The Best Infant Life Jackets To Keep Them Safe On The Water - Forbes

Warmer weather means plenty of time spent poolside, hitting the beach or maybe even heading out for a family boat day. It also means staying extra vigilant around water, especially with little ones in tow. The best infant life jackets not only save lives but can allow you to more safely enjoy water activities with the fam. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death in children ages 1 to 4.

"Infant life jackets are necessary whenever a baby is near or on the water, including boating, swimming in open water and even playing on the beach near the water's edge," says Sunsational Swim School founder Sarah Sebe. "Even if your baby is not directly in the water, accidents can happen, and it's important to be prepared."

When searching for the best infant life jackets for your child, you'll want to look for a Type II, U.S. Coast Guard-certified life jacket, which is recommended for babies.

"Type II PFDs (personal flotation devices) have a headrest that will help keep an infant's head out of the water and are designed to turn a baby face-up if they are unconscious," explains Sebe. "Look for essential features like adjustable straps for a secure fit, head support and a crotch strap to prevent the jacket from riding up," she says. Other safety features she loves are a grab handle on the back for fast retrieval should your baby fall in and a brightly-colored design to make your infant easy to spot in the water.

All of our top infant life jackets picks below come highly-rated and are USCG-approved Type II PFDs. Read on to shop the best infant life jackets for boating, beaching and more with your babies this summer.

• Best Infant Life Jacket Overall: Stohlquist Kids Life Jacket
• Best Value Infant Life Jacket: Overton Full Throttle Infant Baby-Safe Vest
• Most Comfortable Infant Life Jacket: O'Neill Superlite USCG Infant Life Vest
• Best Infant Life Jacket For Older Babies: Airhead GNAR Infant Kwik-Dry Neolite Flex Life Jacket
• Best Brightly Colored Infant Life Jacket: Stearns Type II Infant Life Jacket
• Best Quick-Drying Infant Life Jacket: West Marine Deluxe Rapid Dry Infant Life Jacket
• Best Infant Life Jacket In A Kid-Friendly Print: Airhead Treasure Infant Life Vest

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How We Chose The Best Infant Life Jackets

I spoke with two swim safety experts, as well as followed guidelines set forth by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the United States Coast Guard to select the best infant life jackets to keep your little one protected around the water. Each PFD is a Type II vest, which is recommended for infants, and all of our picks are certified by the U.S. Coast Guard for maximum safety. I also pored over real parent reviews to see which life jackets fit best and were most comfortable for babies to wear.

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