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Children are experts at manipulating parents to get their way, as every parent knows. Many consistently succeed in getting to stay up just one more hour, getting one last cookie, or playing one more video game. That
skill will prove dangerous when it is time to go boating with your children, as children often pressure their parents to not put on the life jacket or to take off the child life vest after wearing it for a short
time.
Accidents happen in the blink of an eye, whether at the dock or when the boat is slowly navigating shallow water. A majority of states now require children to wear a child life jacket, USCGA approved,
and those states that don't are covered under a federal life jacket law for children 12 and younger.
Here are some suggestions for keeping your child safe while boating, fishing, rafting, waterskiing or
doing any other sport in the water.
1. Let children show style in picking the color of the vest to wear. A cool graphic will go a long way toward making wearing the vest a positive experience. It will allow
the child to feel some ownership of the life jacket, rather than having it forced upon them. Neoprene life vests are more comfortable than Nylon. Neoperene will conform better to the shape of your body. Neo Child
Life Vests can be worn a long time without being uncomfortable.
2. Try out the child life jacket in a pool to see that the child life vest works. If you can pull it more than three inches above the
youngster's shoulders, it's too big. When a child is in the water, they risk slipping out of the vest, which is also why crotch straps are an important feature for kids life vests. Crotch straps are found on
most Child PFD vests such as the Kidder Child Vest.
Child life jacket sizes range from Child Small (30-50 pounds; 2-6 years old) to Child Medium (50-90 pounds; 6-12 years old). Parents should also be aware
that cheap inflatable life jackets found in emergency areas of ships and boats are not USCGA approved and are not recommended for children. It is recommended to buy a high quality life vest for your child.
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