10 Best Infant Life Jackets 2020 [Buying Guide]

Your Authors and Guides

Heather
Patton

Jennifer
Trimbee

Samantha
Dewitt

How to Choose the Best Infant Life Jacket

When you take your baby out near the water with you, you want to make sure that they have just as much protection as the rest of the family. That’s why we’ve put together a list of the ten best baby life jackets. We want you to make the most informed decision to protect your family, which is why we’ve done all of the research for you. Here are some things you should know before we start.

Weight Limit: Most of the life jackets on this list are going to have a weight limit. Usually, this is around 30 pounds for an infant life jacket, so if your baby weighs more than that, consider a toddler model instead.

Material: What is the life jacket made of? Most have a high-density foam on the inside, while they are made of nylon or polyester on the outside for added water resistant. Neoprene is also a popular material for life jackets.

Color: What color or colors do you want your baby’s life jacket to be? We’ll let you know the main color of the jacket here, and we’ll mention any other available colors in the description to help with your decision.

Coast Guard Approved: A life jacket that is approved by the Coast Guard is obviously more desirable than one that isn’t, because you know it’s going to have all of the best features and recent technology to keep floating no matter what.

Dimensions: How big is the life jacket? Sometimes, this is a measurement of only the chest area, while other times the entire measurement of the jacket is more important. Use this as another fitting measure for your baby.

Adjustable Straps: It’s important the straps on your life jacket are adjustable because not every baby is the same. You want a snug fit that works as intended, so these adjustable straps are an important safety feature for your family.

Top 10 Products

We’ve done all of the research and review to put together this list of the top ten infant life jackets. We’re sure that you’ll find something on this list that you’ll choose to keep your family safe on the water. Our top pick and budget picks are our highlights and personal favorites, so check them out before moving on to the rest of our list. These are all great infant life vests, and some come in larger sizes.

O’Neill Superlite Life Vest

The best infant life jacket for boating that we could find is this one by O’Neill. This is a blue and yellow vest that is easy to spot from a distance, perfect for boating and swimming activities. It’s rated for up to 30 pounds, so it will work to keep your baby afloat. Unlike some other infant life vests, this one is comfortable and soft, perfect for keeping baby comfortable and having fun. It has a head panel that keeps baby’s head up and supports the neck, keeping them floating and able to breathe in the water. You can adjust the fit of the jacket between the legs, which is convenient. The outside is a smooth polyester coated with water-resistant nylon, while the inside is PVC marine foam that keeps the jacket lightweight. You can easily get it on and off with the quick-release Delrin buckles, and that’s always a good thing with a baby!

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Full Throttle Infant Vest

If you’re trying to keep your family safe on a budget, you could go with the best infant life vest at an affordable price. The Full Throttle infant vest is great for babies less than 30 pounds, with a ton of features to make sure that your child is comfortable and will stay afloat. It’s approved as a Type II life jacket by the US Coast Guard, meaning that it will turn most babies face-up in the water and keep them that way. It has an oversized collar, as well as a waist belt and shoulder strap to help make sure that you can adjust the fit of this jacket at every angle. Plus, it has a grab strap that you can quickly hold onto if your baby is making their way towards the water. It will give you peace of mind when you have your baby around the water, and it will also help to keep your baby comfortable.

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Stearns Infant Classic Series Vest

Stearns is a great company with an entire line of life jackets for your family, from infants to full-sized jackets to keep everyone afloat. This particular jacket is great for infants up to 30 pounds, specifically fitted for their smaller frames and for their comfort. It has a durable nylon shell with floated foam inside so they are always kept upright and floating. This jacket and all the other jackets in the line are approved by the US Coast Guard to be safe for use with children. If your family loves the water and you want to introduce your infant as well, this is the vest to go with. In addition to the bright red color here, it also comes in a bright blue. These colors are easy to see in the water, so you will always be able to find your child. It has a leg strap for added adjustability and a grab handle for extra security.

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Stohlquist Toddler Life Jacket

Stohlquist is a premier life jacket company that makes some of the best-rated infant life jackets on the market right now. The first thing that caught our eye about this jacket is the color selection. It comes in a ton of bright and cheerful color combinations that are easy to spot in the water. You’re going to be able to keep an eye on your baby fairly easily. It’s got a nylon outer shell and liner, with high-density floatation foam in between so that your infant stays aloft. It’s an extremely buoyant lifejacket with a convenient handle for grabbing your child and an adjustable crotch strap for their comfort. The one thing that sets this life jacket apart is the dedication to making sure that your infant is having fun, too. These jackets are roomy and encourage freedom of movement while still protecting your child from water dangers. It’s Coast Guard approved for your peace of mind!

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Speedo Infant Life Jacket

When you think of the best water gear company, Speedo is likely the first that comes to mind. They supply everything from swimsuits to goggles and now life jackets for your precious cargo as well. Even the best inflatable life jacket couldn’t do what this Speedo jacket does! They’ve used their years of experience in this industry to bring you a brightly-colored and easily-spotted infant life jacket that is comfortable and functional. Your baby will enjoy a soft polyester lining with a nylon shell and comfortable foam to keep them floating. It has a special neck pillow attached for your infant’s head, making sure that they get the maximum support from this jacket. It’s approved by the US Coast Guard to be extremely safe, with adjustable chest and leg straps to keep it fitting perfectly for your infant. What more could you want from one of the best-rated swimwear companies in business today? They are dedicated to quality.

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Body Glove Paddle Pals Jacket

The great thing about this life jacket is that you can use it for an extended period of time. When your baby outgrows the other life jackets on our list at 30 pounds, you can put them right into this one with an extended weight limit of 50 pounds. That’s right at the age and weight where you can use the jacket to start teaching them swimming basics. It even comes with attached armbands to help your child gain a little bit of agency when it comes to their water experience. On top of all of that, it’s a comfortable infant life jacket, with superior polyester and multi-panel design to prevent chafing and keep your little one happy the entire time you’re near the water. It’s approved by the U.S. Coast Guard as a Type III lifejacket, the highest possible rating that makes it the best life jacket for kayak fishing and other recreational boating.

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AIRHEAD Treasure Infant Life Jacket

Next up, we have this AIRHEAD jacket with a beautiful ocean-inspired graphic for extra style. This particular life vest has a front zipper closure with waist and crotch straps so that you can safely adjust the jacket to perfectly fit your baby. The headrest and grab handle are segmented away from the rest of the jacket, allowing your baby to move a little more freely while his head stays aloft. Your baby will look cute and stay safe with this life jacket! It’s approved as a Type II Personal Floatation Device by the United States Coast Guard and works best for children between 15 and 30 pounds. It’s a soft, comfortable jacket with UV and stain resistant properties on the exterior shell, as well as floatation foam on the inside so it always stays floating. The headrest is supportive, and the grab handle is easy to find and hold on to in a pinch!

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Connelly Babysafe Vest

Next up, we have a brightly-color blue nylon vest from Connelly. This is a standard infant life vest that is safe for use for your infants under 30 pounds, but it’s probably best to wait until they weigh at least 15 pounds to start introducing them to water-based activities. It’s approved as a Type II life jacket or personal floatation device by the U.S. Coast Guard, which should ease your mind when considering your purchase. There are adjustable straps at all of the important locations so that the jacket fits snugly and securely to your infant for extra safety. It also has quick release buckles so that you can easily get it off of your child when you need to, even if they are prone to wiggling around. This jacket comes in blue, but it also comes in a bright pink color that’s going to be easy to spot on the water. You’re going to love this jacket!

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Gnar Kwik-Dry Flex Life Vest

Gnar makes this great Kwik-Dry life vest for infants between 15 and 30 pounds. It’s constructed with high-quality materials, like NeoLite that dries almost instantly once it’s out of the water, and soft 2 00 denier polyester. This material is durable and will hold up to tears and abrasions. You only want the best for your child, so why not choose the best for them? It’s approved by the US Coast Guard and conforms to all of the proper regulations and requirements to be sold as a personal floatation device. It’s a breathable life vest with a supportive headrest to keep your infant’s head up, and larger armholes for ease of movement. You want your child to be comfortable and have fun on the water, right? So why not give this life jacket a try. It comes in a ton of different bright color options, including this blue and yellow pattern that’s going to stand out.

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Flowt AK-1 Type II Life Jacket

Last on our list comes to this slightly larger infant and toddler life vest that works perfectly for children between 30 and 50 pounds. This line comes with universal adult life vests, youth vest, and even extra-large adult life vests, so the whole family can match. All of the vests offered by Flowt are the standard orange, which is great for visibility. You’re going to be able to spot these brightly-colored vests from a long way off. They are approved by the US Coast Guard and also meet all state-level requirements for the use of a life vest on a recreational vessel. Now your entire family can have fun with peace of mind! It has minimum buoyancy, allowing it to help turn a person in the water face-up when the water is calm. That’s great for children and for the rest of your family, too! These vests are absolutely amazing, and you’re going to love using them.

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About the Author

Heather Patton

Expert Researcher and Writer

Heather Patton is a lead researcher and writer at GeekWrapped. She has been creating high-quality content for over a decade and covers home, lifestyle, beauty, fashion products and more.

Best Infant Life Jackets

Top 10 Buying Guide

Our Recommendations

O’Neill Superlite Life Vest

Full Throttle Infant Vest

How to Choose the Best Infant Life Jacket

Top 10 Products

O’Neill Superlite Life Vest

Full Throttle Infant Vest

Stearns Infant Classic Series Vest

Stohlquist Toddler Life Jacket

Speedo Infant Life Jacket

Body Glove Paddle Pals Jacket

AIRHEAD Treasure Infant Life Jacket

Connelly Babysafe Vest

Gnar Kwik-Dry Flex Life Vest

Flowt AK-1 Type II Life Jacket

About the Author

TOP PICK

O’Neill Superlite Life Vest