Kids' Life Jackets: Right Size and Fit

A kids' life jacket is not an accessory. It is the difference between a good day on the water and one you would rather forget. The most common mistake parents make is buying by age. Fit is decided by weight, not by how old the child is.

Read the label, not the birthday

Every approved life jacket has a label with a weight range in kilograms. Match your child's weight to that number, and if they land between two sizes, take the larger one. A jacket that is too tight is uncomfortable. One that is too big can slip straight off.

Try the jacket on over swimwear or a light t-shirt, never over a thick jacket. Layers compress once everything is wet, and a strap that felt snug on the beach can be loose in the water.

The two-finger test and the lift test

Fasten every strap, then slide two fingers between your child's shoulders and the neck opening. Two fingers should fit comfortably. If your whole hand goes in, the jacket is too big. The opening should stay put when the child rolls their shoulders.

Then lift the child gently by the shoulders of the jacket. It should come up with them and not slide toward their ears. If it rides up, tighten the straps or change the size. Run the same check with the child standing and again sitting down.

Chest strap and crotch strap

The chest strap stops the jacket from spreading open, and the waist strap keeps it against the body. A crotch strap matters most for small children: it stops the jacket from riding up over their head in the water. Trim or stow any loose strap end instead of leaving it hanging.

• Tighten the waist strap before the chest strap.
• Check that no strap is twisted or slack.
• Fit the jacket while the child is standing, then have them sit and see if it shifts.
• Keep the whistle and reflector on the outside, not tucked under clothing.

Practice before you go out

Do not throw a child in to teach them. Let them walk into shallow water wearing the jacket and get used to floating. Tell them to keep their chin up, breathe calmly, and not raise both arms. Repeat the practice every season.

Before leaving, check sea state and tide times in the B7R app. It gives you tide times for Shuaibah and Shuwaikh ports, plus sea state and weather. If something goes wrong on the water, the SOS button in the B7R app gets help moving fast.

What not to do

• An adult jacket on a child: it will not fit their body or hold them correctly.
• An oversized jacket to grow into: it can slip off over their head.
• Inflatable armbands: not life jackets, and no substitute in open water.
• A used jacket with no inspection: check the buckles, straps and fabric first.

Inspect the jacket at the start of every season. Test the buckles, look for faded or cracked fabric, and make sure the label is still readable. A faded, worn jacket is not protection.

Get the right size, check the fit, practice with your child, and head out with confidence. Download the B7R app free on Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.q8dm.b7r