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Life jacket question

dmathis10dmathis10 member
in Toddlers: 24 Months+
I hope this isn't a stupid question...
I know Puddle Jumpers are US Coast Guard approved life jackets. Does that mean its OK to use as a life jacket on the lake while in a boat? We use the PJ for DD in the pool but have a lake outing planned for next weekend. I wasn't sure if I need to get her a different life jacket for that. We will be riding on a boat and may take her for a little spin on the jet ski.
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Re: Life jacket question

  • XCrissCrossXXCrissCrossX member
    If she falls off the boat, would you feel comfortable with her in the puddle jumper?  I personally wouldn't feel comfortable with DS bobbing around in a lake with just the puddle jumper on because I've seen him get flustered in the pool and have a hard time getting his head out of the water.
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  • Angela814Angela814 member
    We do on the boat. We used the puddle jumper with DD1 at just over 3 years after we knew she could swim well with it in the pool. We haven't used it in the boat yet for DD2. Last year she was just barely at the weight min. This year I think she could use one.
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  • sosophsosoph member
    It's really not okay for open water. You need a pfd with a float across the back of her head. On boats, you could hit your head falling out of the boat, and these pfd's will turn you face up. It's not about whether or not you can swim. Ours are Stearns Type II, I think.
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  • WulfgarWulfgar member
    I would get a Coast Guard approved life jacket for boating.  I am not sure what a puddle jumper is, if it is used for normal swimming then it is not approved for boating.  I agree with the person that says what ever life jacket you use for your LO it should have the neck support that will automatically roll the person so their head is out of the water.
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  • Angela814Angela814 member
    Stearns website says they are Coast Guard approved for boating. The traditional vests are approved for boating and personal watercraft, which is what a jet ski is.

    Last year at 30 lbs and 2 yrs, the puddle jumper turned DD2 onto her back unless I was holding it to help her. I am comfortable using it on the lakes around here, although I would do a traditional vest for something like Lake Michigan.

    The traditional children's and youth life vests are still only class III. Infants vests are type II. Neither are guaranteed to turn someone unconscious face up, so I'm not sure why they are considered so much better than the puddle jumper for kids in the correct weight range.
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  • sosophsosoph member

    imageAngela814:
    Stearns website says they are Coast Guard approved for boating. The traditional vests are approved for boating and personal watercraft, which is what a jet ski is. Last year at 30 lbs and 2 yrs, the puddle jumper turned DD2 onto her back unless I was holding it to help her. I am comfortable using it on the lakes around here, although I would do a traditional vest for something like Lake Michigan. The traditional children's and youth life vests are still only class III. Infants vests are type II. Neither are guaranteed to turn someone unconscious face up, so I'm not sure why they are considered so much better than the puddle jumper for kids in the correct weight range.

    You can get a child size type II orange vest at Walmart or anywhere for probably less than $10.. Stolquist makes one for the 30-50lb range, too, but they're $$ for just a one-weekend outing. The stearns' Type II is just for infants, you're right. 

    The problem is that a boating accident is just that - an accident, so it's not normal conditions. You can hit your head on a boat and fall into the water unconscious, which is why it's so important to have something that keeps your mouth/nose out of the water. If you're comfortable with what you have in the conditions you boat in, that's fine, but it's not what a puddle jumper is designed for.  The website clearly says that it is a "learn-to-swim" aid. In fact, when you click on the boating tab, the puddle jumper is not listed.

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  • Angela814Angela814 member
    imagesosoph:

    imageAngela814:
    Stearns website says they are Coast Guard approved for boating. The traditional vests are approved for boating and personal watercraft, which is what a jet ski is.

    Last year at 30 lbs and 2 yrs, the puddle jumper turned DD2 onto her back unless I was holding it to help her. I am comfortable using it on the lakes around here, although I would do a traditional vest for something like Lake Michigan.

    The traditional children's and youth life vests are still only class III. Infants vests are type II. Neither are guaranteed to turn someone unconscious face up, so I'm not sure why they are considered so much better than the puddle jumper for kids in the correct weight range.

    You can get a child size type II orange vest at Walmart or anywhere for probably less than $10.. Stolquist makes one for the 30-50lb range, too, but they're $$ for just a one-weekend outing. The stearns' Type II is just for infants, you're right. 

    The problem is that a boating accident is just that - an accident, so it's not normal conditions. You can hit your head on a boat and fall into the water unconscious, which is why it's so important to have something that keeps your mouth/nose out of the water. If you're comfortable with what you have in the conditions you boat in, that's fine, but it's not what a puddle jumper is designed for.  The website clearly says that it is a "learn-to-swim" aid. In fact, when you click on the boating tab, the puddle jumper is not listed.


    Right, but then technically an adult should be wearing a type II vest in a boat. I don't know any adults who regularly wear life vests while boating.

    Besides type II says, " Will not turn some unconscious wearers faceup." There are no guarantees.

    From Stearns:
    US Coast Guardapproved when worn on boats
    Quality graphics stay bright and colorful for years to come
    Woven polyester for softer fabric with less chafing
    Learntoswim aid for beginners in the water
    Comfortable design, more freedom to swim and play
    Fits kids 30 50 lbs. 13.6 kg 22.7 kg

    The website also clearly says "US Coast Guardapproved when worn on boats."

    You may choose not to use one, but it's not unsafe to use a puddle jumper in a boat.
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