BOATsmart! USA Knowledge Base

Tips for buying a child’s lifejacket:

• Always check the sizing while in the store.
• While the child is wearing the lifejacket, pull it up at their shoulders—if the vest touches the child’s ears, it’s too big for them.
• Make sure the child is comfortable in the vest—or they won’t want to wear it!
• Never buy a size larger than you need hoping the child will ‘grow into it’.

To match a child’s weight to the right lifejacket, check the ‘User Weight’ on the label or the approval statement that will identify the weight category of the vest.

The weight categories for children’s lifejackets are:

Inflatable toys should never be used in place of lifejackets. Additionally, be sure to tuck in any loose lifejacket straps to prevent the child’s vest from getting tangled on the boat, dock or caught on an underwater object.