by maipham

July 12, 2022

life jacket for 6 month old

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Sea tours, river or lake cruises, pool or yacht parties, water parks, or swimming pools are all interesting resort options for your family on weekends or vacations. However, suppose your family is having an infant about 6 months old. In that case, you will probably have a headache thinking about how to protect your baby's safety because locations near water are potentially dangerous. 

Of course, when going to places like seas, rivers, lakes, or swimming pools, people will immediately think of protective gear like life jackets. But if this is the first time you put a 6-month-old baby on a boat, you will surely have a lot of worries such as whether your infant must wear a life jacket or what type of life jacket is appropriate and safe for your baby.

Read this article to the end to answer all of the above questions and choose the most suitable life jacket for 6 month old.

My Top Recommendation For A Life Jacket For 6 Month Old

life jacket for 6 month old

The Stohlquist Infant Life Jacket may be the best choice for a 6 month old. It fully meets the criteria for choosing a life jacket for infants while the price is in the mid-range in the market. 

The Stohlquist Infant Life Jacket is a type II personal flotation device recommended for use in infants by the United States Coast Guard. It is also approved by the US Coast Guard because of its ability to protect babies in the water environment. 

The Stohlquist Infant Life Jacket has a dual neck design to help support your baby's head and neck, preventing them from rolling over. Zippers, belts, and crotch straps make it easy to adjust to your baby's size. The sturdy grab handle makes it easy to lift your baby and increases safety. In addition, the open back and large arm compartment design help the baby feel comfortable and easily move in the water.

Can A 6 Month Old Wear A Life Jacket?

life jacket for 6 month old

A statistic from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows alarming results: Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury and death for children between the ages of 1 and 14. Among them, the drowning death rate for the age group from under 1 to 5 years old is the highest. 

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), you need to wear a life jacket for your baby any time you take him close to water, whether it's a swimming pool, pond, lake, or sea, and even if you don't intend to put your baby in the water. Life jackets help ensure your baby's safety because even 1 to 2 inches of open water poses an immeasurable danger of drowning, especially for infants and unknown swim children. 

However, the AAP also recommends that, even if your child is wearing a life jacket, the safest solution is still adult supervision at all times when your child is close to or in water to promptly handle the unexpected situation.

The AAP's recommendation is also consistent with federal law and the United States Coast Guard's Office of Boat Safety (PFD). Federal law requires all children under the age of 13 to wear a life jacket when they are on a moving boat. The exception only occurs when the boat is stationary and the babies are below the deck or in an enclosed cabin. 

The U.S Coast Guard's Office for Boating Safety (PFD) also requires that infants cannot be on a boat until they weigh 18 pounds to be able to wear personal flotation devices such as life jackets. This weight usually corresponds to a baby about 6 to 7 months old.

Therefore, according to laws and recommendations from authorities, 6-month-old children are required to wear life jackets when they are on a boat, near water, or exposed to water.

What Makes Or Breaks A Life Jacket For A 6 Month Old?

The market for life jackets for 6-month-old babies is extremely diverse in terms of brands, designs, functions, and materials. This can leave you wondering what kind of life jacket will be right for your 6-month-old. Here are the important criteria you need to consider to choose the right life jacket for your baby.

life jacket for 6 month old

Coast Guard approval

The AAP recommends that you only wear life jackets for your baby that has been tested by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and approved by the Coast Guard. This marking is printed on each life jacket with the Coast Guard symbol along with accompanying parameters and approval number. 

There are many types of life jackets like types I, II, III, and IV. This parameter is printed on each life jacket. For 6-month-old babies, the Coast Guard recommends choosing a type II life jacket with an inherent buoyancy of 7 pounds. This type is commonly used when taking children to inland waters, calm waters, and most boating activities in general. 

Type II life jackets can turn the unconscious person upside down, helping the baby lie on his back and float on the water. In addition, the grab handle design of this type also helps rescue operations take place easier and faster.

Choose the right size life jacket

You need to know your infant's bust measurement and weight to choose the right size life jacket. Usually, infant life jackets are designed for babies that weigh 33 pounds or less. The specific size will depend on the manufacturer, so you need to pay attention to the parameters printed on the life jacket to choose the right size for your 6-month-old baby.

To test if the life jacket will fit your infant, put the life jacket on and lift the baby by the shoulder of the life jacket. If the collar does not cover the baby's chin and ears, the life jacket will fit the baby.

Safe Design: collar, crotch and leg straps, grab handle, stay-in-place comfort

life jacket for 6 month old

Life jackets for 6-month-old or infants need an oversized collar to support the baby's neck and head and keep the head on its back.

Moreover, the strap system should be made of fabric and allow flexible adjustment to be able to adjust the size to fit and be gentle for the baby. In particular, crotch and leg straps are required to ensure the life jacket fits the baby. 

In addition, a grab handle is required to easily lift the baby or rescue in emergency situations.

You should choose a stay-in-place comfort life jacket that makes your baby feel comfortable so that it is easy to accept it. For many kids, that means they prefer a thinner and lighter life jacket.

Take the life jacket test

To be sure, before taking your 6-month-old on a boat, you need to test the life jacket first in calm waters such as your pool or tub. 

Put your child on a life jacket and let him float in the water for a while to check for any defects such as a small hole or tear and check that he can breathe normally with the life jacket on, etc.

5 Best Life Jackets For 6 Month Old

There are many types of life jackets for infants on the market. Here are five typical life jackets for 6 month old.

Stearns Infant Classic Series Vest

Stearns Infant Classic Series Vest is considered the most durable life jacket for infants due to its best durability and design to ensure high safety.

About product

Stearns Infant Classic Series Vest helps protect babies while on the boat, playing on the beach, or near water. This life jacket is designed for infants up to 30 pounds, with bust sizes 16-20 inches.

Stearns Infant Classic Series Vest is approved by the US Coast Guard. It is also a class II life jacket as recommended by the US Coast Guard for infants. Therefore, you can be assured of its quality and ability to protect your baby from drowning. 

The outside is made of nylon, so it is durable. The inside is made of PE flotation foam to help create high buoyancy. 

Stearns Infant Classic Series Vest meets many of the safety design criteria for infant life jackets. The thick and soft oversized collar provides comfort while supporting the head and keeping the baby on his back. The life jacket has chest straps and leg straps that make it easy to adjust the size to fit the baby, avoiding the life jacket deviation during use. This life jacket also has a grab handle that makes it easy to pick up your baby and respond to emergencies.

In addition, the outstanding blue and red colors make it easy to observe the baby and easy to detect in cases of need for rescue.

Moreover, the price is reasonable compared to the market, so it is a popular choice for many parents.

Specifications

  • PFDs Type: Type II
  • Manufacturer: Coleman
  • Color: Blue, red
  • Material: Nylon and PE flotation foam
  • Size: 16-20 inch
  • Weight: up to 30 pounds

What we like

  • Approved by the US Coast Guard
  • High durability
  • Good buoyancy
  • Safety design: oversized collar, chest straps, leg straps, grab handle
  • Reasonable price

What we don't like

  • Cumbersome with infants under 6 months old
  • The collar makes it difficult for the baby to move his head.

Salus Bijoux Baby Vest

The Salus Bijoux Baby Vest is known to be the smallest life jacket for infants weighing 9-25 pounds (usually have a chest size of about 12-18 inches). This is also known as the best heat-controlling life jacket and is suitable for summer use.

About product

With its innovations and efforts to improve safety, Salus Bijoux Baby Vest won the category Best New Safety Product of the Canadian Safe Boating Award (CASB). The collar is designed in three pieces with two side floats to support the baby's head and prevent the baby from turning upside down.

In addition, the webbing harness system and mesh can be flexibly adjusted to help the life jacket fit the baby, increasing security, comfort, and ventilation.

The special feature of the Salus Bijoux Baby Vest is the design that is not only extremely safe but also exceptionally comfortable. This life jacket has a lightweight, breathable design with straps, mesh, and Dry-Lex Aerospace lining for ventilation and good temperature control. 

In addition, the mesh back helps parents to hold the baby easily without taking off the life jacket.

Unfortunately, despite being a class II life jacket, the Salus Bijoux Baby Vest has not been approved by the US Coast Guard and Transport Canada. Because there are currently no testing standards to certify PFDs for infants under 20 pounds, however, this is not the fault of the Salus Bijoux Baby Vest, so you may consider using this life jacket for your baby.

Specifications

  • PFDs Type: Type II
  • Manufacturer: Salus Marine
  • Color: Blue
  • Size: one size
  • Weight: 9-25 pounds

What we like

  • Won the category Best New Safety Product of the Canadian Safe Boating Award (CASB)
  • Smallest life jacket
  • The collar supports the baby's head and prevents the baby from turning upside down
  • Lightweight and breathable design 
  • Good temperature control

What we don't like

  • Not approved by the US Coast Guard and Transport Canada.
  • High price

Stohlquist Infant Life Jacket

About product

Stohlquist Infant Life Jacket is a class II life jacket approved by the US Coast Guard, so you can be assured of its quality and ability to protect your baby from drowning.

This life jacket also fully meets the safety criteria for infants. The double-neck design and thicker back neck help support your baby's neck and head, which is essential because babies often don't have strong neck muscles.

In addition, the life jacket is designed with a system of zippers, buckles, and crotch straps to help adjust the size to fit the baby.

Moreover, the large and sturdy grab handle makes it easy to lift the baby up and supports emergency rescue.

In particular, the large arm compartment and open back design do not limit the baby's mobility when in the water, making the baby feel more comfortable.

Specifications

  • PFDs Type: Type II
  • Brand: Stohlquist
  • Color: Blue/Black, Red/Yellow, Yellow/Blue
  • Weight: 8-30 lbs

What we like

  • Approved by the US Coast Guard
  • Safe design: double neck design, system of zippers, buckles and crotch straps, grab handle
  • Comfortable

What we don't like

  • Cumbersome for infants under 6 months old

Airhead Classic Infant Life Vest

Airhead Classic Infant Life Vest is also one of the great choices because of its low price and quite high safety.

About product

Airhead Classic Infant Life Vest is designed with two closed sides combined with bright, strong buckles wrapped around the body to make it easy to adjust the size to fit the baby and to prevent the life jacket from being displaced during use.

It is approved by the US Coast Guard, so you can be assured of its quality and ability to protect your baby from drowning.

The Airhead Classic Infant Life Vest also features a safety design to make it one of the best life jackets for infants. It can support the baby's head extremely well due to the large neck design.

In addition, it has three adjustable chest straps combined with crotch straps to easily adjust the size to fit the baby.

Moreover, it has high durability due to being made from polyester.

There are three adjustable chest straps combined with crotch straps to easily adjust the size to fit the baby.

Bright and eye-catching red and yellow colors make it easy to observe your baby.

Specifications

  • PFDs Type: Type II
  • Brand: Airhead
  • Color: Blue, red
  • Weight: under 30 pounds

What we like

  • Approved by the US Coast Guard
  • Good head support
  • High durability
  • Easy to adjust the size
  • Eye-catching colors

What we don't like

  • Cumbersome for small infants

O'Neill Infant Superlite Life Vest

O'Neill Infant Superlite Life Vest is evaluated as the lightest life jacket for infants while still ensuring a high level of safety.

About product

The O'Neill Infant Superlite Life Vest is a class II personal flotation device approved by the US Coast Guard. Therefore, you can be assured of its quality and ability to protect your baby from drowning.

About the material, the outside is made from polyester, so it's durable while still being comfortable. The inside is made of polyethylene foam for a smooth, comfortable feel while ensuring good buoyancy.

The O'Neill Infant Superlite Life Vest is designed with crotch straps to keep the baby stable. Grab handle design helps to increase safety and makes it easy to lift the baby.

However, you need to know the exact bust measurement of your infant if you intend to buy this life jacket. Because it's designed for infants with an approximate bust of 24 inches, it may not fit many babies under 30 pounds.

Specifications

  • PFDs Type: Type II
  • Brand: O'Neill Wetsuits
  • Color: Pacific/Yellow/Black and Yellow
  • Material: Nylon
  • Weight: under 30 pounds

What we like

  • Approved by the US Coast Guard
  • High durability
  • Smooth, comfortable
  • Good buoyancy
  • Having crotch strap
  • Having grab handle

What we don't like

  • Fixed bust size about 24 inches
  • No oversized collar
  • No grab handle

FAQs

When learning to choose the right life jacket for your 6 month old, you will most likely have some related questions such as:

life jacket for 6 month old

When can you put a baby in a life jacket? 

Since your baby reaches 18 pounds, usually 6 or 7 months old or older, you need to put a life jacket on your baby to protect him from exposure to water or when he is surrounded by water or near water.

What is the smallest life jacket for an infant?

The smallest life jacket for an infant is the Salus Bijoux Baby Vest, for babies weighing 9 to 25 pounds.

What type of life jacket is best for infants?

The United States Coast Guard recommends that infants should use a type II life jacket. These can hold babies on their backs, turn unconscious people from face down in the water to supine positions, and importantly, are available in a variety of sizes for children.

What is the safest life jacket for an infant?

Salus Bijoux Baby Vest is evaluated to be the safest life jacket for an infant because it won the category Best New Safety Product of the Canadian Safe Boating Award (CASB).

Can infants go on a boat? 

An infant can go on a boat if he is at least 18 pounds or more, which is usually the same weight as babies 6 to 7 months old or older. The U.S. Coast Guard's Office of Boating Safety recommends that infants under 18 pounds are difficult to fit personal flotation devices (PFDs) such as life jackets. This leads to an increased risk when the infants go on a boat.

Do babies need to wear life jackets on boats? 

Federal law requires all children under the age of 13 to wear a life jacket when they are on a moving boat. The exception only occurs when the boat is stationary and the babies are below the deck or in an enclosed cabin.

Are personal flotation devices (PFDs) safe for babies?

PFDs are a simple, popular and useful solution to help protect your baby and limit the risk of being surrounded by water. However, flotation devices are not completely safe for babies because they can be deflated by opening the valve or touching a sharp object. The safest solution is that you must always observe your babies so that you can promptly handle unexpected situations.

Life Jacket For 6 Month Old

Conclusion

Each type of life jacket has its own advantages and disadvantages. You need to research and compare types to be able to choose the best life jacket for your child. Based on the collected information, after considering quality, function, and price, Stohlquist Infant Life Jacket is rated as the best life jacket for a 6 month old. It provides comfort and ensures a high level of safety for your baby.

About the author 

Mai Pham

Mai Pham discovered her passion for writing a few years ago and she never stop thinking about it ever since. She finally took the leap and created Live a Worthy Life to brag about her smart ass (mainly just for fun). Enjoyed the fun writing brings, now with her new interest in everything-baby-related, she created Mommy Instinct, to tell mamas that it's ok that they mess up, that they don't know what the hell they are doing, and that it's okay to sit back and relax for a while.

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