The 7 Best Life Jackets for Kids of All Ages (Including Infants!)

I’ve compiled a selection of the best life jackets for kids available, including at least one from each size category. Most of these are class II PFDs, but two of them are class III. Remember that those are best used near shore and close to an adult who is prepared to help.

Best Infant Life Jacket

1. Stearns Infant Classic Series Vest

Stearns Infant Classic Series Vest is a great option for our youngest and smallest water babies. It is a Coast Guard-approved class II PFD. It has a very simple design with a strap between their legs to prevent it from riding up. This strap is what ensures that the life jacket holds our children above water rather than just slipping off over their hear.

Of course, it will still be important that the vest fit snuggly to your child. Stearns makes it easy by including a zipper in addition to one adjustable strap. You can just zip the jacket and pull the chest strap tight. There is a flotation head support along with a grab handle. At less then $20, it’s an easy-to-afford life jacket for children under 30 pounds.

This life jacket will work well for most infants and toddler, though they will still need close supervision while in or near the water. This life jacket can make your child’s first trip to the beach a blast and give you peace of mind while they play in the pool during the heat of summer.

Likes

• Affordable
• Zipper front
• Leg strap to avoid slipping out
• 1 chest strap

Dislikes

• A larger grab handle would be nice
• The design is plain, solid color

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Best Life Jackets for Children

2. Stearns Child Classic Series Vest

If want a simple, basic, but reliable life vest, Stearns Child Classic Series Vest will fit the bill. It is approved by the US Coast Guard as a type II PFD, and it has a leg strap to prevent a child from slipping out of it when the life jacket pulls to the surface. The vest is secured tightly to the chest using 3 adjustable straps and buckles.

Since this life jacket is designed for children who weigh between 30 and 50 pounds, it no longer has the flotation head support. This is a great life jacket for youngsters going out on a boat or taking a vacation to the beach or lake. It’s one of the most affordable options available, but the quality isn’t sacrificed.

This would be a great choice for a jacket to keep on a boat or at a vacation house. It’s one-size-fits-all within its given weight range, so it is easy for children to share it. That said, if your child will be using their life jacket on a more regular basis, you may want to consider upgrading to an option that offers more specific sizing.

Likes

• Very reliable
• One-size-for-all 30-50 lbs allows for sharing among children
• Affordable
• 3 chest straps for easy adjustments
• Leg strap to avoid slipping out

Dislikes

• No zipper on the front
• Plain, solid design
• No Grab Handle

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3. Gogo Kids Swim Vest Life Jacket

For kids who will be wearing their life jacket often, it may be worth looking for an option that offers a be more specific fit and greater comfort. The Gogo Kids Swim Vest Life Jacket offers 2 sizes within the 30-50 lb weight range and an additional two sizes in the Youth (50+ lbs) weight range. This means that the life jacket will fit better for your child.

While it is slightly more expensive than a basic model, it still hovers around or under the $30 range. It’s also approved by the US Coast Guard as a type II Personal Flotation Device, so it will meet the needs of any family activity short of rough seas on the open ocean. It’s the perfect choice for children who’ll be in the pool or lake frequently throughout the summer months.

It also has a zipper, in addition to the two adjustable chest buckles. One of the best features of this life jacket is the leg strap. Instead of a single nylon strap and buckle, it’s a more comfortable, wider, neoprene strap that spits into two before buckling to the front of the vest. The difference in comfort, especially for children wearing suits that don’t include longer shorts, cannot be overestimated!

Gogo Kids really didn’t hold back when designing this life jacket. They were sure to include a grab handle that is wide enough to be easy-to-spot and easy-to-grab. The vest itself has a fun and colorful design and can be purchased in pink or blue. Since the entire vest is neoprene instead of nylon, it will hug the child’s body more tightly. This offers the advantage of less slipping and improves children’s range of motion.

Likes

• Very comfortable!
• Smarter design for the leg strap
• More specific size options
• Zipper front
• Grab handle
• Fun design
• Neoprene for comfort and range of motion

Dislikes

• Slightly more expensive than a basic life vest

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4. Stearns Original Puddle Jumper Kids Life Jacket

This is one of the two life jackets that have a US Coast Guard rating of type III – swim aid – PFD. Unlike the vests that fully encase your child’s chest, Stearns Original Puddle Jumper Kids Life Jacket has a band of flotation foam across the chest and another band around each arm. It always reminds me of a kid with arm floaties clinging to a pool noodle.

The advantage of this design is freedom and range of motion for you child. This is the perfect choice for young children who are already swimmers when they spend time on a boat or dock. It’s also a great option as children learn to swim in a neighborhood pool, and at around $20, the price is reasonable.

This life jacket comes in a wide range of designs, which can be a huge help when trying to convince a beginner swimmer that they need to wear a flotation device. The Puddle Jumper is also a great choice for meeting USCG requirements at wave pools, water parks, and on boats, though you will want to be sure that it fits snugly.

Likes

• Gives kids freedom
• Great design and color choices
• Supports learning to swim
• USCG approved

Dislikes

• Can slip around on some kids
• Not as effective as a type II PFD
• No grab handle
• No shoulder harness

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5. Body Glove Paddle Pals Learn to Swim Life Jacket

The Paddle Pals Learn to Swim Life Jacket by Body Glove is similar to the Puddle Jumper but with a significant addition. It has a shoulder harness. This seemingly small adjustment means that the flotation jacket now fits snug and secure. Your child will not be able to wiggle out of without help from an accomplice, and the flotation device will stay put even as your little one wiggles their way around the deep end.

While it is approved by the US Coast Guard, it is a type III – swim aid – PFD. It will offer children the same freedom, range of motion, and confidence as the Puddle Jumper; it just fits more securely. It’s also a slightly higher price, but still, within the same range as all of the life jackets, we reviewed for this article.

The range of colors and design choices for this life jacket ensures you’ll find something that appeals to your child, and it will meet the requirements of any activity that necessitates a USCG approved PFD. It will be the perfect choice for those kids who know how to swim but aren’t yet strong enough to be turned loose on the lake. It’s also a huge help as kids learn to swim.

Likes

• Should harness
• Snug and secure fit
• Gives kids freedom
• Great design and color choices
• Supports learning to swim
• USCG approved

Dislikes

• Not as effective as a type II PFD
• No grab handle

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Best Life Jackets for Youths (50+lbs)

6. Stohlquist Youth Fit Life Jacket

As children grow older their water activities become more specific and more active. Instead of riding along in the raft, these children may be doing their part to paddle the canoe. That’s when it’s time to consider the Stohlquist Youth Fit Life Jacket. It’s still a US Coast Guard approved Type II PFD, but it’s designed for an active water enthusiast. I

It fits children from 50-90 lbs and has 3 adjustable chest straps to ensure a secure fit. The defining trait of this life jacket is the cut of the arms. The shoulders do not include flotation foam, so the vest sits more comfortably around the neck. The armholes are cut much wider, especially around the front. This gives the wearer a greater range of motion for paddling.

The back of this life jacket also includes foam that is cut slightly thinner to make sitting against the back of kayak or canoe more comfortable. The Fit Life Jacket will still ensure that a child floats along after the boat capsizes, but it won’t get in the way of learning to paddle. Of course, it will be more comfortable when hanging out on a larger boat on the lake, too.

There are many options to keep kids learning over the summer, and the Stohlquist Youth Fit Life Jacket is a great choice to keep children safe while they learn water sports like paddleboarding, kayaking, and canoeing. It’s in the same price range as the rest of our recommended life jackets but offers older children more freedom of movement.

Likes

• 3 chest straps for easy tightening
• Thinner back foam for comfortable seating with a backrest
• Larger armholes designed for paddling
• Thinner shoulder straps for free movement of the neck and head
• Same type II PFD rating as bulkier life jackets

Dislikes

• No grab handle

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7. Onyx Youth Type 2 USCG Life Jacket

There are situations where a child may need a life jacket for a single-use. If you just need something basic to comply with Coast Guard regulations, the ONYX Youth Type 2 USCG Life Jacket will meet that need for a very low cost.

This collar-style life jacket is a basic orange color with a single chest strap. It does not offer any fancy styles, and many people find it cumbersome around their neck. What it will do, and quite well, I might add, is flip an unconscious person onto their back to get their face out of the water.

If you decide that this is the best life jacket choice for you, be sure that your child knows how to tighten the strap to keep the collar securely attached to their chest. You may also want to consider your child’s willingness to wear an orange collar life jacket. If they are a strong swimmer and only need to carry a life jacket with them, this may be a great choice.

Likes

• Very affordable
• USCG approved

Dislikes

• Uncomfortable
• Easily shifts around on children
• The utilitarian design may cause arguments over wearing this life vest

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Buyer’s Guide

There is no magic quite like watching a child in the water. Whether it’s swimming off the back of a boat, being surprised by their first ocean wave, or splashing in the pool, water adventures are often irresistible to kids. As adults, we may feel torn between encouraging them and being terrified for their safety. We want to let them play, but we also know that our fears are not unfounded.

According to the CDC, an average of 10 people die from drowning every day. One-fifth of those people are children under 14, so it’s no surprise that many moms experience anxiety when it comes time to let their children near the water. It makes choosing the best life jacket for kids vital to our mental health and our kid’s physical health.

You should never let a child swim unattended but finding the perfect life jacket can help you relax and enjoy fun in the water. Maybe even take a few pictures using one of the recommended best action cameras. The choices for life vests can feel overwhelming, though. This breakdown will help you understand the different life vest options and offer suggestions for the best choices in each category.

Life Jacket Sizes

Life jackets for kids fall into three basic size categories based on a child’s weight. As children grow and their bodies get larger, their needs for a life jacket change. Their ability to assist in their own rescue will also change, so the design of the life jacket will need to change along with that.

Life jackets for kids are broken into three basic size categories. The US Coast Guard recommends always checking the fit of the life jacket by putting it on the child, securing the straps, and then lifting the shoulders up. The child’s chin and ears should NOT dip down into the vest. There are life jackets for infants, children, and youth. Each category has its own characteristics.

Infant Life Jackets

While this category is labeled as being for infants, these are also the best life jackets for young toddlers. They are typically designed to work well for children who weigh less than 30 pounds and include several features designed to support our youngest loved ones.

Infant life jackets will have a strep between the legs ensure that the vest stays in place. They also have an extra flap around the neck that will float up around the young child’s head to keep it stable and afloat. The bulk of the flotation is on the front of the vest, so these life jackets will float in a way that turns the infant or toddler onto their back to ensure that their face is out of the water.

Children’s Life Jackets

These life jackets are typically designed for children who weigh between 30 and 50 pounds. They still have the strap between the legs to ensure the vest stays in the right place on the child, but they no longer include the extra flap behind the head. Your child will be ready to move up to the children’s size vest once they weigh 30 pounds and are comfortable enough in the water to allow their head to float without needing that extra head support.

Youth Life Jackets

Once your child surpasses 50 pounds, they are likely ready to be more active in the water. Youth size life jackets will offer them a greater range of motion and no longer have a strap between the legs. By this point, your child should be comfortable with keeping their life vest tightly secured with buckles, and in some cases zippers. The vest should not move around, even when your child does!

Life Jacket Ratings

The US Coast Guard rates life jackets, or personal flotation devices (PFDs), in different categories. Children’s life jackets will fall into one of three of these rating categories. You’ll want to consider the activities your kids plan to enjoy on the water, along with their confidence and swim skills, as you choose the best kid’s life vest for you. More information can be found by visiting the USCG website, but I’ve pulled together the key points here.

Type 1 PFDs

These are the life vests that have been approved for commercial boats. They are frequently orange rectangles with a head hole and black buckle straps. You can certainly purchase one of these for your child, but they aren’t the most comfortable nor do they stay in place well.

Type 2 PFDs

Most of the life jackets for kids will fall into this category. The USCG recommends them for general, calm-water activities. They will flip your child onto their back and keep them afloat with their head out of the water until help can arrive.

Type 3 PFDs

It’s important to note that the USCG calls these life jackets “flotation aides.” These are for use near a shore where help can quickly reach the child. They are not designed quite like type 2 life jackets and have only recently become popular choices for children.

FAQs

How do I know which size life jacket to buy?

If your child weighs less than 30 lbs, look at infant life jackets. Children between 30 & 50 lbs will need a children’s life jacket. If your child weighs more than 50 lbs, you’ll want to go with a youth life jacket.

What rating of life jacket will I need for my activity?

If your child will be swimming in a pool, consider a type III swim aide, but you’ll need at least a basic type II PFD for boating. If your child is becoming an avid paddler, look into getting youth life vest that is contour cut for greater comfort.

What kind of life jacket is best for frequent wear?

If your child will be wearing their life vest at least once a week, look for specific sizing and neoprene for fit & comfort. If it will be worn numerous times throughout any basic type II PFDs will work well.

What if my child will only wear the life jacket once or twice?

In this situation, you may want to consider a very basic collar-style life jacket. It’s the most cost-effective choice but will still meet your needs.

Bottom Line

Children love playing in the water. It’s a magical experience that starts with infants floating in a pool before toddlers start jumping off the side and young children begin begging to explore the deep end. Before you know it, your child is as tall as your shoulder and begging to go canoeing with their scout troop or fishing with a relative.

None of us want the fear of accidental drowning to stand in the way these great adventures, so we turn to life jackets to keep our loved ones safe. With a wide range of sizes, styles, and ratings, choosing the correct life vest can easily become overwhelming. Seeing your child smiling in the water will make all of your effort worthwhile, though.

Hopefully, this guide has helped you find the best life jackets for kids, including the best life jacket for your child. Strapping a Coast Guard-approved life vest onto your child shouldn’t free you up to wander away and leave your child unattended, but it should give you the confidence to set aside your worries and snap some great photos!