18 Best Swim Vests and Swim Gear for 2 Year Olds Parents Should Own

Buying the best swim vest for 2 year olds can be daunting. 

You hear so many things about summer safety that you hear about, and it can make you a little nervous trying to figure out the best way to protect your kids when swimming.

Even the most confident swimmers need some life jackets to ensure they are safest. 

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, drownings for children under age 19 are among Black, Native and American Indian groups.

The highest number of deaths are children between the ages of 12 to 36 months.

This is why keeping your child safe during water activities is the highest priority, especially if you have a pool, are near a pool, or doing any heavy beach travel during vacations and the summer months.

 While this post is not to scare you, it's to get you up to speed about the best life jackets for your toddlers so that you can have peace of mind all year round.

When it comes to water safety, you can never be too careful as it's one of the leading causes of death in children, which means, as parents, we have to make this a top priority.

Nothing beats improving your child's swimming skills, but having an arsenal of gear to provide them with the best protection on the open water is a life hack for parents.

By the end of this post, you will know where to get the best swim vest for 2 year old.

Below are the 18 of the best swim gear and the best swim vest for 2 year old.

While you will make the best decision for your child regarding what products to buy, it's important to note the differences between a swim vest and a life jacket.

No, they are different, and you shouldn't use them interchangeably.

There are specific reasons to use one of the other, and it's important to note which instance is best based on your activity. 

A swim vest is best to use in places like a pool, calm water, or shallow waters.

A life jacket is certified to keep its wearer's head above water.

It's made with extra buoyancy so that if you fall out of a boat, you have a higher chance of being found by the US Coast Guard and surviving. 

Understanding the differences is life or death, especially for young children.

You would find life vests at a water park to drive the point home further.

Most people who have a swimming pool buy their kids swim vests.

Both are essential life-saving devices that should be used when your small child comes in contact with water. 

Sun Screen Protection for Kids

If you are looking for great swim gear, iplay Green Sprouts is a great place to start.

If you want a great way to transition your swim gear into toddler fall fashion, this post has great ideas to do that effortlessly.

You will also need great sun protection, so here is my favorite sun partition that I used for my son. 

Banana Boat Kids 100% Mineral Sunscreen Lotion – SPF 50 – 9oz or Aveeno Kids Continuous Protection Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 – 3oz. Both are excellent options because

1. They don't have a greasy feeling to them after using them. 
2. Last a while when it comes in contact with water
3. No fragrances, so there are no irritations to the skin
4. Tear and Sting Free (which is essential, especially if they are under 24 months)

Best Swim Diaper For Kids

Before we get into the vest, let's talk about an important part of your kids getting in the water: the swim diaper.

No, you shouldn't put your baby in the water with a normal diaper, whether you like the cloth or the disposable. 

The functionality of a normal diaper is to absorb liquids. This means that your child's diaper is going to fill up with water.

If you use a disposable diaper, it will eventually disintegrate, making it useless anyway. 

i play. Baby-Boys Trunks with Built-in Reusable Swim Diaper

Price: $19.99

iplay. by green Sprouts Snap Reusable Swim Diaper

Price: $14.99

Pampers Splashers Disposable Swim Pants

Price: $10.39 

Best Toddler Swim Vest

Certain things are a must when shopping for swim vests, especially for toddlers.

One of the major no-nos when swimming is to avoid the color blue.

This is because, especially in pools, the color blue makes it hard to see where your child is if they are underwater, so it's best to get any swimming gear with bright colors. 

If you are looking for a good option when it comes to swimming vests, here are a few that are recommended.
It's a good idea that the whole family adopt this option and get all swim gear in bright colors.

Limmys Premium Neoprene Toddler Swim Vest for Children

Price: $36.99 (Sale)

Ages: 1- 9 Years (based on size)

This a great example of using bright colors with dark colors. With different size options, this vest can grow with your child for many years, and know that you are getting plenty of years out of the vest.

It has up to a 3-month warranty, so you can return it if something is wrong with the product or you don't like it.
This also includes a safety strap. 

Speedo Unisex-Child Swim Flotation Classic Life Vest Begin to Swim UPF 50

Price: $23.65

Ages: 1-7 Years (based on size)

Swim School Youth Swim Training Vest

Price: $15.98

Ages: 2-4 Years 

While I mentioned that you shouldn't get blue swim gear, this has dark blue and lime included, which has contrasting colors, which still makes it an ok option, but there are better options to consider.

The positive feature of the swim vest is that it has a crotch strap which provides extra security that the vest is on correctly. 

Best Swim Floaties 

If your child has been taking swim lessons and is a strong swimmer getting floaties is a great option for kids.

These are considered personal flotation devices and not be used for anything that is beyond the use of your pool or shallow waters. 

As with all swim gear, you want to avoid the color blue unless it includes bright colors.

Below is a photo of a swim floaties I got my son when he was 16 months old for our family trip to Jamaica. 

We are not in the ocean with these floaties. We were at the resort pool, and his aunt, father, grandfather, and I were always in contact with him.

Here is the exact floaty that I got my son for our trip. It travels well. Self-Inflating Baby Boat with Adjustable Seat

Were you interested in purchasing this floaty? Click here to see where I bought it and other toddler products.

Hot Bee Inflatable Swimming Pool Floats

Price: $22.99

Swim School Unisex Grow-With-Me Baby Boat Pool Toy

Price: $21.98

Back Float Safety Swim Trainer

Price: $11.99

Best Life Jackets For Toddlers

Hopefully, by now, you know the difference between the swim vest, floaties, and life jackets so that you can better decide what you need and what is best for your children.

While the below are not life jackets per se, these jumpers are U.S. Coast Guard approved Type III swimming aid. 

Being an approved swim aid means using this for boating, water skiing, hunting, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, etc.

This is still best to use if you are in calm inland waters or have a good chance for fast rescue.

Remember, the goal is to ensure that your child can be found and that having approved buoyancy aids for certain activities is best. 

Never underestimate the power of getting the best swim vest for 2 year old.

Stearns Puddle Jumper

Before we get into more details, I want to point out that the Stearns Puddle Jumper is United States Coast Guard approved, so you are getting the best.

The safety features are just as good as life jackets and are an excellent option for young kids who are very active in water sports.

You still want to ensure it's a proper fit for your child.

Chriffer Kids Swim Vest Life Jacket

Price: $28.99

Stearns Original Puddle Jumper Kids Life Jacket

Price: $26.99

Stearns Kids' Basic Puddle Jumper Swim Vest

Price: $24.99

You can't go wrong when getting life jackets because they are made with top safety in mind.

For younger kids, you want to make sure that you take a look at the type of life jacket that you get since not all of them are created the same. 

Kids Swim Vest Life Jacket 

Price: $35.99 (Small)

Ages: 2-5 Years

This is a great example of what a life vest should include. It s has adjustable straps, a high level of buoyancy, and a leg strap.

The bright color is also great for when your child is in deep waters so that you can locate them.

Remember, the goal is to ensure that you can find your child as quickly as possible and have a high chance of survival should they get in trouble in the water.

That is why getting the best swim vest for 2 year old is so important.

Oceans 7 Child Life Jacket Vest

Price: $34.59

Pounds: 30-50

Ages: up to 5-8

Here are some options for infant life vests as well. 

Full Throttle Infant Nylon Life Jacket

Price: $38.35

Fits infants less than 30 lbs.

Speedo Infant PFD

Price: $34.99

Ages: Up to 3 Years old or 30 lbs and under

​
Oceans 7 Infant Life Jacket Vest

Price: $34.99

Ages: 12 – 36 months

When purchasing float vests, you must ensure you do it correctly.

This means going through all the channels to ensure you have a USCG-approved life jacket or a swim vest with rave reviews. 

Don't feel bad about getting the best swim vest for 2 year old for your budget.

The most important thing to remember is to make sure that the floatation devices you purchase have a snug fit which is the perfect fit.

Were you interested in purchasing this travel stroller? Click here to see where I bought it and other toddler products.

Conclusion: 18 of the best swim gear and the best swim vest for 2 year old.

Also, check to see if there is a trusted name in the products you are buying for your child, and remember to check to ensure that the device is made for your child. 

With different body types and weight classes, you want to ensure that even if your child is four, if they are 30 pounds, you want to get a product that will accommodate them.

If you are ever unsure about a product, the best option is to return it and go with something that you know will protect your child the best way possible regarding the water. 

The goal is to have a great time doing water activities, but we want to ensure that we do them safely and with the proper gear to have the peace of mind needed as parents.

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