Coleman Cabin Tent: Stearns Kids Puddle Jumper Deluxe Life Jacket Review

Average Reviews:
5.0 out of 5 stars

(More customer reviews)I bought this for my can't-swim-but-loves-to-jump-into-the-pool 2-year-old. I need him to be safe around our yard. I was attracted by the USCG rating and the reviews.

My son is a skinny little dude, barely 30 pounds, and there is only about an inch of the belt hanging out when we cinch it around him. I don't know how a 50-lb kid would ever be able to snap the belt around him. My son was able to pull his (dry) arms right out of the sleeves when we put it on. I don't think that he would be able to slither out of the other part, but that was a disturbing revelation.

Still, something is better than nothing, so we proceeded to the pool. My son quickly got the hang of it and was able to flip back to his tummy every time he inadvertently bobbed onto his back. This PFD does NOT (and does not claim to) keep your child's head out of the water. He must be able to do that himself. The chest part of this rode up to my son's armpits/chin whenever he was floating (as opposed to standing or sitting on the step). It didn't seem to bother him but it seemed uncomfortable to me. He kicked about with confidence. I suppose if his arms were longer, he'd have been able to "swim" "normally", but I don't know how he could do a freestyle stroke with those sleeves on. His arms never slipped out while he was in the pool. The belt across his back stayed snug while he was in the water and didn't loosen up as he played.

This vest really gave him confidence and freedom in the pool. He loved the turtle design and I loved that I could tow him all over the pool without tiring myself out by having to hold all his weight. He eschewed pool toys and wanted merely to paddle around the pool and explore the skimmer and chlorine tablet floater. When we got out, the vest slipped off without a lot of pulling, even though (or maybe because) he wears a rash guard in the pool.

So, overall, it's great for us, but I'm not sure it would work for a much larger kid.

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Product Description:
Kids like the fun design of the Stearns Puddle Jumper Deluxe life jacket, and you'll appreciate the security and confidence of high-quality construction and safety. The Puddle Jumper fits children weighing 30-50 pounds. It's made of soft, durable woven polyester, so it won't chafe. The Puddle Jumper fits comfortably over the child's chest, with arm pieces that offer excellent stability and free range of motion in the water. This personal flotation device is Coast Guard approved.