Lifejacket for a 2 1/2 year old

Whitelighter

Whitelighter

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So we are going away boating for 4-5 days in April and it will be the first time we have spent more than a few hours on board a boat with the nipper. For day trips we have just used a bouyancy aid on the basis that Georgia has been pretty much held by either myself or SWMBO.

However, having No.1 daughter strapped to us for the best part of a week is oing to be a) tiring for mummy, b) going to annoy the hell out of G and (perhaps cruicially) C) the ensuing noise be it childish protestation or parental nagging is going to put the mokkers on a repeat trip any time soon. Accepting that she may be a little more mobile (bigger boat too dont forget) I would feel much happier knowing that she is in a proper life jacket which, should she end up in the drink will at least keep her the right way up and bouyant while muggins here goes in after her. Can you get auto inflate LJs for this age or child? Or even inflated LJs with a proper collar which will turn an unconcious child the right way up (which a bouyancy aid almost certainly will not)?

Any suggestions gratefully received.
 
I was advised that it's dangerous to use an auto inflate on a child that small, although you can buy them that say they're suitable for 15+ kgs. All the major manufacturers make foam filled lifejackets for kids of all ages, but we found most of them to be so restrictive that kids hate wearing them. Particularly its the continuous piece of foam from the front to the collar that makes them uncomfortable. We found the Baltic to be the most comfortable for him, as the collar is hinged (sort of like a shirt collar), and he'll happily wear it all day on the boat, and it doesn't look like it's trying to fold his ears forward.

http://www.outdoorgb.com/p/baltic_c...tory&utm_content=GBR&currency=GBP&country=GBR
 
I wouldn't put a child of mine in an auto unless they were able to swim. My friend lost his little boy over the side wearing an auto which did not go off. Luckily he was pulled out quick enough, but if he wasn't the thought doesn't bear thinking about.

My kids always wore the chunky foam filled ones until they could swim.
 
Second vote for the Baltic jacket - we have exactly the same one for our 3 year old. She was quite happy to wear it last year - it was her "special jacket"! It's not as uncomfortable as many out there. We're also happier as we don't have to worry if an auto inflate one will work or not.
 
Kids Lifejacket

Agree with above, I would not use gas preservers. Our kids always wore softer, neoprene? vs nylon as they are more comfortable…Other factors: fit and weight limit exact and that preserver will turn the child face up once in water and will not ride up over head even in case of more violent entry into water.

Like idea of calling it a special jacket! We used to put stickers on them so that they were decorated with cartoon figures that the kids liked.
 
Ours now wears an auto, but is 5 and a bit. At 2.5, I would stick with something with permanent buoyancy.

Finding a seat on the boat where they feel secure is important, ideally "wedged" in somewhere next to the non-helming parent. Sitting next to the helmsman sounds like a good idea until you accidentally sit on your daughter :eek: They make an interesting noise if that happens.
 
We have baltic for our 1 4/6 year old and Hokka for our 2 3/4 year old. Our Baltic (can't remember the model, sorry) certainly is robust if a bit bulky. So much so that the little one keeps falling over or getting trapped and she is not very happy wearing them. But I suppose that's pretty much how it goes in that age.

The Hokka on the older one is a bit better as it's filled with a sort of styrophone grain and it seems pretty comfortable. He has been wearing them all his life, ie. three seasons.

Funny thing was that last summer (first one he could speak), the first thing he said when he saw the life jacket again was 'hot'...

Hokka wins on comfort and I'll probably go for them when he needs his next jacket. They probably aren't available in the uk though, so I can really only help from my experience that while 'technical' security is vital, comfyness is a safety aspect as well. A comfortable jacket is worn for longer periods of time and the child is happy to have it on also when not under way.
 
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We have 4 but only 1 kid (4 for when is little friends come) Anyway 2 are Helly Hanson and 2 Crewsaver Spira and our 5 yr old always chooses the crewsaver. Crotch straps are important.
 
Pretty much what everyone else said on here...stay clear of auto jackets until they are much older.

I have a 7 year old boy and a 2 year old girl and both have crewsavers as below. Can't comment of how comfy they are as can't say i've tried them on but they keep them on all day and have never complained about wearing them! haha

2 year olds -
http://www.crew-safe.co.uk/acatalog/Crewsaver-supersafe-child-lifejacket.html

7 year olds -
http://www.crew-safe.co.uk/acatalog/SeaBaby-Toddler-Child-life-Jacket.html

Good luck
 
Young lifejackets

Agree with DAC. Our two (now 11 and 6) have both used the Crewsavers - foam ones. Seem comfy enough and they have always been happy to wear them. The oldest now has an Auto jacket, but that has only been used since he was about 9. We also have a couple of cheaper Baltic ones that visiting friends kids use, or the kids have used for 'jumping in' before they could swim well enough.
 
Might be worth having a chat with Adrian at Shamrock Chandlery, he was in the lifejacket industry for about 15 years and will be able to advise, they carry a good stock too.

BB
 
Next to a lifejacket I purchased a cheap car seat and had a belt for it made up.
This enabled me to strap my son in when mooring or doing locks. the raised seat gave visibility so he could follow what was going on but was good to know he could not get out of the seat or get up to mischief while I was busy. I also had a "leash" with clips at both ends for occasions like locks where you needed to allow them to roam the cockpit but wanted to prevent them from falling over the side. The leash clipped on to the life jacked and was made so he could look over the side but too short to actually fall over the coaming. This setup was used whenever mommy was up front handling the ropes and I was driving and handling stern ropes. As we do a lot of locks in holland I felt this was important.

Once the new boat arrives we will be employing the same setup for nr 2 son who is 2 years old shortly and a bit more of a handfull than his brother. There will still be protestations :) but less and it feel better knowing that you can concentrate on the task at hand when mooring. Better to have them screaming for 10 minutes while you moorup and know they are safe than having to devide your attention.

Good luck, One wasn't too bad. I am curious to know how we will get on with 2 this season.

Rob
 
Hi,

Like Rob we used a made up lifeline rather than a large lifejacket for our son 3 yrs old, as it was hot in the Med.

However, we were just a little suprised when our son "came to help" on the foredeck, and told us he could now unclip himself when we needed him!

Best wishes,

Paul
 
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