life jackets or alternatives

[inthesticks]

Does anyone know of life jackets made for babies? My family goes to an island in NH every summer and you have to take a small motor boat to get there. I would feel much better if my 10-month-old (to be) had some kind of life preserver/flotation device. Do these exist? Based on her size now, I am predicting she will weigh less than 20 pounds by July. Any ideas?

Thanks!!!

[August Mom]

There are life jackets for babies (less than 30 pounds). Check out these sites for more information:

http://emarco.stearnsinc.com/eproducts/product.asp?dept%5Fname=Lifejackets+%2F+PFDs&sub%5Fdept=Infant+%26+Child&dept%5Fid=102&pf%5Fid=3001&hd%5Fimage1=hd%5Flifejackets1%2Ejpg&image%5Fwidth=205&image%5Fheight=100&hd%5Fimage2=hd%5Flifejackets2%2Ejpg&image%5Fwidth2=314&image%5Fheight2=69

http://www.mustangsurvival.com/catalog/SingleProduct.asp?ProductID=26

The other alternative might one of those swimsuits with built-in flotation devices. For example, http://www.ruggedbear-online.com/spflsu.html

HTH

[inthesticks]

Thanks so much!!! I'll check those out right now!

[juliasdad]

I would not go with a floatation swimsuit. A USCG type II lifejacket is designed to turn the victim face-up in many conditions; I'm not sure a swimsuit would do the same. Also, not only is it a good idea to be thinking of floatation for your infant; it is also a requirement. Many states already have stringent lifejacket laws, but the US Coast Guard just put a blanket policy into effect (state laws may be more restrictive, but cannot be less) that says that ALL children under the age of 13 years MUST wear a USCG-approved, type I, II or III personal floatation device. I don't know if the swimsuits with built-in floatation go through USCG approval, but I'd guess not.

The Mustang Li'l Legends PFD is fairly popular. They're available online at landfallnavigation.com, sailnet.com, and I'm pretty sure that the two big retailers westmarine.com and boatus-store.com both carry them as well.

-dan

[inthesticks]

Thanks! I was looking for a life jacket for just those reasons.... Thanks for all the websites, it's hard to know where to look for these things. I'll check them out today!

[August Mom]

I just got the One Step Ahead catalog and saw life jackets available there too.

[sarsah]

Check at Target -- they carried infant/toddler life jacksts last summer. I think the smallest size went up to 30 lbs. The one I bought for my son was rated for 30-50 lbs.


Sarah....Jason's Mommie