10 Best Toddler Swim Vests In 2023

The Sterns Deluxe Puddle Jumper is the best swim vest and floatie you can get a toddler who loves water. More than just a learn-to-swim aid, it’s a Coast Guard Approved puddle jumper life jacket for use in swimming pools, at water parks, and even in kayaks and boats. As a bonus, kids love the playful designs.

Design and Effectiveness

The innovative design makes this top rated kids floaties better than a regular life jacket. A classically shaped puddle jumper with two floats around the arms and one across the chest, it’s a very effective float to protect your toddler. With it on, your child can be in the pool without you having to hold them all the time.  

Fit and Comfort 

Compared to a regular toddler life jackets, the Stearns puddle jumper is not bulky or restrictive so kids can play with it on. Additionally, the soft woven polyester doesn’t irritate the skin. For a secure and comfortable fit, the strap is adjustable and the safety buckle fastens in the back so your kid won’t be able to remove it on their own.

By providing flotation to inspire confidence, but requiring kids to manipulate themselves to stay afloat, Speedo Classic toddler swim vest is a fantastic swimming teaching aid. It fits comfortably, creates a natural feeling in the water, and allows kids to move their arms freely. On top of this, the neoprene construction offers excellent buoyancy, warmth, and sun protection.

Design and Effectiveness

Made by a trusted swimwear manufacturer, this neoprene swimming vest for a toddler is one of the best toddler swim vests on the market. It provides some support to make your toddler feel at ease in the water but requires them to work hard to stay above water and learn how to maintain balance, tread water, and swim around.

Fit and Comfort

In terms of ease of use, the full front zipper provides easy on and off while the crotch strap is adjustable. Comfort wise, its low bulk design allows full arm movement while the polyester lining doesn’t irritate the skin. Finally, the fabric has UPF 50+ sun protection so it blocks harmful UVA and UVB rays.

Thanks to the unique shape, Swimschool’s Deluxe kids swim vest is the best kids floaties by far. Designed to propel your child forward, it’s also one of the best swimming aids for helping your little one learn to swim. Above this, it also functions as a pool chair and a splash and play center, making it a fantastic value. When it’s time to pack, it deflates easily and packs into a compact bundle.

Design and Effectiveness

As a flotation device, the Deluxe Tot Trainer provides incredible buoyancy in the water. As a swim trainer, it’s very effective at training pre-swimming positions. Most importantly, it feels natural, provides stability, and allows arms and legs a full range of motion. Toddlers get the hang of it quickly and start swimming around in no time. 

Fit and Comfort

Easy to put on and comfortable to wear, kids love the Tot Trainer kids swim vest. It fits comfortably around your child’s torso and the fabric is stretchy, gentle on skin, and protective against harmful UV rays. For a secure fit, an adjustable strap fastens it between the legs.

The Body Glove Dinosaur kids floatie is the best floatation and swimming aid for toddlers who tend to slip off other vests. It comes equipped with a safety shoulder harness that prevents accidental slip-off and makes it hard for a child to remove the vest on their own. Best of all, this is a USCG approved swim vest toddler’s love. The fun graphics are sure to bring joy to any child’s face, and make them excited for their water adventures!     

Design and Effectiveness

A US Coast Guard Approved life jacket and swim vests toddlers cannot take off; the Body Glove is one of the safest learn to swim floaties. The chest support and armbands provide great flotation for toddlers while also placing them in the natural swim position and helping them learn how to keep their heads up, kick their legs, and propel themselves forward.

Fit and Comfort  

Made of soft polyester and featuring a multi-panel design with an anatomical cut and built-in drain holes, this is a top rated kids floaties when it comes to comfort. It’s easy to put on and, the adjustable strap allows you to achieve a comfortably snug fit. As for the range of motion, it leaves arms and legs free to move.

A USCG approved Type II kids’ life jacket, the Stearns heads-Up life vest is the best life jacket for toddlers for boating and kayaking. It ticks all the boxes a reliable flotation device for kids should – it promotes face-up flotation and has a strap between the legs. In addition to this, the bright color and reflective trim help you spot your little one, while the rescue handle makes it easy to lift them out of the water.   

Design and Effectiveness

This is a certified Type II life jacket for toddlers so you can have peace of mind that it will keep your child safe should they fall in the water. It provides a high level of buoyancy lift in the water, and the contoured back flotation pad encourages face-up flotation. Whether you’re boating, fishing, or kayaking, the Heads-Up meets the US Coast Guard requirements for a toddler life vest. 

Fit and Comfort

For a Type II floatation device, it’s surprising how comfortable the Stearns Heads-Up is. Having two hinges enables it to lay better than standard Type 2 life vests. Also, the Heads-Up has one of the most comfortable crotch straps you will find on a kid’s life vest. It’s housed in a soft and squishy sleeve, which helps prevent chafing.

A high level of adjustability makes the BABCOO kids float one of the best toddler swim vests even for toddlers on the smaller side. While designed for 30 to 50 lbs. toddlers, it’s also compatible with 20 to 30 lbs. babies. As for looks, it comes in adorable graphics and pink and teal hues for both girls and boys.  

Design and Effectiveness

Thanks to the puddle jumper life jacket design with a chest belt and arm-wings, the BABCOO kid swim vest is a great kids’ flotation device for swimming pools and water parks. Besides keeping kids upright in the water, it gives them a sense of security enabling them to swim around the pool on their own.  

Fit and Comfort 

A great thing about the BABCOO toddler swim float is that it’s easy to put on and off even when wet. Furthermore, the adjustable straps and buckles enable it to fit a wide range of ages and weights. The nylon fabric it’s made of is lightweight, soft against the skin, dries quickly, and holds up well.

The Splash About Collections toddler float suit is the most versatile swimming aids for girls. It doubles as a swimming costume providing support without them even realizing that they are wearing a floatation device! On top of this, you can adjust the level of support provided as your child’s confidence grows. It’s composed of a 16-piece adjustable buoyancy system that allows you to remove floats. 

Design and Effectiveness

The Splash About float suit is one of the best toddlers swim vests for learning how to swim. It will position your child in the correct learn to swim position - shoulders level with the water, body tilted forward slightly, and arms and legs free to move. As their confidence grows, you can remove the floats in pairs until they’re swimming on their own.    

Fit and Comfort

While this Splash About swimming vest for toddlers sits pretty snug, it has a zipper at the back for easy on and off. Made of a chlorine-resistant fabric with UPF 50+ rating, it holds up well to frequent use in pools and also has the added benefit of providing the highest level of UV protection.

As a level 2 swim trainer, the SwimSchool swimming vest toddler is the best toddler swim vest for almost swimmers who only need a little aid in the water. It’s designed to keep kids in a prone position and encourage them to swim. On top of this, it’s very easy to put on and take off and provides excellent comfort and freedom of movement.

Design and Effectiveness

The swim trainer vest is a terrific swimming aid. Featuring flex-foam foam pads and padded shoulders, it provides balanced flotation that tilts your child forward in the swim position. The design doesn’t get in the way of swimming and the provided support gives your child the confidence to explore the water and practice swimming.

Fit and Comfort

A great thing about this design with zipper is the ease of putting the vest on and off. Once it’s on, an adjustable safety strap ensures a secure and comfortable fit. Thanks to the non-bulky vest design, this swim trainer is comfortable for a toddler to wear around the pool for hours. Lastly, the material the vest is made of feels soft and offers UPF 50+ sun protection.

When inflated, the Topsung toddler swim vest is one of the thickest kids floaties. Because of this, it provides superior buoyancy even in deep water. Still, it’s perfect for traveling as it’s very space-efficient when deflated and packed. Unlike other floaties on this list, it can be used by children up to 120 pounds, making it the best toddlers swim vest for fast-growing toddlers.

Design and Effectiveness

One of the thickest inflatable toddlers swim vests and featuring armbands and chest support, the Topsung provides excellent flotation support for kids learning to swim. As insurance against leaks, it’s made of a heavy-duty plastic that can resist puncturing by broken shells, rocks, and sand, and composed of three separate inflatable airbags.  

Fit and Comfort

Even with the thickness, the Topsung swim vest for toddlers still allows kids to move their arms and kick their legs to get around in the water. As for fit, it’s secured by a buckle at the back and you can adjust the fit and feel by increasing or decreasing the amount of air.

When it comes to a toddler’s safety in the water, the Stohlquist toddler PFD offers unbeatable reliability. As a Type II life vest for kids, it provides top-level buoyancy and is capable of turning a child face-up in the water. As a testament to its life-saving capability, it boasts both USCG and Transport Canada approvals and is the best life jackets toddler for boating and kayaking. 

Design and Effectiveness 

Featuring wraparound flotation, the Stohlquist toddler life jacket offers a 7 lbs. 6 oz. sea-level buoyancy you can count on to keep your little one afloat. In addition to this, the dual support collars that cradle the head ensure that kids float in the face-up position. Finally, the vest has a convenient grab handle for lifting a child from the water. 

Fit and Comfort

Even though the Stohlquist is a Type II personal flotation device, it’s comfortable enough to not get in the way of a child’s enjoyment of the water. Freedom of movement is not restricted, as the open sides leave the arms free to play. To cap it off, the front zipper, buckle strap, and adjustable crotch strap ensure the life vest remains on your child even in rough situations.