One of the most frequently asked questions about getting started in watersports is – how do I choose the best lifejacket for my child? With safety at the forefront of any parent’s mind, it’s an important question to ask…
The answer is relatively straightforward – though having said that, it’s easy to feel confused when you first look into the topic. That’s because the term ‘lifejacket’ is often used as a catch-all term, but it can also be used to refer to a specific type of personal flotation device, or PFD.
What is the difference between a lifejacket and a buoyancy aid?
There are two main types of PFDs – lifejackets and buoyancy aids. And yes, you do need to wear one or the other for the sports we cover on this website! More on which below, but before that we need to start by understanding the difference between the two. Note that we’ll do our best to unravel things here, but remember you should also always go by the manufacturer’s guidelines!
Fundamentally, both a lifejacket and a buoyancy aid will keep you afloat but the key difference between a lifejacket and a buoyancy aid comes in how they do that.
[Before we get into more detail on that, note that we are not talking about inflatable lifejackets here. Inflatable lifejackets are great for keelboat (yacht) sailing where you are less likely to end up in the water. But for sports like dinghy sailing, paddle boarding and kayaking were the possibility of falling (or with kids, jumping!) in the water is more likely, you need a foam-based lifejacket (or a buoyancy aid) – that’s the type covered in this article.]
So, how do you know whether you need a lifejacket or buoyancy aid?
What is a lifejacket and who should wear one?
Lifejackets should be worn by any child or adult who cannot swim, as they are designed to keep you afloat without you needing to physically keep yourself afloat. Lifejackets, especially those for children, typically have a large, padded collar. This is designed to help keep your head afloat and clear of the water, which is important for someone who isn’t capable or confident in the water.
The buoyancy comes in the form of thick foam padding on the front of the garment, designed to keep you afloat on your back, face up, with your legs at around 45 degrees in front of you.
This keeps a non-swimmer or very young child in the safest possible position until helps arrives.
Check the labelling and look for 100N buoyancy – which provides sufficient flotation for calm, inshore or inland waters where help is close at hand. You will find lifejackets have different sizes, such as baby/child/junior, for example, but these relate to the fit rather than the buoyancy rating. Refer to the manufacturer’s sizes chart to ensure you get the correct size.
Crotch straps and sturdy buckles are a must, as is a whistle (make sure your kids know this is not a toy and strictly for attracting attention in an emergency); bright colours are a bonus for helping to spot a child in the water.
What is a buoyancy aid and who should wear one?
In contrast to lifejackets, buoyancy aids are suitable for children and adults who are able to swim adequately to keep themselves afloat – and are confident in doing so.
Buoyancy aids will be rated for 30-40N buoyancy for children (with weight brackets up to 70kg), or 50N for adults (70kg+). Buoyancy aids do come in small/medium/large sizes, but these refer to the fit rather than the buoyancy; regardless of how much you weigh, you still need the same buoyancy to keep you afloat. Always refer to the manufacturers’ sizing chart to ensure you get the correct buoyancy and fit.
As with lifejackets, buoyancy aids are also made using foam panels, but they generally have a lower profile compared to lifejackets; not only is less foam is needed due to the lower buoyancy rating, but it is also distributed more evenly around your torso.
This gives buoyancy aids the advantage of being more ergonomic and therefore feeling more comfortable to wear than lifejackets.
Most adults will opt for a buoyancy aid, and it’s an obvious choice to move towards as your child gets older and more competent at their chosen sport(s) – providing they can also swim and are confident being in the water. It’s with that in mind that we signed our kids up for swimming lessons as toddlers and is the one class we insist they keep up – lucky for us they completely love swimming!
When choosing a buoyancy aid for children, always choose a buoyancy aid that has crotch straps – and make sure you use them and adjust them correctly to prevent the buoyancy aid riding up over their face once in the water. Look for lots of adjustable straps so you can ensure a snug fit.
Shop around. There are plenty of brands out there, and most entry level products are designed for general purpose use.
Having said that, it is true that some brands are more rooted in certain sports, and this can be reflected in the fit of the buoyancy aid; you might notice kayaking buoyancy aids are more cut away around the shoulders for freedom of movement when paddling, for example, or buoyancy aids designed more for sailing might be high cut to allow for crouching down and moving around the boat. These are the sorts of things you might like to think about if you plan to continue a particular sport long term.
But so long as it fits well and provides the correct level of buoyancy, you can use a buoyancy aid interchangeably between most boat and board sports; the one exception is tow sports (wakeboarding or water-skiing), where you need an ‘impact vest’ which has a longer profile and is designed for impact protection.
Most buoyancy aids have front fastenings – particularly for older kids to do up themselves – but some have fastenings to the side; it’s a personal preference and makes little difference so long as they are secure.
Other features include things like reflective tape, and pockets – handy for stashing snacks – but these are nice-to-haves and certainly not essential if you are just getting started in watersports.
Do I need to buy a buoyancy aid or lifejacket for my child?
If you are taking part in a watersports course or a taster activity – such as this Multi Activity course or this Splash Day – the watersports centre will supply you with suitable PFD to use during the session.
However, if you’re wanting to do more – perhaps looking to buy a boat, buy a paddleboard or a canoe or kayak – it makes sense to invest in your own kit, and a lifejacket or buoyancy aid should absolutely be top of the purchase list.
Scroll down for an exclusive AfloatWiththeKids discount code!
What about buying second-hand?
If you can, invest in new. After all, safety should always be your number one priority.
If you do opt for a pre-loved item, make sure it has a good lease of life left in it; if the foam panelling seems heavy and limp, chances are the product is past its prime; the foam has been compressed and while it will still provide some floatation, it won’t be as effective – a risk not worth taking.
This is why you should never let your children jump on buoyancy aids or use them as cushions!
Check buckles, zips and other fastenings to ensure they are in good condition and not worn, as well as the webbing straps, stitching and material for tears and rips.
Beware of swimming vests and other similar floatation aids which may be listed as ‘buoyancy aids’, particularly common on second-hand and non-specialist websites; I mean, I guess on a technicality they do ‘aid’ your ‘buoyancy’ but they do not provide anywhere near a suitable level of buoyancy for active watersports like dinghy sailing, paddleboarding or kayaking. Avoid at all costs! Anything you do buy should meet the minimum buoyancy ratings, outlined in the section above. You can also check to see if they are ISO12402 certified, which is the required standard for UK and Europe.
Top tip – to keep it in good condition, always wash your lifejacket or buoyancy aid in plenty of fresh water after use.
Making sure your lifejacket or buoyancy aid fits correctly
When it comes to choosing a lifejacket or a buoyancy aid for kids, the number one rule is never buy one with ‘room to grow into’. This is simply not safe.
Whether you chose a lifejacket or a buoyancy aid, the top priority is that it fits well. By this I mean, it’s a snug, close fit. Watch our handy video guide here.
The best way to check your buoyancy aid or lifejacket fits correctly is to ensure all the straps and buckles are fastened and adjusted tightly, then try to lift the garment from the shoulders to mimic how it would sit once bobbing about in the water. If it is too loose this will soon be evident as it will ride up over your head and face – for obvious reasons, this can be dangerous.
If you find that happens, tighten the buckles further and if need be try another size.
Personal flotation devices for young children typically come with crotch straps. Crotch straps are important because they further help to prevent the bulk of the garment riding up too high. It’s therefore essential to do these up – no matter how much protest your child puts up!
The RNLI has a ‘useless unless worn’ campaign around lifejackets, and I am often reminded of this not only when I put my kids’ buoyancy aids on, but also the crotch straps.
Tuck any stray straps behind the buckles or up inside the buoyancy aid to minimise snagging, and check zips are done all the way to the top.
While it’s great for young children’s confidence and independence to be able to put their lifejacket or buoyancy aid on themselves, always make sure you check it is fastened and fitted correctly before allowing them near the water.
Getting kids to wear a lifejacket or buoyancy aid
We know from experience that getting your child to wear their lifejacket or buoyancy aid can be tricky! It took weeks of carefully sowing the seed and gentle explanations in the run up to our maiden sail to convince Girl Afloat to wear one (she is very particular about clothing), and Boy Afloat cried in protest the first time he had to wear his.
But it’s a matter of safety – and therefore, non-negotiable (unlike many other things in our house: snacks, bed time, etc!)
With young children, we have found that the key is normalising it in a way that wearing a PFD is just part of being on or by the water. It can be as simple as having a few games of dressing up at home, or getting them to wear them while playing on the beach or anywhere near the water’s edge.
Even the most ergonomically designed PFD is going to feel a bit alien to wear at first so anything you can do to get kids used to that is going to pay off – even just while building sandcastles!
It’s also a good idea for young children to practise floating with their lifejacket on, so they can get a sense of how it feels and how their movements change once they are in the water. See what that looks like here at the end of this video guide.
Definitely something to encourage if you can, as it boosts their confidence in wearing it and in overall being on the water. And of course, it’s also fun! Girl Afloat often holds us to the promise of being able to have a float around in the shallows at the end of the session!
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