Stearns Original Puddle Jumper Deluxe Kids Life Jacket, Comfortable Life Vest for Kids Weighing 30-50lbs, USCG Approved Type III Life Vest for Pool, Beach, Boats, & More

******Never assume that this is a replacement for full/direct parental supervision of any child wearing a Puddle Jumper. *******Was at the pool and saw a group of young children playing with puddle jumpers on (pre-k)asked their mom where they got them, she said amazon. It really seemed to me that those kids really enjoyed swimming more than my daughter which wore a water-ski style floatation device/ jacket from a local wholesale club.Although this particular design I could not find locally, they do carry these in other designs locally ['marts (you'll have to look around) ]but my little Ariel didn't want those. Had to be this one. Using an iPad to view this, the colors match the Puddle Jumper I received. This amazon item was not overpriced either; PLEASE do not pay over 30+s&h.My daughter is 47lbs 3'6" and she swam the length of the pool several times, like a pro. It really seemed to boost her confidence while in water, while not exactly timid or hydrophobic before hand, she was reluctant to leave the shallow end where her feet could touch and actually practice the kicking / arm movements she was being taught. I think it is enough of a crutch that it will eventually be unnecessary in a few seasons.The thing I really liked about Puddle Jumpers is it did not chafe her, it did not slide up to her neck, and it was not cumbersome. It's Coast Guard certified for a certain size boat, idk what size but it did say on the tags which were attached to the life vest. Stearns' website was just as vague as Amazons specs. These are Inherently buoyant, IIRC.Never mind I'll dig it out, per the vest: (condensed)SPECIAL USE -TYPE V PFD / INTENDED USE: Flotation Device.--CHILD--USER WEIGHT: 30-50 lbs. (14-23 kg)Blah blah blah....This is a substitute for Type III PFD-- ONLY WHEN WORN. USCG approved wearable device for uninspected commercial vessels less than 40 ft (12 m) in length not carrying passengers for hire and for recreational boats. Not approved for personal watercraft , for skiing, or similar towed uses.Blah blah blah.... MUST BE WORN WITH BUCKLE IN BACK.... Blah blah....DO NOT CARRY HEAVY OBJECTS- HEAVY OBJECTS IMPAIR FLOTATION.Not designed to turn an unconscious wearer face up in the water... It's design provides a stable position in calm water with their head tilted back...Blah blah blah.UL LISTED FLOTATION AID.---------------------------------------------------(Forgive me I do not want to write the entire listing on the PFD as there is a great deal of counterfeiting on the internet, and I do not wish to contribute to it. I hope the readers understand.)--------------------------------------What I got from the above is, USCG Approved if your boat is for pleasure not for hire, then this PFD is a substitute for a type III PFD --at your own risk of course. Made for calm water, no chop. Also bear in mind that if a person/child were to grab the wearer of a puddle jumper it would impair flotation by adding additional weight. Something to think about if swimming in pools or lakes, crowded or not, with other children or unseasoned swimmers which ties to my very first statement.This review I intended for it to be short, so thanks for reading!

I made the mistake of buying a cheaper puddle jumper style wing float for my 4 yr old. It was softer and easier to get on, but as soon as the lifeguard at the pool stopped me to tag my daughter’s vest- turns out it wasn’t coastguard approved so she couldn’t wear it at our public pool!I went back on Amazon and purchased the Stearns brand thinking it was going to be the same type of thing but with that specific Coastguard approved label… I was wrong! The fit was tighter, more secure on her body, clip was stronger, the padding was thicker and she was much more buoyant in the water (floated up higher), and it just felt much more safe. At first I thought it was just a label and was actually annoyed I had to purchase another just for our public pool, but I can see the difference when I have them side by side, and this brand is worth the bit extra $. I’ll only buy the Stearns brand from now on.

These are not just your everyday puddle jumpers floaties thingys. No these turn your child into a fearless water animal. This is what happened to our toddler. We went to the beach and they were a little scared the first day. Then the puddle jumpers got put on. It was on like donkey Kong ! This toddler all of a sudden had no fear of any water. So when I say these are awesome I mean These are awesome! As in said toddler would jump into the pool by themselves and swim by themselves. These keep their head above the water and allow them to move their arms enough and be able to lean forward a little to be able to kick their feet to move around in the pool. So yes they work. They work great!

I have a 4 year old daughter she weighs 50 pounds and the life jacket still fit on, now when I go swimming I don’t worry as much. The life jacket looks good and feels comfortable MY DAUGHTER LOVES THE DESIGN the life jacket boast an eye catching and vibrant design the bright color and cute patterns makes the life jacket a MUST HAVE, my daughter will wear this life jacket even when we’re not swimming. The design of the life jacket keeps my little one afloat in any water environment it’s very durable.

My nearly 2 year old loves these. She was fighting us for more independence in the water (she didnt want to be held) and so I looked into vests that would keep her safe, whilst letting her move around without an adult holding her.This vest does a great job of supporting her body in a way that makes it easy to keep her head above water. She was able to splash around (including going up and down steps and "jumping" off the step ledge) all while keeping her head up.I feel like this is going to be a great tool in helping her learn to swim. Even in one swim session, she was learning a lot about how to move her body in the water.(Please note that while I was looking for something that helped her gain independence, she ALWAYS has adult supervision in the water, as should all young children. I'm very aware of the stats regarding infant drowning and want to stress that this product is fantastic at allowing your child to develop SOME independence in moving around the water, but an adult always should be present).