Anyone with boating or life jacket knowledge...

RingOfFire11 · June 2012

...is type II better than type III? I am having a full on brawl via chat with my husband right now! We both purchased a life jacket online (without the other knowing) and they both came in today. His is too small and mine is too big. He wants to exchange his for a bigger size but his is a type III. I am demanding we buy DD a type II because it was my understanding they were more buoyant and were more likely to flip her over. He's being fairely immature at the moment (I think because this is the first gift he's purchased DD on his own) and will not budge from the one he picked. He's a big wakeboarder and thinks she needs a "watersports type III" but she obviously is not going to be doing any watersports!!! Please tell me someone on here knows something more because I've quoted 3 sites now and he's being relentless. Her safetly is all I care about - not brand, not color, etc.

dannie2011 · June 2012

From the little bit of research I have done type II is the better choice.

Heres a link that explains some

https://www.savvyboater.com/s-95-life-jackets-for-infants-and-children.aspx

https://www.pfdma.org/local/downloads/documents/pfdmabrochure.pdf

JsMama11 · June 2012

Arg! Tried to edit and ended up deleting my prior post. Anyway....I was incorrect. Type 1 is too big for most babies and Type 2 is recommended until 30lbs. But after that Type 1 is the way to go!

https://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/cg5214/pfdselection.asp#faq

amberpro · June 2012

At this age, she will need something with the neck flap. Those are type 2. We have the one on the left:

Deluxe Kids' Neoprene Life Vest

An infant life vest should be used until they are 30 pounds. Once they are above 30 pounds, they can move to a type 3 (the one on the right), but not before.

MammaBear81 · June 2012

amberpro:
At this age, she will need something with the neck flap. Those are type 2. We have the one on the left:

An infant life vest should be used until they are 30 pounds. Once they are above 30 pounds, they can move to a type 3 (the one on the right), but not before.

This exactly!