baby life jackets

Xplicitlnck

Xplicitlnck

Well-Known Member
Jan 2, 2012
4,030
Long island ny
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330ec
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Twin 7.4 straight drive
Im trying to find a proper fitting jacket for my daughter.she will be one next month abd weighs in at about 25#. I've tried a few already but they were tough to get her arms into and seemed to run up under her chin. She's walking and im trying to find something that won't nterfear with her mobility. I also want her to feel comfortable so she doesn't scream and cry when she wears it. I want her to enjoy being out on the boat with me no uncomfortable. Everything seems really bulky. I dint care about the price . I called one more marine supply and they have one brand I havnt tried yet. I think he said mustang? Any comments any recommendations?
 
I'm not sure your going to find anything not bulky. I think with kids all the concern is focused on safety and the comforts lags sometimes. Tho one on the far right is what my 10 month old has been wearing since birth. He will continue to wear it this year.
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When my daughter was 5 weeks old and probably weighed all of 6-7 pounds I walked into WM and asked an old guy which life jacket would work best. He proceeded to tell me that was way too young and we should wait until she's atleast 6 months old. I then told him thanks but she's going anyway. I don't remember which one I bought but they were all bulky.
 
We've used the Mustang jackets. I am very happy with them. I put one on the living room floor so she would be intrigued by it. I eased her into it by having her wear it around the house. Now it's a second skin.
 
I started my daughter out with a neoprene infant body glove like the one to the far right in zorbas pic. My daughter just could not seem to get comfortable in it. I finally tried a cheapo vinyl jacket from wal-mart and she was much happier in it. My theory was the neoprene stuck to her skin and was a problem for her, whereas the vinyl would slide and I think that made a big difference. We now use the "puddle jumpers" which are the swim wing looking things with a chest strap and buckle in the back. They are coast guard approved but not recommended for watersports. They are by far the least restrictive as nothing is around the neck. I don't recall what the weight range is though. It may take some trial and error to find the right one.
 
I don't think they build a comfortable model for infant size. They are more interested in making sure the head stays out of the water at all times. As for comfort, both of my kids didn't like the life jacket in the beginning but but after awhile they just accept it. They also have accepted the fact that the jacket goes on in the parking lot and does not come off until they go back into the car at the end. No compromise.

Dave
 
K-DUB said:
We've used the Mustang jackets. I am very happy with them. I put one on the living room floor so she would be intrigued by it. I eased her into it by having her wear it around the house. Now it's a second skin.
Click to expand...

Great advice. We do the same thing and call it their boat coat. Our five year old doesn't even think about it. It's second nature to him.


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Xplicitlnck said:
Im trying to find a proper fitting jacket for my daughter.she will be one next month abd weighs in at about 25#. I've tried a few already but they were tough to get her arms into and seemed to run up under her chin. She's walking and im trying to find something that won't nterfear with her mobility. I also want her to feel comfortable so she doesn't scream and cry when she wears it. I want her to enjoy being out on the boat with me no uncomfortable. Everything seems really bulky. I dint care about the price . I called one more marine supply and they have one brand I havnt tried yet. I think he said mustang? Any comments any recommendations?
Click to expand...
When they're real small nothing seems like it fits right. No matter which you end up with make sure to actually try it. Put her in the water and roll her around, tip her over. You need to make sure that the PFD will right her properly head/face up. We didn't like the ones with the big collar behind the head. Another suggestion is to start the swimming lessons.
 
We went with the head support (similar to the body glove in Zorba's pic) from newborn to around that age. Tried all the neoprene, and vinyl jackets. Then we found the "Super Soft" at around age 2, and have been buying them ever since (up to age 9 now). The fit is very good, comfortable, and will not remain wet. I have the XS (Yellow) that may fit, if you want to try it on for size. Weight range is 30-50#.


http://www.wholesalemarine.com/supe...s-79349.html?gclid=CIPtvPb8j8UCFcXm7AodZ1YAnQ


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When our son was 4 weeks old, we borrowed one of the orange traditional jackets from our Sea Ray dealer. It was rated for kids 12-24lbs. Once he became mobile, we ended up with both a neoprene CG approved vest and the "puddle jumpers" for both kids. I have one of the Super Softs for a 25lb kid, but my daughter hated it. They both like the animal faces on the puddle jumpers so that's what they wear on the boat now.
 
My son turned 2 a few months ago, and used the one on the far right in Zorba's pic last season and will this season. It's not super comfortable...but its safe.
 
Puddle jumpers are fantastic! They are not technically life jackets though. Great for in the water while supervised.

Ive found that having multiple jackets is the key. They don't always like the same thing so when they refuse to put one on, you just grab the other for a "compromise" and it's happy boating. Multiples allows a dry jacket for the ride home after the swimming is over too.

I have 2 kids and at least 10 kid jackets. Friends show up, things get forgotten at home or the pool... Just buy a couple.
 
There are a lot of different options out there. When my 8 year old was ten days old he was on a boat. Some may say that's too young and they might be right but regardless, both of my boys have grown up on the water.

My ten year old just took it upon himself to take the Florida Boaters Education course and passed the tests with a 95%. He legitimately helps run both my big boat and my smaller boat. My youngest is content just enjoying the scenery but has been known to commandeer the dinghy to go exploring.

Something to think about...We put both of our boys in a "pack n play" and they loved it. My oldest was 2 and my youngest was one when we started going offshore. They would stand inside the pack n play and have a ball. When it was nap time we just put a sheet over the top of the pack n play and off to sleep they went.

Obligatory/braggart pictures that show some life jackets -

Oldest son at 5 years old. He had better command of the boat than most adults did.

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Youngest son at 3 years old taking an impromptu nap

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Thank you fOr all the information. Very helpful. I went to the marine supply yesterday and tried on the mustang. Just seems to choke her... she actual seemed scared lol. Screaming abd crying in the store. I then tried the puddle jumper abd she didn't seem to notice it. Started running around the store. My only problem with it is if the jacket rights her up in the water (which it should) her arm floats will come right off.
my idea is im going to use the stern jacket while underway. And then switch to the puddle jumper while at anchor or around the docks. She's just at that size were nothing fits right and just completely restricts her...
love the pack and play idea.
 
for kids less than 5-8 years - never ever let them wear anything without the neck support. So it has to be a LIFE JACKET and not a SWIM/SAILING VEST.

The neck and life-jacket is made so the child WILL be turned face up - almost no matter what - and the neck part is there to support the head staying above water. The majority of the float material is at the chest - so it will turn the child around as well. A swim/sailing vest has almost equal float material all the way around and is for people who can swim and turn themselves around without issue.

If a child use the vest style without neck support - they can drown face down very quickly before you can get your boat around to them - if they for example fall overboard. Even if they can swim well - the life-vest is not a saviour if the child gets knocked unconscious on the way overboard.

Even though they are bulky and my 2 1/2 year still cries when he takes it on - the crying is over in 5 minutes and he just has fun thereafter. We have also trained in the pool how he should react if he falls in the water.
 
That is very good information kaz. Thank you. When you say neck support your taking about the big flap behind the head right? . Do u think having the two jackets, one for underway with neck support and then the poodle jumper for anchor abd dock time or just try to leave the good jacket on at all times?
 
Another question I have. Not that I ever plan on taking her jacket off but just our of curiosity anybody under age 12 is required to wear a vest (understood) my question is, is that at all times when there on the vessel or just underway? I.e. vest is on while going to a bay to anchor out. When we arrive and anchor is dropped do they still need to be wearing it? Again just curious I don't plan on ever taking it off of her
 
Xplicitlnck said:
That is very good information kaz. Thank you. When you say neck support your taking about the big flap behind the head right? . Do u think having the two jackets, one for underway with neck support and then the poodle jumper for anchor abd dock time or just try to leave the good jacket on at all times?
Click to expand...

Yes - big neck flap - big enough to support their heads above water. A real life jacket can be tested in the pool - and you will see the kids will have a hard time doing breast strokes as the life jacket will turn them around. Then their heads come to rest on the neck/head support. And training them is important - teach them to relax on their back's if they fall in. It also makes them a lot more visible as a lot of the life jacket is showing above water - where a life vest you will only see top of shoulders usually.

But playing around the boat with SOBER :) and 110% supervision in the harbour - a life vest is fine - but I keep my kids in the life jackets anyway. From the moment they stop on the boat to the moment they leave.

And life vest "science" and selection is one of the subjects I had to do when I did my sailing training some 30-35 years ago??? Darn time passes quickly. Could not pass without learning about it :) I know things have developed - but despite looking I have not found any safe light weight alternatives for little people yet.

And btw just because it says Coast Guard approved does NOT mean it is approved for on the water. Some of the products mentioned in this thread references that - but when you read between the lines it is for coastline and swimming use ONLY. One of the swim training belt/puff's even have reviews stating kids if they go head first in - will stay upside down....
 
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