Child's lifejacket

richardjawilson · 19 July 2012, 18:17

My daughter has just turned 3 years, 102cm tall, 18kgs.

Do I go for Crewsaver Seatoddler/Child lifejacket 100n + 50n manual air top up

150N Air Foam Lifejackets and Life Cribs from Crewsaver

or

Kru Child, no built in bouyancy but Auto inflate thus less bulky?

http://www.krulifejackets.com/images..._catalogue.pdf

Anyone any thoughts on the matter?

regards Richard

whisper · 19 July 2012, 18:27

I will not allow my kids to have auto inflate lifejackets until they are strong swimmers as there is no guarantee they will inflate...

So it's foam until they are much older

Pikey Dave · 19 July 2012, 18:33

We had a Crewsaver "sea baby" for our daughter (she's just turned 21, how time flies) it was a buoyancy aid type with manual top up. We felt it was more secure as we weren't depending on a mechanism as stated by Whisper. The other benefit was the built in insulation & "bump" protection.

richardjawilson · 19 July 2012, 18:41

good points, had favored the Crewsaver, but stumbled across the KRU product.

Think its the crewsaver which gets the vote.

Many thanks

whisper · 19 July 2012, 18:46

Good man! And a good question to ask too

thomas · 19 July 2012, 19:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by whisper

I will not allow my kids to have auto inflate lifejackets until they are strong swimmers as there is no guarantee they will inflate...

So it's foam until they are much older

If you don't trust a kids autoinflate then why would you trust an adults?

I put my daughter in an auto at the age of four or five, once she was big enough for one, my reasoning was she needs to be comfortable and mobile, she puts it on before she goes onto the pontoon and doesn't take it off until she back on land again and it doesn't bother her. She also knows how it works and where the toggle is, I'd love to periodically test it when she's being a pain but the Mrs won't let me.

SPR · 19 July 2012, 19:27

because you trust the adult to pull the manual release and stay calmer on immersion

Pikey Dave · 19 July 2012, 19:32

If the auto mechanism doesn't fire, then you have to manually fire the mechanism or manually inflate, I wouldn't expect a small child to deal with that. Hopefully an adult should be able to cope with the eventuality. If not, I'd put the adult into a bouyancy aid also.

whisper · 19 July 2012, 19:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

If the auto mechanism doesn't fire, then you have to manually fire the mechanism or manually inflate, I wouldn't expect a small child to deal with that. Hopefully an adult should be able to cope with the eventuality. If not, I'd put the adult into a bouyancy aid also.

Well said

thomas · 19 July 2012, 20:25

Fair cop, I know my daughter could inflate hers.

lakelandterrier · 20 July 2012, 06:24

I'd go for foam until they're a lot older, able to swim well, and not panic if they go over. Have done so since 3 with my 2 - now 8 & 9 and still have foam - although will need to change soon to manual gas.

no risk of accidental inflation, solid foam takes more abuse when they drag them on the floor etc...and most importantly less for you as a parent to worry about in the evnbt of MOB. As they'll likely splash about in the water at every opportunity risk of setting of a gas cylinder is always there. Plus foam filled act not only as an additional lay of insulation / wind protection, the collar's a handy pillow when they get tired & need a power nap.

LT

richardjawilson · 20 July 2012, 08:10

Crewsaver Seachild bought.

Thanks for the advice.