How to Get The Right Fit for a Child’s Life jacket
Boating can be an enjoyable family activity with fun for the whole family, no matter their size or age. But, as with any potentially dangerous sport, safety gear is essential. Just like knee pads for skateboarders and helmets for bicycles, a children’s life vest is necessary, even required boating safety gear for children under 13. Here are a few things to keep in mind when selecting a life jacket for your child:
Sizes
Children’s life vests are sold by weight divisions of 0 – 30 pounds, 30 – 50 pounds, and 50 – 90 pounds. The 0 – 30 pound size is generally referred to as an infant life jacket, but keep in mind that some infants are too small for even the smallest size of life jacket. The weights are general guides for the amount of floatation each jacket provides. A 30 – 50 pound life jacket should generally keep a child in that weight range afloat, with their head out of the water. Occasionally, you may need to go up a size to accommodate weight, but do not compromise on fit and do not purchase an adult life jacket for a child.
How They Work
The single most important feature of a child’s life vest is that they are designed to prevent drowning by turning a child who may be face down in the water over onto their back and supporting their head. Most child life jackets also have a strap that goes between the legs and fastens to the jacket so that it doesn’t ride up or slip off while the child is in the water.
Selecting and Fitting a Child’s Life Vest
Always buy a Coast Guard approved life vest. When purchasing a life vest for your child, fit is the most important, so after fastening the clasps and securing the straps, be sure that it fits snugly by tugging it at the shoulders. If it rides up, it is too large. If possible, test drive it by having the child wear it while they are in the water. Be sure that it will support them and turn them over in the water. If it doesn’t, return it and purchase a different brand. Life jackets for older children generally do not have the head support or the straps, but should still fit snugly and have enough floatation to keep the older child afloat.
Life jackets only work when they are worn, so teach your child how to put on their life jacket and be sure to comply with federal law by having your children who are under 13 wear theirs whenever you are underway.
