be safe on the water, but some of us like every extra bit of precaution. If that’s you, you’ll love the Stearns Infant Classic Series Life Vest, designed for babies up to 30 pounds. The large head rest is meant to make sure that baby turns face-up in the water, so that they’ll be able to breath even if they’re not able to turn themselves. That’s the biggest reassurance, but there are also smaller safety features: the prominent handle makes it easy to scoop baby up quickly and the bright green colors makes them easy to spot in the water.
3. Best Children’s Life Jacket: Oceans7 US Coast Guard Approved Life Vest
The Oceans7 brand has both infant and child-sized life jackets which are U.S. Coast Guard-approved PFDs. Since these vests are approved by the Coast Guard, they can be worn in pools, lakes, or oceans. Oceans7 life vests are helpful tools for children who are learning to swim, but they can also be used as safety precautions for water sports and boating activities.
The vests feature quick-drying fabric that is breathable and lightweight. Both the infant and child-sized jackets include crotch straps and adjustable straps to ensure a safe, secure fit. When the straps are adjusted properly, the vest should not rise above your child’s head.
Infant Vest Specs:
- Fully enclosed jacket with extra head support
- Chest: 16–20 inches
- Weight: 8-30 lbs
- Crotch strap
- Two adjustable buckle closures
Child Vest Specs:
- Open-sided design for maximum comfort of multiple sizes
- Chest: 20–25 inches
- Weight: 30-50 lbs.
- Crotch strap
- Three adjustable buckle closures
Customer Review
“Kept my daughter safe in the lake, made her want to swim more. Great value, fun colors and it fit her great. She was easily able to maneuver and swim in this vest.” – Amazon review
Best Children's Life Jacket
Oceans7 Life Jacket
Suitable for children who weigh between 30 and 50 lbs. This life vest is equipped with three adjustable straps and an open-sided design to maximize safety and comfort. Your child can use wear this life jacket while learning to swim or for general boating activities.
Best Swim Vests for Toddlers and Big Kids
If you’re looking for something that’s less of a “personal flotation device” and more a “swimmer-in-training” supportive product, check out our swim vest options below.
1. Best for Learning to Swim: Gogokids Kids Swim Vest
Gogokids specializes in children’s swim vests, so it’s safe to say they offer a secure, high-quality product for children learning to swim. According to their size guide, they recommend a size small for toddlers between 2–3 years or 26-35 lbs. Their swim vests can accommodate children up to 60 lbs.
The vest is made from an outer layer of 2mm neoprene and a filling of EPE foam for buoyancy support. These materials are both lightweight and sink-friendly, making for a more comfortable swimming experience.
Features:
- UFP 50+ protection
- Grab handle
- Padded crotch strap
- Quick-release buckles
Keep in mind:
This vest is NOT rated by the U.S. Coast Guard for unconscious, life-saving purposes. It is strictly to aid a child who is learning to swim. This life vest would not be suitable in a theme park or on a boating excursion.
Customer Review
“We bought this for my two year old son and it fit perfectly. The straps were easy to assemble and adjust. The quality is great. And the strap pad between the legs is perfect bc it prevented him from getting a wedgy like a bare strap would have done. He was comfortable while wearing it and didn’t fuss so that is also a plus.” ~ Walmart review
Best For Learning to Swim
Gogokids Kids Swim Vest
This lightweight swim vest is designed for your up-and-coming swimmer. It enables your child to keep their balance while providing buoyant support as they learn basic swimming skills. Equipped with multiple adjustable straps and crotch support, this swim vest ensures a safe and secure fit for your child.
2. From Toddler to Big Kid: REALIKE Kids Swim Vest
The bright, fun designs of this swim vest will get any kid excited to learn how to swim. Sometimes, all the encouragement they need is a cute picture on their safety gear. REALIKE swim vests offer buoyancy support for little swimmers, keeping them balanced and upright in the water.
The sleeveless design allows children to keep their arms free for swimming, while the jacket wraps around their torso for comfort and security. According to their sizing guide, they recommend a size small for children ages 2-4 or 22-33 lbs. The REALIKE brand is so confident in its product that it offers buyers a 100% money-back guarantee!
Features:
- UFP 50+ protection
- Grab handle
- Padded crotch strap
- Quick-release buckles
- Double safety buckle
Keep in mind:
This vest is NOT rated by the U.S. Coast Guard for unconscious, life-saving purposes. It is strictly to aid a child who is learning to swim. This life vest would not be suitable in a theme park or on a boating excursion.
Customer Review:
“The colors are bright and vibrant. It fit our 26 lb son well. We knew this wasn’t a life jacket but a swim vest and served the function we wanted while on vacation with a pool in the back yard. Allowed our little to work on his swim skills with us in the pool with him and helped him float. Would recommend.” ~Amazon review
Most Size Options
REALIKE Kids Swim Vest
REALIKE kids swim vests range in sizes from S-XL for children between 22 and 88 lbs. Their small size is recommended for toddlers ages 2-4 or 22-33 lbs. This swim vest features fun, kid-friendly designs and heavy-duty materials that are environmentally friendly and safe for all skin types.
Find Their Perfect Fit: Life Jacket Sizes Based on Your Child’s Weight
The most important thing you can do to ensure your child is safe on the water is to make sure their life jacket fits correctly. This means checking the size and weight requirements. As a general rule, life jackets are broken into three size categories:
Infant life jackets are meant to support kids who weigh less than 33 pounds.
Child-sized life jackets support between 30 and 55 pounds.
Youth life jackets are for children between 50 and 90 pounds.
Please note that while the Coast Guard approves life jackets for babies, it states that infant life jackets may not work for the tiniest babies under 18 pounds. So, if you take to the water with a tiny infant, be sure to check the fit of the life jacket in a pool ahead of time.
Look for these Features:
- Head support. Many life jackets for babies and even toddlers have support that can hold their head out of the water if they’re unable to do so themselves.
- Leg straps. Another important safety feature is a strap that goes beneath the legs, making sure the baby can’t slip out of the life jacket.
- Stay-in-place comfort. A life jacket only works when it’s being worn, so you want one that your child won’t mind wearing. For many kids, that means choosing a thinner jacket.
Staying Safe in the Water: Discover the Different Types of Life Jackets
Life jackets fall into three types. To keep everyone safe, it’s important to understand which type is best for your intended water activity.
- Type I: These life jackets are for “all waters, open ocean, rough seas, or remote water,” where rescuers may take a while to reach you. Type I PFDs have the most buoyancy and will roll an unconscious person face up.
- Type II: These keep wearers floating in relatively calm waters. They are best for “general boating activities” where a fast rescue is possible. These life jackets may roll a person over in the water, but mostly, they keep you in an upright position and require you to tread water.
- Type III: Sometimes called “ski vests”, these life jackets are for general boating, water activities, and watersports specified by the manufacturer. These are the least buoyant and most comfortable, and are not designed to roll a person over in the water.
Kids’ Life Jackets: A Must-Have for Swimmers and Non-Swimmers
Not only should you weigh the water activity against the life jacket type, but you should also factor in your child’s swimming skills. If you’re going deep-sea fishing, you must wear a Type I life vest as a rule. If your child isn’t a strong swimmer, it’s better to err on the side of caution, even if you’re only doing an activity that requires a Type II or III PFD.
Final Thoughts on the Importance of Kids’ Life Jackets
With little swimmers of my own, I want to know they’re safe in any body of water. My sister, a certified swim instructor, recommended my kids use a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket even in the pool. I can’t tell you the confidence my kids have now as they grow their swimming skills.
Frequently Asked Questions
At what age does my baby need to wear a life jacket?
Any baby on the water should wear a life jacket, and it is required that children under 13 must wear a life jacket while boating. However, the U.S. Coast Guard doesn’t test life jackets for babies that weight less than 20 pounds
What’s the difference between a life jacket and a life vest for babies?
The terms’ life jacket and life vest are used interchangeably, but they are different in design. Life jackets are more robust and designed for emergencies, they provide higher buoyancy and safety features. Life vests are more for recreational purposes, as they are a more comfortable fit for toddlers and babies.
Can a child wear an inflatable life jacket?
The U.S. Coast Guard only authorizes the use of inflatable life vests for people 16 years or older. Inflatable life vests are fairly new to the PFD market, and most brands haven’t manufactured kids’ sizes yet. Most manufacturer specifications say users must be over 80 pounds.
Should kids wear life jackets on the beach?
It’s recommended that infants to five-year-olds wear life jackets when they are in or around large bodies of water where rescue is imminent. Children and teens should wear life jackets during water activities like boating, tubing, or rafting, and especially if they’re swimming in open water.
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