The 11 Best Kids’ Life Jackets for Summer
The 11 Best Kids’ Life Jackets for Summer
Safety is the name of the game when it comes to fun on the water with kids. But comfort is also key, especially if you’re hoping to introduce your kids to a lifelong love of swimming and boating.
Water wings and other blow-up toys are just that: fun ways to float your kids’ boats, but not life-saving devices in emergency situations. More children ages one to four die from drowning than any other cause, save birth defects, and the Centers for Disease Control stresses the need for life jackets in, around, and just outside of rivers, lakes, and oceans, even if children are confident swimmers.
Not every life jacket is made for every situation though, and we include a range of jackets that meet highly specific needs. Shopping for a life jacket is important, but with our guide, it doesn’t have to be stressful.
Looking for adult life jackets? Check out our story on the Best Adult Life Jackets for Every Water Sport.
Best Kids’ Life Jackets
What to Consider
It goes without saying that safety is the priority when it comes to picking a life jacket for your child. If you keep these considerations in mind, we think you’ll find the safest option for your child, without sacrificing the sense of fun and adventure summer water fun inspires.
U.S. Coast Guard-Approved
Every single one of the life jackets we included have been approved by the U.S. Coast Guard, specifically with children’s safety on the water in mind. There are five different types of personal flotation devices (PFDs), and most of those we cover are "USCG Type III" (flotation aids). Type I are offshore life jackets; Type II are near-shore vests; Type IV are throwable devices; and Type V are special-use devices.
Fit
A life vest must fit properly to be safe and effective. It should fit snuggly; if it's too tight, chances are your kid has outgrown it and it won't provide sufficient flotation. A fastened vest should never rise above the face when a child is in the water; if it does, it's likely too large.
Weight
Weigh and measure the circumference of your child’s chest before clicking “buy.” Most life vests come in three ranges: 30 pounds and less, 30 to 50 pounds, and 50 to 90 pounds.
Materials
Life vest shells are typically made of nylon, polyester, or neoprene, with polyethylene (PE) or expanded polyethylene (EPE) foam, which is extremely buoyant and happens to be 100 percent recyclable.
Use
Your child is going to need a very different life jacket if they’re a non-swimmer exploring the pool for the first time, or a big kid who’s an experienced swimmer and wants to spend an afternoon kayaking.
Practice
One final pro tip, especially with kids 5 and under: Practice. Before heading out on the water, help your child put the jacket on and take it off so you can trouble-shoot. Then test the jacket in a controlled environment like a public or private pool, or in calm water with an adult supervising.
How We Selected
We reviewed professional recommendations first to get a sense of the safest and highest quality life jackets available. We also studied the U.S. Coast Guard’s recommendations and looked at consumer reviews to find the best, safest—and most fun-ready—options on the market. All of the life jackets we cover are highly rated items, with an average rating of 4.5 stars or more, from reputable brands including Stearns, O'Neil, and Body Glove.
1) Child Classic Series Life Vest
Stearns
amazon.com
$22.99
Key Specs
- Dimensions (L x W x D): 13.7 x 12.7 x 5.3 inches
- Materials: Nylon; PE foam
- Options: 2 colors
This life jacket is more budget friendly than most and only comes in two colors, but it doesn’t cut corners. This U.S. Coast Guard-approved vest another from Stearns' Classic Series, is made from durable nylon, with PE flotation foam.
There are three adjustable bucks and a leg strap for extra security. It is designed for kids 30 to 50 pounds. The safety vest was made to keep kids secure during water sports activities, boating, and tubing. Reviewers hail its durability and wide usability. While the number of straps ensure a safe and snug fit, it also means you spend a lot of time putting it on and taking it off.
2) Puddle Jumper Life Jacket and Rash Guard
Stearns
amazon.com
$44.99
Key Specs
- Dimensions (L x W x D): 16 x 12.9 x 4.7 inches
- Materials: Polyester
- Options: 4 patterns/colors
This life vest is from Stearns' popular Puddle Jumper line, and features a built-in rash guard with UPF 50-plus sun protection, which will block 93 percent of UVA and UVB rays, wet or dry.
It's U.S. Coast Guard-approved for use on boats and allows for a full range of motion kids from 30 to 50 pounds, featuring sleeves, a zip-up back, and a clasp to ensure a secure fit. Reviewers enthused about its wide range of uses, from paddle-boarding, to ocean-swimming, to snorkeling.
3) Child Life Jacket
Oceans 7
amazon.com
$67.85
Key Specs
- Dimensions (L x W x D): 13 x 12.5 x 3 inches
- Materials: Nylon; EPE foam
- Options: 6 colors / patterns
For an affordable life vest that's a bit more colorful and fun, this option from Oceans 7 is an excellent upgrade. More than 1,300 customers give it an average 4.7 stars, and it’s easy to see why.
The U.S. Coast Guard-approved vest also comes in a range of sizes, so it's a great option for infants, toddlers, preschoolers and big kids. Made from nylon and thick EPE foam, it is durable and provides buoyancy. The vest is designed with open sides and three adjustable straps for a comfortable fit, making it viable for all-day wear on the boat or at the beach, though some customers note that it runs a bit small.
4) Youth Superlite Life Vest
O'Neil
amazon.com
34.95
Key Specs
- Dimensions (L x W x D): 15 x 13 x 5 inches
- Materials: Nylon
- Options: 5 colors / patterns
For big kids who have outgrown smaller life jackets, but aren’t quite ready for the adult section, this Type III vest from well-regarded brand O'Neil is an excellent option.
The U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket's streamline design gives bigger kids more mobility and is easy to take on and off, plus it can be used for a wide range of water sports. It's made for kids who weigh between 50 and 90 pounds, though reviewers warn that it runs small, so consider ordering a size up.
5) Infant Classic Series Vest
Stearns
amazon.com
$24.99
Key Specs
- Dimensions (L x W x D): 16.4 x 13.1 x 3.6 inches
- Materials: Nylon
- Options: 2 colors
If you want to protect your under-30-pounds kiddo, this Stearns Classic Series life jacket is a well-regarded option. It's a perennial favorite for keeping kids safe on the water in a variety of conditions.
The The U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket features a nylon shell over PE flotation foam, a leg strap, and one adjustable chest belt, plus a zipper closure and a grab handle for extra safety. Reviewers say this vest works very well for babies in the ocean and the pool, and more than 4,600 customers give it an average 4.7 stars.
6) Heads-Up Child Vest
Stearns
amazon.com
$35.99
Key Specs
- Dimensions (L x W x D): 19.4 x 15.9 x 6.1 inches
- Materials: Nylon
- Options: 3 sizes
For novice swimmers who are set to spend a lot of time on boats this summer, this Stearns life jacket is your go-to. The U.S. Coast Guard-approved vest is an excellent option for children in the 30-50 pounds weight range, designed to keep a non-swimming or unconscious child on their back, face-up.
The vest features two straps around the waist and a padded crotch to keep the vest secure, and also has a collar handle. The bright green color is also an added safety feature that makes it very visible in the water. The con is that the vest is noticeably bulky, but if you’re headed out on the ocean you can sail away with peace of mind. It gets an average of 4.8 stars from more than 2,500 reviewers.
7) Kids' Life Jacket
Stohlquist Waterware
amazon.com
$46.25
Key Specs
- Dimensions (L x W x D): 19 x 18.1 x 2.2 inches
- Materials: Nylon
- Options: 1 size/color
This life jacket is a great fit for parents who want an easy-on, easy-off jacket with top-notch safety features. This U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket is for kids 30 to 50 pounds, with a wrap-around foam that's thin on the sides and back so kids can move comfortably.
The Stohlquist vest also offers adjustable straps — including quick-release crotch straps — security buckles, and a front zipper. The only caveat is that it's more expensive than most other options.
8) Paddle Pals Learn to Swim Life Jacket
Body Glove
amazon.com
Key Specs
- Dimensions (L x W x D): 11.9 x 10 x 5.6 inches
- Materials: Nylon
- Options: 7 colors / patterns
For those with kids who love the water but hate life vests, this option is for you — and them! Body Glove's “learn to swim” life jacket gets high marks from kids for its fun designs (think: sharks, clams, crab, fish). The vest comes with attached arm bands, a safety shoulder harness and an adjustable chest strep, plus a quick release safety buckle. It's designed to keep kids safe as they gain confidence in the water, and is best in pools and lakes.
9) Original Puddle Jumper Kids' Life Jacket
Stearns
amazon.com
$22.99
Key Specs
- Dimensions (L x W x D): 18 x 18 x 2.7 inches
- Materials: Nylon
- Options: 8 colors / patterns
Looking for pool training wheels? If your kiddo isn’t swimming yet, this U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket is designed to keep them safe and buoyant in pools, while also providing them with the confidence to learn to swim.
The Stearns vest was modeled on inflatable water wings, with a safer construction and an extra pad around the upper chest. This is suitable for adult-supervised swimming in pools or oceans in calm conditions. It earns stellar reviews, with an average of 4.8 out of 5 stars on Amazon from more than 20,000 reviewers.
10) Puddle Jumper Original Kid's 3D Costume Life Jacket
Stearns
amazon.com
$25.88
Key Specs
- Dimensions (L x W x D): 17 x 15 x 4
- Materials: Nylon
- Options: 2 colors / styles
Kids can pretend they're an astronaut, ladybug, cheerleader, or soccer star with a costume life vest from this collection. All are U.S. Coast Guard-approved, and this crab features adjustable back buckles so kids can grow into the vest, and is designed to give kids lot of mobility. The material is also soft, and won’t chafe, even if they’re wearing it for hours.
They're great way to give newer swimmers extra confidence and motivation to jump in the pool, and it will keep them safe out on boats in the ocean and lakes too.
11) Child Life Jacket
Body Glove
walmart.com
$22.97
Key Specs
- Dimensions (L x W x D): 19 x 13.5 x 2.5 inches
- Materials: Neoprene
- Options: 2 colors / patterns
This neoprene life jacket is lightweight, durable, soft, and fade-resistant — and will take your kiddos from surf and sand to boat and lake, all summer long.
The Coast Guard-approved vest delivers maximum comfort, featuring two heavy-duty quick-release buckles, a YKK zipper, and strategically placed mesh drain pockets. There's also a grab handle for extra safety. It's designed for kids who weigh between 33 and 55 pounds, and comes in two bright, eye-catching color combos.
Shopping for a kids' life jacket is important, but with our guide, your kids will be ready for whatever the water throws at them. Here are our top picks for the best kids' life jackets.