question about life jackets

[Katie T]

We purchased a life jacket that is coast guard approved for 30 to 50 lbs and has the crotch strap last year for DS. We had never actually "needed" it to do its job and he was in the weight guidelines but we would have his wear it when we went fishing and such. 

FF to this year and DD2 just turned 3yo. She was 27 pounds last time she was weighted (6 months or more ago) and so I thought we could pass that jacket down and use another (with no crotch strap) for DS who will be 5 in Sep. We got a pool that is 2.5ft deep and while both can touch with their heads and necks above water having 2 young kids in with me I wanted to play it safe and climbed in with the children in their life jackets. (I am somewhat crazy I know this not the point lol)

So DD2 wants me to let go. She can touch and I am right there and she is wearing her life jacket. Well the preserver forces her onto her face in the water! I was horrified. What if we were in a emergency and needed it to work properly. Does less than 3lbs from the limit (if she is even under 30 still) make it do that or ?

Any insight would be appreciated. I tried to get DS to show me what happens with him wearing it but he won't. (Hates having his face wet and saw what happened to DD2.

[Peony]

There are different types of lifejackets. You probably have a kind that is meant for children who are comfortable in the water and are swimmers, or some of the cheap life jackets are like these. Life jackets without the collars or if they have larger neck openings can force a child forward unless they are old/big enough to know how to lean back and keep their face out of the water. It's been a while since I bought regular life jackets for kids but if I remember correctly there are two main types, II and III, you are going to want a II for new/non swimmers. 

[Katie T]

Wow scary that I didn't know that! The life vest cost $25 so was not what I consider cheap but maybe it is. Thanks!

[LynnS6]

Actually you want a type I for non-swimmers. They're not as comfortable for long term use, but they'll turn a swimmer face up. Some type II will, but not all.

http://www.boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/pfdbasics.htm

[Katie T]

Originally Posted by LynnS6 

Actually you want a type I for non-swimmers. They're not as comfortable for long term use, but they'll turn a swimmer face up. Some type II will, but not all.

http://www.boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/pfdbasics.htm

Thank you!

[sunnygir1]

We have an infant jacket with a "pillow" attached to the back.  When ds is in the water it pulls him face up.  Dd has a jacket that is for older kids with no pillow and she is able to swim around in it.  They both have crotch straps (my kids are almost 2 and 4).

For swimming, I have an inner tube that is attached to a suit that is easy for both of them to stay upright in.  It is really great for being able to let go while swimming with a non-swimmer.  It is like this http://www.amazon.com/Inflatable-Learn-Swim-Tube-Trainer/dp/B0001HKC5A

The tube suit is not an approved flotation device, so for boating and canoeing we use the jackets.

[chel]

Some jackets are designed to keep an unconscious swimmer face up. These are usually the bulkiest and hardest for kids to swim with.
I really like my "puddle jumper" floatie. My dd is a little young and light for it, but it sound like it might work for you. It is coast guard approved, but won't keep an unconscious swimmer fAce up. So good for a pool not for a lake.
Edited by chel - 7/5/11 at 3:41pm

[brennan]

What about something like this?

http://www.amazon.com/Mustang-Survival-Legends-Childs-jacket/dp/B001NN9GUS/ref=sr_1_39?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1309830974&sr=1-39

I'm shocked that in the US you can get such small lifejackets without a head rest, you can't get them here in Canada.  I actually had to scroll through pages to get to one that had a head rest!

ETA - this is the one that we have and while it is bulky, dd can swim in it and it does automatically switch her over to her back if she's not actively swimming.

[Katie T]

Thanks so much everyone! I am looking into some for non swimmers. I am so glad I realized this before we actually needed it (capsized boat or something.)  Amazing what you don't know when you have kids!

[savithny]

While you're at it, please consider COLOR. 

The lifejackets I grew up wearing on boats (I grew up on one of the Great Lakes) were always Safety Orange.

Now, you see all these PFDs in "fashion colors."   Even that link about PDF safety?   Shows samples in green.   Green is awful.  Green is water-colored.   Green is invisible from a distance.

A few years back there was a news story in my old hometown:  two guys out in their canoe tipped it.  They clung to it for hours, while searchers went right by them and even over them.   They were wearing blue and green PFDs, and in rough water, they were just invisible, especially as it got dark.

I don't care if you don't like bright orange or yellow -- it needs to be visible from a distance.  Please don't get fashionable colors, especially dark ones.

[Super~Single~Mama]

What she said!!!  Bright yellow, Bright Red, Neon Pink, and Orange.  I would go for Orange or Yellow, but thats just me.  Absolutely NO blue or green - those are really hard to see in water from a distance, and you want to be able to pick out a child instantly.
 

Originally Posted by savithny 

While you're at it, please consider COLOR. 

[Katie T]

Originally Posted by savithny 

While you're at it, please consider COLOR. 

The lifejackets I grew up wearing on boats (I grew up on one of the Great Lakes) were always Safety Orange.

Now, you see all these PFDs in "fashion colors."   Even that link about PDF safety?   Shows samples in green.   Green is awful.  Green is water-colored.   Green is invisible from a distance.

A few years back there was a news story in my old hometown:  two guys out in their canoe tipped it.  They clung to it for hours, while searchers went right by them and even over them.   They were wearing blue and green PFDs, and in rough water, they were just invisible, especially as it got dark.

I don't care if you don't like bright orange or yellow -- it needs to be visible from a distance.  Please don't get fashionable colors, especially dark ones.

Very good point! Thank you!

[anj_rn]

It is also important to teach your child what to do in a life jacket.  How to float, how to swim, what to do.  It should be based on where most of your water activites are.  We spend a lot of time at the lake, so we talk about staying near the boat, or keeping all the swimmers together.  As the kids get older we teach them how to hold an unconscious person, and other water safety info.

[MeredithA]

When we are swimming at our neighborhood pool, my toddler wears a "float suit". It isn't meant to be a life-saving device. If you are going out on a boat or something then you certainly need a brightly colored safety vest. But for the situation you mentioned (2.5 ft pool), a float suit might be just the thing. I have never had problems with it. 

http://www.amazon.com/Pool-Flotation-Swimsuit-Infants-Toddlers/dp/B0017HRXL4