The Best Infant Life Jackets To Keep Your Baby Safe Near The Water

Forbes

16-04-2025

The best infant life jacket is one that ticks all the important boxes: It should fit snugly, be easy to put on your child and be very easy to see in the water. My best overall pick, the United States Coast Guard-approved Stearns Child Life Jacket with Heads-Up Flotation, hits all those marks, but has a lot of other features to recommend it as well, like the way it works with babies of a wide variety of weights and is quite affordable. Moreover, the best value pick—Overton's Infant Flotation Vest—offers an innovative onesie like bottom to keep babies from slipping out instead of the more fussier crotch straps.
Of course, keep in mind that life jackets are not foolproof. Alissa Magrum, executive director of the National Drowning Prevention Alliance (NDPA) says they are just one part of the water safety organization's recommended Five Layers of Safety which also includes supervision, barriers and alarms, water competency and emergency preparation. 'If one layer of protection fails, we can ensure there is another layer in place that can prevent drownings,' she says. Moreover, she says to make sure you purchase an infant life jacket that's 'U.S. Coast Guard-approved, properly sized and fitted, have a headrest, crotch strap, grab handle and is brightly colored.' Read on to learn more about our picks for the best infant life jacket.
USCG-approved: Yes | Weight range: Up to 30 pounds | Closure system: Zipper; quick-release buckle | Material: Polyethylene foam and nylon
Our overall pick is a highly rated life jacket that's as easy to put on babies as it is comfortable. Stearns Child Life Jacket with Heads-Up Flotation support babies up to 30 pounds and includes various features intended to create an extra secure fit including an adjustable chest strap and a leg strap to ensure your baby won't slip out of the vest, while closed sides make it easier to slip on and secure on a wiggly baby. The leg strap is also thoughtfully lined to prevent chafing on sensitive baby skin.
The rectangle-shaped pillow may look bulky, but it is designed to provide maximum buoyancy. Other safety features like a convenient grab handle helps parents to quickly grab their child out of the water in case of an emergency, and the neon green color is easy to spot in the water. An antimicrobial coating helps prevent mildew or mold growth and any funky odors. This jacket carries an overall rating of 4.8 out of 5 on Amazon with more than 3,000 reviews, making it a bestseller.
USCG-approved: Yes | Weight range: Up to 30 pounds | Closure system: Buckles | Material: Polyethylene foam and nylon
If you're looking for a short-term life jacket for a rapidly growing baby or a one-and-done beach vacation, the value of this infant life jacket, that's priced significantly less than the others on this list, is hard to beat. The oversized collar is designed to provide extra head support, ideal for infants whose heads are still in that slightly wobbly phase.
A surprising bonus: Unlike other vests with a leg strap that may feel scratchy to little ones, this one has a softer, elasticized fabric crotch (like their onesies) for a comfy fit they hopefully won't complain about. It's available in three extra visible bright colors, and has a grab strap for added security. Just note it's designed specifically for babies and toddlers up to 30 pounds, so any larger little ones may find it runs on the small side.
USCG-approved: Yes | Weight range: Less than 30 pounds | Closure system: Zipper; adjustable buckle | Material: Neoprene
Whether you're at the pool, a lake or the beach, investing in a life jacket that stands out clearly in various bodies of water is essential to a baby's water safety. 'Just as we recommend choosing brightly colored swim suits for children so they can be more easily seen in the water, we recommend choosing a brightly colored life jacket so the infant could be easily seen in dark water,' Magrum says. This U.S. Coast Guard-approved super bright model from Full Throttle is available in a variety of fun bright colors, but the highlighter yellow options really stands out in terms of water visibility.
The front zipper and adjustable leg strap make it easy to get on and off and reviewers note that the zipper doesn't go up too high, so little ones can still comfortably move their heads. A pop-up pillow provides extra support for the littlest heads, and will flip them over to float on their backs should they accidentally fall in—with a grab handle so adults can quickly bring them to safety. It's also made of a 'rapid dry' fabric so little ones won't have to shiver in a wet life jacket when they're back on dry land.
USCG-approved: Yes | Weight range: 15 to 30 pounds | Closure system: Zipper and buckle | Material: Kwik-Dry Neolite
They may be having fun in the water with their life jacket on, but once they get out and the cold water hits, many babies are unlikely to remain happy. Fortunately, Gnar's super fast-drying (and soft) quick-dry Neolite fabric both wicks away moisture and prevents chilly wind from hitting their bodies to let little ones play, snooze, and cruise with little fuss.
The fun and colorful retro design makes it easy to see in the water. Other features include a quick zipper closure, adjustable crotch strap so they don't slip out, double buckles for extra security, fully closed sides for comfort and a floatation pillow on the back with a parent grab handle for added peace of mind.
USCG-approved: Yes | Weight range: Up to 30 pounds | Closure system: Zipper; quick-release buckles | Material: Polyethylene foam and polyester
Parents know getting their squirmy little one into a massive life jacket is no easy feat. Fortunately, this O'Neill life vest is designed to be minimally bulky with a strategically designed cut and shape to keep babies safe while still giving them some flexibility to move around. The zip-up vest structure makes it simple to get the personal flotation device on and off, while an adjustable crotch strap and quick-release dual buckles at the waist keep the child extra secure.
The Superlite Life Vest can be used with children up to 30 pounds chest sizes up to approximately 24 inches. The brand does note that this particular model runs small and to measure your child's chest and weight prior to ordering.
At Forbes Vetted, we've extensively researched and published various content on the best (and safest) baby and kids gear for families. Like many other parents, water safety is of the utmost importance to us and we are committed to providing families the most up-to-date information to help them make the best choices on everything from the best baby pool floats to the best sunhats for babies and the best baby sunscreens.
In addition to following guidelines set forth by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the United States Coast Guard, we also spoke with two water safety experts and advocates to find the best infant life jackets to keep little ones protected around water.
Purchasing an infant life jacket is essential if you're going to be taking them anywhere in or near the water, but with dozens of models out there, it can feel overwhelming. There are several key factors parents and caregivers will want to consider when shopping around.
At the end of the day, if an infant life jacket doesn't fit properly or comfortably, the baby will fuss and it won't work as effectively as it's supposed to. A 'snug fit' is essential for safety, says McKay and 'most infant models have a crotch strap to keep the child from slipping out.' Look for other features like adjustable waist belts and double buckles which help caregivers get a more customized fit for their child. The life jacket should never rise above the baby's chin or face.
According to McKay, a proper fit is critical for keeping an infant's head above water, so what parents shouldn't do is purchase a life vest that's slightly too big thinking their child will grow into it. Both our experts recommend parents of babies look for Type II vests, which are designed for use in calm waters where rescue is likely to be quick and can turn the wearer face-up in case they fall in. Type II life jackets are widely available in sizes appropriate for babies and young children less than 30 pounds. According to Safe Kids Worldwide, 'These life jackets are best for kids who are in calm water and need extra head and float support.'
Be sure to always check the weight minimum and maximum (which should be on the life jacket somewhere) to make sure you're purchasing the right one. Magrum also suggests looking for life jackets that say 'Infant' on the label itself.
Most infant life jackets will come with additional head support that kind of flops like a pillow in the back to help keep their heads face-up and above water in the unfortunate event that they accidentally fall in. Look for either a float collar or headrest attachment.
Parent grab handles are a feature parents should also pay close attention to, says Magrum. In the case of an emergency, or even just a boat going faster than expected, the handle gives parents a quick place to easily grab to pull their infant to safety.
Both experts and the AAP agree: caregivers should only purchase infant life jackets that are U.S. Coast Guard-approved (which every item on this list is.) Whereas previously, the U.S. Coast Guard categorized life vests into different Types (i.e. Type I, Type II, etc.), as of January 2025, they're starting to slowly phase in a new system of categorization based on buoyancy levels which consumers are sure to see soon on labels.
The numbers—50, 70 ,100, 150, and 275—will help buyers know what type of water the life jacket is designed to remain buoyant in. 'For example, the 50 level is designed for calm water and 150 is for offshore or rough water,' explains Magrum. So in the future, when shopping for life jackets, you may see both Type and performance level indicated on the label.
'There is no youngest age,' says Magrum. 'If an infant or child (or person of any age) is going to be in, on, around or near open water, they should be wearing a U.S.Coast Guard-approved life jacket that is properly fitted and fastened.'
Infant life jackets can be worn by kids up to 30 pounds, and are currently categorized as Type II by the US Coast Guard.
'Again, an infant of any age can—and should—be wearing a properly fitted and fastened US Coast Guard-approved life jacket,' she says.
'One hundred percent, yes,' says Magrum. 'You should put the life jacket on the infant (as well as on all the people who are going on the boat) prior to walking on a dock or entering the boat and it should remain on until you have safely exited the boat and the dock area.'
In the case of taking babies out on boats specifically, McKay also reminds parents, 'The U.S. Coast Guard recommends not taking babies on recreational boats at all until they are at least 18 pounds because the U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets currently available for newborns up to 18 pounds may not provide a proper fit and it is hard to test ahead of time. The safest decision is to wait until a child is big enough to fit a child-size flotation device designed for the specific activity.'
According to McKay, 'Life jackets don't have expiration dates, but they can become less effective over time due to wear and tear and exposure to the elements, and they do have weight limits.' She recommends inspecting life jackets prior to use for tears, rotting, missing or altered straps, zippers and buckles or rusting hardware. If any of these look suspect, they should not be used.
Parents should also keep a close eye on the recommended weight limits to make sure they're getting replaced accordingly as their child grows.