Recommendation for infant PFD

[JimT]

We just brought our new boy James home from the hospital. He is excited about getting out on the boat as soon as the weather warms up. Can we get some thoughts on infant PFDs? Thanks.

 

[Just Right]

We found the Mustang series worked well for all three kids from infant through 4 yrs.

 

[Lazy Daze]

The best recommendation I can give you is to go to a store and try them on. All infant vests should have flotation behind their head, along with flotation on the front side of the vest only (not on the back). But, I think you'll be hard pressed to find one that is not like that.

When you pick the one you like, put him in it at home for a few minutes at a time every day to get him used to it. When mine were infants, I think they actually preferred it as it was almost like a big hug that was always around them. Plus, it kept them from being so "floppy".

Oh... Congratulations!

 

[Nehalennia]

Well they don't have infant sizes but take advantage of these prices for when he's a little bigger. I just ordered two for my twins.
http://www.defender.com/productsearchresult.jsp

 

[rondds]

Todd
Link didn't work

 

[nauti medic]

My daughter was born last April at 10 1/2 weeks early. When she came home 7 weeks later the doctor gave the green light for all activities so at under 5 lbs and a week before she was supposed to be born she hit the water in a stylish HO brand PFD complete with panda graphics. Rated for 0-30 lbs. She had no problems with the HO brand and it was relatively cheep I think around $30 from Costco. What ever you go with I'd make sure you go with the neoprene type for added comfort. Not sure of your laws but where I boat a PFD must be worn at all times the boat is underway for kids under 11, so make it comfortable for them.

 

[nauti medic]

And more importantly Congrats on the new addition. :smt038

 

[wkearney99]

The big challenge is keeping the infant from overheating while in the PFD. They can't regulate their own temperature all that well yet. So you often end up putting them below in the AC. Most places don't require wearing a PFD while below. Then there's the issue of applying sunblock to their very sensitive skin.

We didn't take our boy out all that often our first summer. The long and short of it is there's a lot of effort that goes into caring for an infant, and that tends to conflict with the whole 'relaxing' aspect of boating. We tried, really, but in the end it was a lot less hassle to go a little lighter on boating that first summer.

There's a canadian PFD (can't remember the name) that has a mesh back. It was pretty expensive though. I might have gotten one had I heard about it before he was just about to outgrow it. In the end we went with a Mustang but didn't end up using it all that often (due to being below in the AC).