Personal flotation devices/life jackets

[vasc]

We are going on a trip to Lake Ontario next month that may involve many opportunities for various boating activities on the water.  Wanting to get DD a life jacket but feel I need a CSFTL forum to consult.

Anyone have suggestions?  Seems like all the toddler ones require 30-50lb weights.  DD is less than 30lbs (24ish).  We tried on a few today.  The infant ones (rated for less than 30 lbs) seem too snug.  The toddler ones (30-50) seemed okay but obviously I don't want to go that route if she doesn't meet the criteria (assuming they're as strict as they are for car seats).

[majwv8]

O is probably like 28 lbs (Dr appointment on Thursday) so I just bought the ones that day 30-50.

The one that looks like an actual life jacket seemed like it fit her good, but I never saw it in action in the water. We used it when she rode on our boat.

I also got her a puddle jumper and we've used that in the pool. It doesn't quite keep her head out of water like I would want it to if it were really needing to save her life like in a lake - it's fine for a pool when there's always people around.

Sorry, that lead to no real advice for you..

[vasc]

majwv8, we tried the puddle jumper on her in the store and despite my efforts to pull it tight she got her arm out quite easily. So I guess she's not ready for that.

I'm considering this one, which we were able to try on her at Dicks.

t.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=30761836&cp=4406646.4413993.19248926&categoryId=13020087&fg=Gender

[daffy2k]

I haven't done a lot of research into it but my initial thought is that the toddler one should be fine assuming you can get it to fit her properly. Better off going with a higher weight limit one to guarantee you have the necessary amount of flotation to support her weight. With the crotch strap properly fitted it shouldn't raise too high on her shoulders when she's floating. If you can't get it relatively snug around her middle then I would look at something smaller

[vasc]

And FTR my DH is being a total jerk about the whole thing, asking why we can't just use one of the life jackets his aunt has on her boat....Nevermind that said aunt might not be there when we are, nor the fact that her life jackets are from the 90s....

[cl8badb]

Geez! Buy one get one free!? Can you get both sizes?? Haha

[majwv8]

vasc I like that kind because it has the pad to keep the head out of water.

[daffy2k]

Jun 22, 2015 18:23:50 GMT -5 vasc said:

And FTR my DH is being a total jerk about the whole thing, asking why we can't just use one of the life jackets his aunt has on her boat....Nevermind that said aunt might not be there when we are, nor the fact that her life jackets are from the 90s....

She also might not have one in the right size. But you would easily be able to buy one there if you wanted to check out what she had on the boat first. This link tells you a little about how to measure if a child's life jacket fits. Also gives all the standards required by transport canada. I'm not sure if there's a similar standard in the U.S. but when it comes to car seats transport canada is even stricter than U.S. regulations so I would think they would be here too. www.tc.gc.ca/eng/marinesafety/debs-obs-equipment-lifejackets-information-1324.htm

[anustart1]

We just went on a boat with Lo a few weeks ago and we used a child's 30-50 lifevest. He's over 30 lbs so it fit perfectly. We got ours at BJs. They will say on the label that they are approved floatations devices. Most boating places, if you are renting will have the right best for toddlers there. And if you don't have an approved one and are renting they won't let you use them.

We have the pudde jumper too, but that's only for pool use in our house.

[anustart1]

Also life vests are not as strict as car seats. If you. An make it snug it should be fine. It can be old too and still effective, it doesn't expire like a car seat.

[kames12]

We are still using the one my mom got for DS last summer, under 30 pounds. Since he is just around 25, I don't want to move him up and it fits well. Can you bring her with you to try them on. That's what my mom did growing up when we were close to sizes

[vasc]

Well, DH just spoke to his aunt on the phone and she confirmed they have an infant vest less than five years old from another family friend they bought it for. So my be we will have her use that after all.

[cl8badb]

Jun 22, 2015 22:56:46 GMT -5 chicagochic said:

Wait? This post isn't about jugs??? Every time I see flotation devices... I assume the discussion is about jugs...

When i saw that you posted I immediately thought "boobs".
Chicagochic + personal floatation devices = boobs in my brain. Haha
I just KNEW thats what youd post about!

[vasc]

Now DH is relenting, saying that we can get the life jacket but keep the tags on in case it turns out we want to borrow his aunt's. But he's claiming that the only reason I want it is because I hav guilt over leaving DD with his relatives for one night while we go to Ottawa. I told him I wasn't going to engage in that BS.

[PSNLS]

We are still using the infant "heads-up" life jacket from last summer. The other styles looks more comfortable, but G is 28 lb and this jacket still fits with plenty of room to adjust. We only go in my ILs pool and one of us is always holding on to him.

[islandgirl14]

We have this one... They make one for <30lbs, and then 30-50lbs. g is about 27lbs, so is right in between... We tried the <30lbs one on a few weeks ago and it still fit. He hated it, but it worked!

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005T9GHR2?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage

Hopefully the link works - I am on mobile so I can't tell If not, it's the Stohlquist Unisex Child Nemo Life Jacket/Personal Flotation Device

[melohdy]

We have this (http://www.amazon.com/Speedo-Girls-Flotation-Suit-Color/dp/B009A2183M/ref=sr_1_32?ie=UTF8&qid=1435092533&sr=8-32&keywords=floatation+swimsuits) for playing in the 3 feet section of the pool. I don't think they are highly recommended, though. We would never let Lilly out of arm's reach with it on because she tends to be forced onto her belly when wearing it.

For boating, we stick to the recommended life vests similar to the ones posted.

[madlizmom]

We used the one on the first link from the time she was 9 mos up until this summer when we switched to the second link:

m.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-Recreational-Life-Jacket-for-Infants/product/12082505423316/

m.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-Recreational-Life-Jacket-for-Kids/product/1211011247/

The second one says 30lbs but we had her in it when she was probably 23-25 lbs. we just made sure it didn't slip off of her and put it tight.

We also have a puddle jumper but just for the pool. I don't think it qualifies as a life saving device in a boat. If the boat is beached and were in the river or lake I'd be ok with it then.

[vasc]

islandgirl14, that's the one we tried on her in the store but didn't buy because she's not heavy enough. They didn't have an infant one in stock. I emailed the company to ask if the weights were firm and got this response:

Please note that we recommend getting the correct size for your child based on the weight she is currently at.

PFD's are good until they no longer float the person. This varies and there is no exact expiration date. Once you get past 5 years you would want to test it by wearing it in the water to make sure it still floats the person before taking it into a safety situation.

We decided to get the infant one from Dicks.

[babygsmommy]

She bought m a life jacket off of amazon. It's a toddler oneil one. It's up to 50 pounds. Works great

[vasc]

Bumping this to report DD happily wore her life jacket at the lake. She started calling it the "pack pack" (back pack).

[vasc]