How do I choose the right life jacket size for my child?

Choosing the right size life jacket is essential for safety. At West Marine, we recommend selecting a life jacket based on your child's weight rather than their age: Infant (0-30 lbs): Designed with extra head support and grab handles for added safety. Child (30-50 lbs): Offers a snug fit with adjustable straps and secure flotation. Youth (50-90 lbs): Provides freedom of movement while ensuring buoyancy. Each West Marine kids' life jacket features adjustable straps for a secure, custom fit, ensuring maximum protection during water activities.

What safety features do West Marine kids' life jackets offer?

West Marine prioritizes safety by offering life jackets with essential features, including: Bright, high-visibility colors for easy spotting in the water. Grab handles for quick retrieval in emergencies. Crotch straps (on select models) to prevent ride-up for younger children. U.S. Coast Guard-approved designs for certified safety and buoyancy.

Are the life jackets suitable for different water activities?

Yes! West Marine offers kids' life jackets tailored for various water activities: Boating: Type II and Type III jackets provide comfortable, reliable flotation. Swimming: Lightweight and flexible life jackets ensure comfort for all-day wear. Water sports: Neoprene models offer extra comfort, warmth, and flexibility. For toddlers and infants, our life jackets provide additional head support to keep their heads above water at all times.

What materials are West Marine kids' life jackets made from?

West Marine’s kids' life jackets are made with durable, high-quality materials: Nylon: Lightweight, quick-drying, and ideal for general water activities. Neoprene: Provides enhanced comfort, flexibility, and warmth—perfect for cooler water conditions. Both materials offer excellent buoyancy and are designed for long-lasting use in marine environments.

How do I care for and maintain a kids' life jacket?

To maximize the lifespan of a kids' life jacket: Rinse with fresh water after each use, especially when used in saltwater. Store in a cool, dry place to prevent material degradation. Inspect for wear and tear periodically and replace if any damage is found. Proper care ensures the life jacket remains effective and safe for continued use.

Why should I buy a kids' life jacket from West Marine?

West Marine has been a trusted leader in marine safety equipment for decades. When you purchase a kids' life jacket from us, you benefit from: Expertly curated selections designed for comfort, safety, and durability. U.S. Coast Guard-approved options ensuring compliance with safety regulations. Knowledgeable staff available online and in-store to assist with selecting the best fit. West Marine is committed to providing high-quality, reliable life jackets that keep children safe and comfortable on the water.

Kids' Life Jackets | West Marine

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Shop Children's Life Jackets

When it comes to spending time on the water with our families, safety should always be a priority, especially when our little ones are involved. Equipping our children and infants with properly sized life jackets is the first step to enjoying the water without worries.

West Marine offers a wide selection of children and infant life jackets designed to meet the needs of water-loving families. Following are some features and benefits of our outstanding selection.

Select From a Wide Variety of Children’s Life Jackets

Choices include child, infant, and youth life jackets, each tailored for specific age groups and body sizes. Finding the perfect fit for your child is easy with our comprehensive selection.

US Coast Guard Approved

Our children’s life jackets are US Coast Guard approved, ensuring they meet the highest standards of safety and reliability. Choices include USCG Type I, II and III models to meet the needs of a wide variety of boaters.

Adjustability for Comfort

Kids grow quickly, and our life jackets are designed to adapt with them. Adjustable straps and fastenings ensure a snug, comfortable fit, allowing your children to move with ease during water activities.

Inherent Buoyancy

With inherently buoyant foam flotation, our life jackets help to keep children safe, including those who can swim or who are experiencing the water for the first time.

Bright Colors for Visibility

Our life jackets come in a range of high-visibility colors, making it easy to spot your child, even in crowded or vast water environments. These vibrant hues enhance safety by ensuring your child remains visible.

Printed Motifs that Children Love

Many of our children’s life jackets are emblazoned with popular figures or cartoon characters that children love. Naturally, this makes it easy to get children to wear this all-important safety gear.

Why Purchase Life Jackets at West Marine

Whether you're looking for an infant life jacket, child life jacket, or youth life vest, West Marine has the right life jackets for you. And, with a selection of USCG-approved life jackets comprised of respected brands like Kent, Stohlquist and Mustang Survival, you can rest assured that your life jacket is designed by experts who know how to keep your children safe.

Kids Life Jackets FAQ

Choosing the right size life jacket is essential for safety. At West Marine, we recommend selecting a life jacket based on your child's weight rather than their age:

Infant (0-30 lbs): Designed with extra head support and grab handles for added safety.
Child (30-50 lbs): Offers a snug fit with adjustable straps and secure flotation.
Youth (50-90 lbs): Provides freedom of movement while ensuring buoyancy.

Each West Marine kids' life jacket features adjustable straps for a secure, custom fit, ensuring maximum protection during water activities.

West Marine prioritizes safety by offering life jackets with essential features, including:

Bright, high-visibility colors for easy spotting in the water.
Grab handles for quick retrieval in emergencies.
Crotch straps (on select models) to prevent ride-up for younger children.
U.S. Coast Guard-approved designs for certified safety and buoyancy.

Yes! West Marine offers kids' life jackets tailored for various water activities:

Boating: Type II and Type III jackets provide comfortable, reliable flotation.
Swimming: Lightweight and flexible life jackets ensure comfort for all-day wear.
Water sports: Neoprene models offer extra comfort, warmth, and flexibility.

For toddlers and infants, our life jackets provide additional head support to keep their heads above water at all times.

West Marine’s kids' life jackets are made with durable, high-quality materials:

Nylon: Lightweight, quick-drying, and ideal for general water activities.
Neoprene: Provides enhanced comfort, flexibility, and warmth—perfect for cooler water conditions.

Both materials offer excellent buoyancy and are designed for long-lasting use in marine environments.

To maximize the lifespan of a kids' life jacket:

Rinse with fresh water after each use, especially when used in saltwater.
Store in a cool, dry place to prevent material degradation.
Inspect for wear and tear periodically and replace if any damage is found.

Proper care ensures the life jacket remains effective and safe for continued use.

West Marine has been a trusted leader in marine safety equipment for decades. When you purchase a kids' life jacket from us, you benefit from:

Expertly curated selections designed for comfort, safety, and durability.
U.S. Coast Guard-approved options ensuring compliance with safety regulations.
Knowledgeable staff available online and in-store to assist with selecting the best fit.

West Marine is committed to providing high-quality, reliable life jackets that keep children safe and comfortable on the water.

Kids' Life Jackets