baby life vest

[ehmom]

i'm not sure where to post this. what should i look for and where should i buy a life vest for a 9 month old ? aside from a head support and a leg strap, what is important ? where can i find a good deal?
thanks, em

[darby24]

First off, make sure it's approved by the US Coast Guard. Here is a link to the Coast Guard site, they give some listings on who makes approved children's PFD's. http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/mse4/pfd.htm Just find "Children and PFD's" on the left.

Do you have a sporting goods store? Boating shop near a marina? Even my Walmart carries them.

Make sure you child fits in it weight wise and that all zippers, belts, buckles and straps work properly. Also a bright colour; red, orange or yellow is a must. HTH

ETA: My cousin has a few of these life jackets (the Canadian approved version) for kids playing around her pool. The details from mustangsurvival.com:

Mustang Survival
MV3150
Children's Vests - Infant

Features:
Two piece split foam flotation collar and heavy duty grab strap
Through-the-leg adjustable safety strap for security
Mesh trim for drainage
Fully encircling webbing belt adjusts for a snug fit

Approval: USCG Type II
Sizes: Infant Up to 30 Lbs


http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/4508.gif


Remember safety over price.

[boys2enough]

Hi, not sure whether you plan to use the life vest often and on a regular basis. If it is just for an one-time use, you may check to see whether your local fire department has this program where they loan out life vests. Our local fire department has this program: you could check out life vests for up to a week, and they have different sizes. HTH. Lin