Best Lifejackets for Kids?

[Natty Light]

My five year old daughter has decided that her Barbie life jacket is no longer "cool". When did five year olds start caring about cool anyway? Of course wearing a life jacket while our boat is under way is not up for deabte so I just force her to wear it. I took her to Bass pro to pick out a new one, but she couldn't find one she liked and the selection this time of year is sparse anyway. Her main complaint is that it "poofs out" too far. Has anyone else found a life jacket that that is equally bouyant but not as thick as the cheap traditional ones? Or any kid life jacket success stories?

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Best Lifejackets for Kids?

They are all going to "Poof Out" too far.
Buoyancy is proportional to displacement.

The only ones that are not poofy are the type 5's
But, she will need to be 16 years old to wear on of them.

Just have her put a tee shirt she likes over the top of it. (Incredible Hulk?)
She can make a different fashion statement every day.

You'll go broke trying to keep a lady in fashion by buying new PFD's every week.
Next she will be needing matching Deck Shoes! :faint2:

 

[dmoriarty51]

Re: Best Lifejackets for Kids?

my 6yr old has one of these Overtons Youth BioLite Vest - Gander Mountain

its a little poofy looking not as bad as the wallymart cheapies. but at 5-6 yrs old they seem to almost fall in the middle of sizes i found the size down doesnt provide enough floatation and is very restrictive to her moving freely.

in the end its about safety for the what if moments not fashion.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Best Lifejackets for Kids?

The vice admiral has two PFDs; one for the party barge and one for the moving water boats. She's ten now and into youth sizes (although her next ones will be adult XS), but we always had really good luck finding kids' sizes in the cheaper lake type PFDs at Academy. As you've discovered though, those things are very seasonal, especially off the shelf. If she can't find one of these to make her happy best of luck.
http://search.********.com/?Ns=p_image_sort|1||p_purchased|1&Ne=1000&N=2033&cname=Life-Vests

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Best Lifejackets for Kids?

The best kind is the kind that is comfortable, and that varies with the child's shape, first, and conditions, second. For example, where it's hot, mesh shoulders are better.

One of the biggest complaints is the PFD riding up when they sit down, due to the back or body section being to long for that child's shape, so be sure to test it sitting down.

Other conditions are important: are you cold water boating? Need something that will withstand a ski/tube wipe-out? What is your exposure to danger (compare offshore night time winter to daytime summer 10 acre lake)?

When my girls were sailing they had to have whistles attached, too.

And I find straps are way better than zippers.

To avoid the fashion trap, buy solid neutral colors, and threaten them with the BUO version.*

*Big Ugly Orange

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Best Lifejackets for Kids?

How about a swim suit that's also a PFD?

Innovative Designs Swimeez - The Floatable Swimsuit!

 

[dmoriarty51]

Re: Best Lifejackets for Kids?

im betting those are not an approved PFD in the eyes of the coast gaurd and other authorities

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Best Life-jackets for Kids?

Re: Best Life-jackets for Kids?

How about a swim suit that's also a PFD?

Like it says in the AD....

Warning: This swimsuit floats, but it is NOT a flotation device. NOR is it a life Preserver. This suit is a swim aide. Maintain close parental supervision whenever child is IN or NEAR water. NEVER LEAVE CHILD UNATTENDED.

Definitely NOT USCG Approved!!! NOT a PFD!

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Best Life-jackets for Kids?

Re: Best Life-jackets for Kids?

Look at the neoprene types, sized correctly they hug the body and are not very thick unless you get the junk types that they sell at target/Kmart, or are looking at fishing vests. They are also much more comfortable if you do watersports since they stay put.

 

[Natty Light]

Re: Best Lifejackets for Kids?

Thank y'all for the responses. I've debated online purchase, but I may sit tight until I can get her to try one on in person.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Best Lifejackets for Kids?

Second what oldjeep said. The neoprene ones are the least obnoxious for kids.

 

[rallyart]

Re: Best Lifejackets for Kids?

It gets worse when they are 10 as no one makes a jacket that fits if your kids are thin. Also they don't want collars or crotch straps. Mine all were more likely to wear a neoprene jacket but on a hot day the nylon shell was cooler. I had to have two jackets for my kids as they are often in the water swimming from the boat or doing watersports and a dry one was really useful. It's also useful to have when they bring a friend.
Just remember that what ever you get that is 'perfect' might not be the next year. Never fall for 'no one else is wearing them' or 'I can't sit right' (which are always included with a whine they have developed to annoy parents)
It's better to try them on so they know they have the best for them, if you spend a lot of time in the boat. Good Luck.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Best Lifejackets for Kids?

Mine all were more likely to wear a neoprene jacket but on a hot day the nylon shell was cooler. I had to have two jackets for my kids as they are often in the water swimming from the boat or doing watersports and a dry one was really useful. It's also useful to have when they bring a friend.

Take a look at the hybrids. Neoprene inners with a nylon outer. We've got a couple of them (O'Neils). They fit like a neoprene but don't get as hot.

 

[sublauxation]

Re: Best Lifejackets for Kids?

My kids didn't like the neoprene ones. I found the "Cabela's Youth Comfort Mesh Vest" and they like those a lot better because they don't get as hot when fishing and seem pretty comfortable. For tubing and stuff they still use a regular vest style.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Best Lifejackets for Kids?

My kids didn't like the neoprene ones. I found the "Cabela's Youth Comfort Mesh Vest" and they like those a lot better because they don't get as hot when fishing and seem pretty comfortable. For tubing and stuff they still use a regular vest style.

be careful; lots of fishing vests are not approved for water sports. As I said, circumstances rule--do you need something that will stay on in a wipe-out?

 

[sublauxation]

Re: Best Lifejackets for Kids?

be careful; lots of fishing vests are not approved for water sports. As I said, circumstances rule--do you need something that will stay on in a wipe-out?

I'm pretty sure the Mesh ones would never fly for watersports. My kids complained they were cooking in the watersports type vests so we have two sets, one for just hangen in the boat and another for tubing.

 

[theBrownskull]

Re: Best Lifejackets for Kids?

We have two vests for the kids as well. Neoprene ones approved for water sports and the mesh fishing vests for when they are in the boat. The mesh fishing vests are much cooler when sitting in the boat.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Best Lifejackets for Kids?

Almost lost a young daughter water skiing once. She was wearing a foam jacket (squeezable firm foam inside with a solid vinyl molded (to it) covering but NO CROTCH STRAP. She fell and the jacket came up over her forcing her arms straight up. When I looked around her face was partially under water and she seemed to be in a position where she couldn't do anything about it.

I turned the boat around as fast as it would go, killing the engine and jumping out when the boat got to her. Things worked out ok but was a scare for all of us....whole family was in the boat watching.

Mark

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Best Lifejackets for Kids?

Question - if a life jacket doesn't stay on when doing watersports than why do you trust it for any other purpose? Not much difference between wiping out on a ski and falling out of the boat at speed.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Best Lifejackets for Kids?

Question - if a life jacket doesn't stay on when doing watersports than why do you trust it for any other purpose? Not much difference between wiping out on a ski and falling out of the boat at speed.

Yep. It's important to test for fit. The simplest way is to grab the PFD by the shoulders and pull up on it. If the wearer doesn't come up with it it's too loose.