Alexandra Ramirez
1. Speedo
Best Overall Toddler’s Swim Vest
5/5 Product Rating
Unlike some of the products which will be listed below, this is the absolute best possible swim vest you can get for a child who is in the very beginning (first six months or so) of their swimming career. This is due to it offering an excellent level of floatation under all circumstances, requiring no support on behalf of your child. When considered purely as a safety device, this level of floatation – as well as the product’s bright colors – quite simply reign king. When it comes to very new swimmers, this is your best choice.
– Jonathan Maxwell
2. Stearns
Best Overall Toddler’s Swim Vest – Runner Up
4.7/5 Product Rating
If you’ve come to the conclusion that your child has passed as much of the learning curve in swimming as they possibly can while wearing a lifejacket, you may reintroduce a bit of difficulty through switching from a life jacket such as the one above to something a little more modest such as the Puddle Jumper. This will still keep them safe (it is, after all, a floatation device), though will leave them feeling a bit “heavier” in the water. While this may be true to a lesser degree than wearing no lifejacket at all, you’ll still find that using this product acts as a step toward reaching a point where such jackets are no longer necessary under supervised swimming sessions.
– Jonathan Maxwell
3. Swim School
4.5/5 Product Rating
If you feel your child has progressed to a point where he or she can handle being up to his or her shoulders in water, this is an excellent choice. While it will prove to be almost as buoyant as a traditional lifejacket, the fact that it allows them to sink a little deeper into the water will likely prepare them for future swimming lessons by getting them used to dealing with a larger amount of water at any one time while still keeping them safe.
– Jonathan Maxwell
Toddler’s Swim Vest Buying Guide
What is a Toddler’s Swim Vest?
In terms of toddler’s swim vests, I couldn’t recommend anything more than the above products. However, if you’d like to go off and do some shopping on your own, that’s fine too! Try keeping the following considerations in mind when doing so, as this will ensure you get the best possible product to meet your needs.
Where does your toddler’s skill level currently lie?
Depending on how comfortable your child is in water, you may have to adjust the amount of floatation you provide them with. For example, first-time swimmers might be better off with a traditional lifejacket that can keep them near the water’s surface at all times. This will prove to give them a better sense of what swimming is all about before diving in. On the other hand, a pair of water wings can work perfectly as a final step before your child goes completely free of floatation devices. This is due to their rather low level of buoyancy, possibly even allowing them to jump in the water and remain submerged for an entire second or two at a time. Taking baby steps toward going without any floatation devices whatsoever is always a good idea.
What does your child find most comfortable?
When you reach a point where you deem an entire lifejacket to be too supportive to help your child progress any further, you’ll have tons of options as to what type of swim vest he or she can wear next. Through the use of tubes, water wings and inflatable plastic lifejackets, you’ll find that giving your child what they find most comfortable is a breeze. If they particularly like two pieces of apparel, though neither one gives them enough support, you can always mix and match. For example, there’s nothing wrong with using a tube and a pair of water wings at one time. As they progress further, you may remove one piece of swimwear while keeping the other intact.
Where will you be swimming?
Taking your child to a public pool is one thing, but swimming off of the coast of an ocean is another. Although a pair of water wings might be all your child needs when in supervised, still water, things may change in an ocean with waves. No matter where your child’s current swimming skills lie, if you plan on swimming in different waters, having a lifejacket on hand is always a good idea.
Types of Toddler’s Swim Vests
As previously mentioned, there are different types of swimwear which are best suited toward different toddlers with different swimming abilities. Are you familiar with all of the types available? Let’s take a look at the three main types of swim vests and give a brief rundown on each.
- Lifejackets – Of course, you already know what a lifejacket is. Unlike adults, who typically only wear them when boating over deep waters, toddlers will often start off with these due to their excellent level of floatation. As a simple rule of thumb, you can expect to use one of these for up to six months. However, you’re better off switching at your own discretion, as each child’s learning curve will vary.
- Tubes – The best way to describe one of these floatation devices would be to equate it to an inflatable belt. They are to be blown up manually before being used and will rarely sink more than an inch or two below the surface of the water at any one time. You may adjust the tube so that it stays on your child’s waist, under their shoulders or anywhere in between. This level of customization, as well as their tendency to usually stay above the water, makes them great as a middle-of-the-road product for if you’re just not sure how much support your child needs while swimming.
- Water Wings – The final step before going without any sort of floatation device altogether. These have no guarantee of keeping your child above the water at all times. However, they are sure to have your child bounce back up quickly after submerging his or herself. This gives the child a bit more control, though it may be uncomfortable if they are not yet accustomed to the water.
Common Toddler’s Swim Vest Features
Which of the above three types of swim vests you choose for your child revolves purely around where you feel their current swimming skills lie. There are; however, a few features you should always expect to see in any product.
- A Fasted Blow Hole – When you manually inflate your child’s swim vest, it should be difficult to open the hole. If it’s easy to open, it’s more likely to come undone while in use. Even though they have safety features built in to prevent air leaks, you really want the hole to stay closed.
- A Thick Material – This is easily the best indicator of a swim vest’s level of quality. If the outer layer is extremely thin, what do you suppose might happen in the event your child scrapes his or her new vest against a sharp rock? A thick material saves money through increasing a vest’s level of durability and, more importantly, keeps your child safe under all circumstances.
Conclusion
Outside of the two features listed above, which should be seen in all inflatable vests, it’s up to you to decide what to look for in your next purchase based on your child’s swimming skills. If you’re unsure, a lifejacket is always your safest bet. On the other hand, a vest of quality water wings is great if your child just needs an extra little kick to master the art of swimming once and for all. Keep all of the above considerations in mind and you’ll be sure to get your toddler just the right swim vest with little effort.
Resources
- http://www.speedousa.com/kids/kids-accessories/kids-flotation/classic-swim-vest/style-7570529
- http://www.walmart.com/ip/Stearns-Puddle-Jumpers/34761240
- http://www.swimoutlet.com/p/aqua-leisure-deluxe-tot-trainer-w–safety-strap-41563/
