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

The STEARNS Puddle Jumper is a lifesaver — literally! I got the Cancun Starfish design for my child, and not only is it super cute, but it also gives me peace of mind around the water. It fits securely without being too tight, and the material is soft, so there’s no rubbing or discomfort. My kid feels confident wearing it and has full range of motion to splash, swim, and play. Best part? They actually want to wear it. It’s Coast Guard approved, so I know it’s safe, and it's held up really well to frequent use at the pool and beach. Definitely recommend for any young swimmer!

Update July 2018: Two years later and we are still using this thing. We've been using it on almost a weekly and sometimes twice or three times a week schedule and this thing is still in great condition. My almost three year old can swim with confidence in this and it's allowed him to feel comfortable getting his head wet. Just about the only downside is that he often prefers using this to going without it, which as he approaches three years old, we'd like to get him more experience in learning how to swim and survive without it. Be that as it may, I couldn't recommend this highly enough! My son is a little on the big side at ~22# at nearly 11 months old. He's been swimming since he was 5 months, and has really grown quite independent in the water! But not having any floatation device for him, I have to hold him if we are in too deep. I was looking for something that would fit him easily now and for awhile to come, and give him the independence he's been craving as he constantly tries to jump out of my arms in the pool to explore on his own. I looked at several options - a life vest, the "tube", and this. Floatation helpers under the 30# range seem to be limited to actual floaration devices with neck support, which isn't really appropriate for a pool setting where I never leave my baby's side. So, I ordered this, knowing it could be a little large for him still. AND IT'S PERFECT! My son had no adjustment to this product, and loved it! He dives right in, and is able to swim short distances with it on! Will work perfectly for the beach setting next summer when we go back home to MI! This product allows my son to freely play in the shallow kid area at our pool where it's an incline into deeper water like a beach without me having a pit of anxiety of a stomach, even though I'm right there, as he crawls into deeper water. I will say that the middle part tends to ride up a bit on him a bit, so when he's in deeper water floating without support his chin is kept just above the water, but he sometimes swallows pool water when there's lots of waves/splashing from nearby. This is something that will get better in time with him growing into the product. Overall, I'm pretty excited about this product and so is my son! Believe the hype on this one and just go for it, especially if you're looking for options for fun floating for the under 30 pound but almost there crowd. We ordered the blue starfish and it's beautiful and bright!

We bought one of these last year four our two year old (she had just turned 2). We have tried every floation device/swim aid available last summer. The puddle jumpers are the only ones that we feel are easy for the kids to learn use and safe. At first our daughter wanted to tip forward and her face would go in the water, but after a week or two of using it she learned to keep her body upright and float around in it without assistance. By the end of the summer she was jumping off of the side of the pool and swimming all over. I never let her leave my sight, but I have no problems letting her swim around and don't feel like I have to be right next her while swimming. This year we bought one for our son who is 15 months. He's still in the process of learning how to sit up in the water in it, but it makes holding on to him so much easier because he doesn't want to be held close while in the pool. He wants to move and float around. I'm assuming just like his sister he'll figure out how to use it quickly and we will have two little swimmers on our hands. Great product! Highly recommend! Just remember when they first start using their puddle jumper they will naturally tip forward and their face will go in the water until they learn to stay upright. With some practice and patience they can figure out. You really do need to be next to them at all times wile they learning how to use it, but once they catch on it will make life so much easier! As far as fit goes I long very skinny kids and both puddle jumpers fit and their arms do not come out. Our son at 15 months is still just a bit tiny for his but it's still useable with supervision (and I'm sure he'll grow into it quickly).

Excellent product

This was a peace of mind purchase for our 2-year old son for trips to the neighborhood pool. While we are always with him, it helped knowing he had a flotation device as well. We have used it consistently for the past year or so and I can honestly recommend this product as a great swimming aide. The single best thing about this vest is that it allows a freedom of movement to promote the range of motion needed to learn how to swim. My son quickly learned and I think the confidence of the vest really helped in that aspect. It is also nice that the vest is not cartoon-ishly large on him. It is sleek and fits snuggly with a single rear buckle. It dries out quickly so it won't leave a puddle in your car. It is also durable, as we really haven't done anything but wear it and throw it in the pool bag when we are done. With all of that said, I have noticed that this is not the same as a life vest, it wont keep him bobbing like a cork in the water. Instead it is more like a boost to keep him upright and above water while he actively kicks and treads water. It will definitely help bounce him up out of the water when he jumps in, but I don't think it is comparable to a full life vest that you would use on a lake. Great for the pool though!

Purchased this for my 15 month old who is average height and a little skinny. He still has some chunkiness to him though. I saw reviews stating that this is not actually a life jacket and I thought "duh" because when I purchased it the information stated it was not a life jack but now it says it is a life jacket. I would personally not rely on it as a life jacket on a boat or anything. Between the material and foam it's similar to putting thier arms into floaties. If your child is especially chunky this could cause issues. My son has been in the water at a very early age and wants freedom so that is why I purchased this even though it's technically a little big on him. There is nothing on thier back so if they flop back and cannot hold thier head out of the water it could be an issue for you. It is important with relying on any floatation device to know what your child is capable of AND you never leave them unattended by water. Also, reviews of "my child didn't like it" I find laughable. 2 two old not liking something at first? Welcome to parenthood. My son did not like it at first but we made him feel comfortable and honestly at his age and with his determination it's the only way he can be in our pool at the moment. Comfort? It's bulky but my kid rocks it and spend hours in the pool climbing in and out. As far as quality - I expected this to last maybe 1 season which is about how long our bathing suits last with the amount we swim. I purchased this 3 months ago and with regular use and exposed to hot sun drying it has begun fading and the design is coming off. The foam is not as stiff. So I'd say my guess is that it will not last to next year. I bought this on a 'lightening sale' and am very happy with my purchase.

My wife recently purchased two of these Streams Puddle Jumpers for our children, ages 2 and 4, right before a planned family vacation. We used these puddle jumpers on our children basically every day on vacation so I feel confident in my rating and review. First things first, if you're looking for a floatation device that will 100% keep your child safe in water then this is not the best choice for you and I'd advise you to buy another product. This product is designed to assist children who are already somewhat competent in water to float. This product is not meant to replace water confidence (i.e. a child that has received swim lessons) and you most certainly do not want to leave a child unattended in any way while they're in the water. Also, this product is not designed to hold a child's head out of the water on its own. Both of my children receive swim lessons and my wife and I were merely looking for a swim aid that would allow them to enjoy the pool (at our resort) for longer periods of time. In that use, this product is absolutely perfect! This puddle jumper is designed for kids between 30-50lbs. My youngest comes in just barely over 30lbs and my oldest about 42lbs and the puddle jumpers worked well for both of them. The jumpers go on easily and simply slip onto the arms and are secured in the back with a locking plastic clip. A nylon strap keeps the puddle jumpers snug and can be easily adjusted for different sized children. My wife and I both found the puddle jumpers extremely easy to use and to get on/off the kids. My kids didn't seem to mind at all having these on and for novice swimmers it gave them a bit of a buoyancy and confidence boost. Both my kids were zipping around the pool (with plenty of adult supervision) and having a great time. This is definitely a product I recommend. However, keep in mind your child's water familiarity and abilities before ordering.

Very cute and it works great. I much prefer these to traditional life jackets. Unlike life jackets, they don't slide up to the child's chin or make it difficult for them to swim. The puddle jumper makes it easy for kids to practice swimming and give them freedom in the pool. I love them and will continue to use them for my kids.