When you're going on vacation with your family, heading out on a boat or simply playing near the water, a life jacket is one of the best ways to help protect your children from drowning. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nine of 10 drowning victims were not wearing life jackets. If you plan to be in or around the water with your children, make sure you choose the proper life jackets.
Step 1
Weigh your child before you head to the boating or outfitter's store. Each life jacket is clearly marked with its maximum weight, so it's important to have an accurate measurement. You should know if your child fits in the jacket for children who weigh 30 to 50 pounds or the jacket for children who weigh 50 to 75 pounds.
Step 2
Look for the level of the life jacket marked on the tag, and choose the right level for your child. If your child is small and can't swim, a Level I jacket will keep his head above water and tip him backward for safety. It's typically bulkier but a safer option for smaller toddlers and children. A Level II jacket is more comfortable, but it can tip a child only slightly backward to keep his face out of the water. A Level III life jacket is best for swimmers who are performing water sports and want something close-fitting and comfortable, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Step 3
Look for the U.S. Coast Guard seal on the inside back panel of the life jacket. Never use a life preserver, swimming aid or flotation device in the place of a proper, certified life jacket. If it doesn't have the Coast Guard certification, it's not a true life jacket.
Step 4
Assist your child in trying the life jacket on, and make sure that the life jacket fits properly. Show your child how to fasten the various snaps, and make sure that you can fasten the life jacket perfectly every time. If the snaps or zippers won't fasten, you might need a larger size.
Step 5
Lift your child by the shoulder straps while wearing the life jacket, according to the Personal Flotation Device Manufacturers Association. Your child should not be able to wiggle out of the shoulder straps from that position. If she can, the life jacket is too large, and you should choose a smaller size.
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