Enjoy a family day out at the beach safely by making sure your kids top their wetsuits with a proper fitting life jacket or buoyancy aid.
The devices are ideal for water based activities with kids’ bodyboards, kayaks, dingys and more. Below, we talk about the difference between the various types as well as what to look out for when choosing a life vest for your own child.
Choosing a PFD For Your Child: Tips from the US Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard offers the following advice on choosing a life jacket for your child:
Show them how to put on a life jacket and stay buoyant in it.
When children find themselves in water, they tend to experience a reaction of panic which generally consists of rapid and uncontrolled leg and arm movements. This makes it more difficult for them to remain in a floating position, even though the PFD offers buoyancy. It is vital for them to get accustomed to wearing a life jacket while they are in the water.
Make Sure the PFD Fits Snuggly
A life jacket that is not properly fitted can shift in the water and not be able to keep your child’s face above the surface. Even worse, the child might slip out altogether. To see if the PFD fits your child properly, lift them up by the straps on the sides of the life preserver. The child’s chin and ears should not slip through.
A PFD Is Not a Babysitter
Even if your kid has a life vest on, they can’t be left alone. An adult should be nearby at all times. It is important to avoid using blow-up objects such as toys, mats, or floaters instead of a personal flotation device.
Test Your PFD Right After Purchase
All kids are different. A life vest that fits one kid perfectly may not provide the same fit for another. The US Coast Guard suggests that you try out the life jacket immediately following buying it in a swimming pool.
See if the floatation device can securely support your kid and keep their face up in the water. It is essential to bear in mind that children typically experience difficulty while swimming, making it difficult to keep their faces above the water.
Ensure that the Personal Flotation Device you purchased is suitable for your kid. If the life jacket you’re using is not working properly, try a different kind.
Why Should Children Always Wear Life Jackets?
Kids are not as self-sufficient in matters related to the aquatic environment as adults. Insufficient coordination and lack of growth can make it more difficult for kids to sustain themselves in a secure posture.
Without a personal flotation device, kids may be in trouble when facing difficult wind and waves.
Get Your Child Used to Wearing a PFD
Learning to kayak can be intimidating when you are just starting out. Using a life vest will make sure your kid is guarded, but having an enjoyable time kayaking will be sure to make them anxious to get back into the water.
Kids having a feeling of ease is a major element in them taking pleasure in a sport.
PFDs, or life jackets, might feel chunky and unusual. Prior to taking your child out on the water, it is beneficial to have them acclimate to wearing life preservers. It is advisable to train yourself in floating and taking precautions while in the water.
Take the time to hang around close to the coast before you go on longer excursions.
What Types of PFDs Are Best for Kids?
The US Coast Guard sorts out personal flotation devices into five classes.
- Type I – Have the most inherent buoyancy and are designed for rough conditions or offshore. These PFDs are designed to turn unconscious casualties into a safe position.
- Type II – Designed for calmer waters or nearer shore and have the ability to turn some casualties onto their back.
- Type III – Not designed to turn casualties over but only to provide floatation.
- Type IV – Thrown devices to aid a struggling person to either assist rescue or keep them afloat while they await rescue.
- Type V – Sport-specific or condition-specific PFD. Each of these devices has its own specific use. For example, whitewater rescue vests are classified as type V.
Most youth PFDs are either type II or III. Type III Personal Flotation Devices are the most frequently seen when paddling a kayak and are not restrictive at all. Those who are comfortable in the water favor these, as they provide the greatest range of motion both inside the kayak and in the water.
Type II PFDs are well-suited for younger children or infants that do not have the capacity to flip themselves over in the water. These boats are well suited for those with less assurance and in harsher settings which are farther away from the coastline.
Be sure to adjust to the terrain and practise so that you will feel at ease when you enter the environment.
What to Look For in Your Child’s Life Jacket
Size and Floatation
Personal flotation devices made for children are available in an assortment of sizes and degrees of buoyancy. Personal flotation devices are typically purchased based on the weight and size of children. Kids who are lighter than 30 lbs. are probably better suited to wear either a toddler or infant life jacket rather than a youth personal flotation device.
The amount of buoyancy needed in your child’s life jacket depends on their weight. As your child grows, so should their life jacket. Kid-size life preservers are formulated to make sure their heads stay above the water’s surface, and inadequate buoyancy can put them in peril.
Do not purchase a personal floatation device that is too big, expecting it to fit your child as they age. A life jacket that is too big will not provide effective protection for your kid when on the water. We suggest that you purchase a suitable and properly fitted jacket.
Fit
In addition to targeting a PFD of the correct size, you will also require one that is both secure and comfortable. Different PFDs are secured with either clips or zips. Some products have neck bands that help keep your child’s head up or afloat, while some others have arm rings that attach to the body.
Locate a personal flotation device (PFD) which meets your desired goals and caters to your kid’s requirements and that they find pleasant. Zippers may provide more protection, but fasteners can grant your young one the capability to assume accountability for their security.
You should consider how simple it would be for your child to put on their life jacket.
Features
Kids’ life jackets aren’t as equipped with characteristics as the adult equivalents, like those intended for fishing purposes, normally are. Despite this, certain attributes intended to improve either safety or comfort can really make a difference.
In addition to the initial fitting of a personal flotation device, you can attach a crotch strap to numerous models to keep them from shifting upwards while in the water. It is highly recommended to use infant PFDs, particularly if you have worries regarding the fit.
Kids commonly lack structure around their ribs and shoulders and life jackets don’t consistently remain as firmly in place as they ought to.
Other kid’s life vests may come equipped with pockets, making it possible for them to bring their own treats and playthings out on the lake. Certain PFDs designed for young people may come equipped with characteristics suited to certain activities, such as straps for white water rafting or extra pouches for kayaking or fishing.
Best Life Jackets for Kids
Stohlquist Drifter Youth – Best All-Around
Buoyancy: 12 lbs. (5.44 kg) Weight: 0.9 lbs. (0.41 kg) USCG Rating: Type III
The Stohlquist Drifter Youth is an ideal life preserver for younger paddlers who take part in recreational and touring paddling, and even some whitewater activities. This swimsuit offers extended arm openings and panels which follow the contours of one’s body, allowing for extensive movement while you are swimming without anything obstructing you.
The Drifter youth life jacket also has a lot of characteristics in common with Stohlquist’s premium safety vests for adults. The cross-chest cinch straps prevent the vest from moving up, perfect for any youthful paddlers who want to work hard, or desire to move around without any disturbance from the PFD.
This bag has an extra pocket on the front and a loop you can attach things to so you can keep everything you need within easy reach while on the water. There is a d-ring inside the pocket, allowing you to fasten items, ensuring that they won’t get lost while you search for your camera.
Having thick zippers and convenient buckles allow your small water sports enthusiast to take ownership in putting their life jacket on, which is an essential requirement in comprehending the dangers while in the water.
NRS Vapor – Best Bang for Your (Paddling) Buck
Intended Use: Paddling |
Entry Style: Side entry, 2 side clips
REASONS TO BUY
Flexible fit
Great arm mobility
Very durable
REASONS TO AVOID
Slightly long
No pockets
Full coverage is less breathable
The NRS Vapor provides a convenient and straightforward option for kayaking or canoeing all day long, while it also comes at a lower price than most of its counterparts which have been specially designed for this activity.
Allowing the foam of the vest to be evenly spread out prevents the large accumulation of material found in some paddling jackets, making it easier for one to move freely. The multiple-panel construction helps improve flexibility by having multiple panels that are joined together in side-by-side positions.
This vest is designed to remain comfortable and snug, with adjustments to the side that allow for an even fit that is never too tight. Huge armholes prevent chafing under the arms, and the interior fabric of the garment pulls sweat away from your body as you boat with force.
If you like having spots to store items, you may want to look somewhere else. This vest has well-made construction, yet there is not a single place to put a pocket or hold a knife. The NRS Siren, which is similar in design, has two small pockets that are of great use.
This could be reworded as: Depending on how tall you are, these items may have a torso length that is too long for kayaking. The Vapor’s size may be slightly large, particularly for those at the lower end of the suggested chest size range; they might be less able to obtain a secure fit.
A vest that has major mesh panels will not provide the same level of protection as one that provides complete coverage. We are enthusiastic about the performance of this paddle jacket; it’s uncomplicated, comfortable, and effective and it’s also reasonably priced.
Stohlquist Fit – Great Value for a Universal Vest
Intended Use: Recreational |
Entry Style: 3 front clips
REASONS TO BUY
Universal sizing
Accommodating for larger chests and women
Spacious armholes are comfortable
Good strap management
REASONS TO AVOID
Top strap is harder to pull tight
Lots of seams around edges
The Stohlquist Fit is a cleverly designed life jacket that is able to provide a comfortable fit for anyone, despite the wide range of sizes it is capable of fitting. People of all genders and sizes find this vest easy to wear and simple to alter in order to get the perfect fit.
This vest has a slim top that allows it to be more pliable than a lot of other products, which was something that our female testers found to be especially beneficial. We tried out several other life jackets that had a tendency to ride high and be too tight on the neck and collar bones, but were pleased to find that this one fit perfectly.
The armholes are significantly sized, providing a comfortable fit and the capacity to allow you to wear it for a short journey in a boat. A large number of rings located all around the vest likewise assist in maintaining strap ends securely in place.
People who are not large should be conscious that the first loop of the belt which is closest to the buckle is a bit too tight to be able to be buckled up all the way. This jacket is lightweight and great for relaxing in your boat, but it may be too long for activities like kayaking where you have to be in a more compact position.
It’s not overly remarkable, but this plain design offers enough coziness that you can definitely endure it for the duration of the day.
Astral Otter 2.0 – Best Life Jacket for Youth
This product is suited for use by children between 50 and 90 pounds and is equipped with a front zip, three clips, and a leg strap.
REASONS TO BUY
Integrated rescue handle
Adjustable on torso and shoulders
Has pockets
REASONS TO AVOID
Pockets are small
Less breathable
Not suitable for kids under 50 pounds
The Astral Otter 2.0 is an amazing life jacket for young people with its comfy and secure fit, an array of safety elements, as well as its superb craftsmanship. This youth jacket is much more pleasant to wear compared to the other jackets we analyzed due to its short torso length.
This feature is of particular value when spending time in a kayak, but is also useful when children are engaging in activities such as bending, sitting, swimming, or crawling, as the jacket does not ride up.
Furthermore, the spacious arm holes provide excellent range of movement when rowing, diving, or leaping into the water from a vessel.
This coat is super easy to get a snug fit and the side panels can be adjusted easily to get the right size for any body type.
This jacket has many more attributes than many other youth life jackets do. Initially, the Otter features a detachable waist belt, which can be beneficial when required; it is possible to take this off as well, giving your child extra comfort.
