Water Wings, Floaties and Swim Vests: What's Safe for Kids

Water wings, arm floaties, inflatable rings and pool noodles are toys, not safety devices. CDC says do not rely on air-filled or foam toys, as these are not safety devices (opens in a new tab), and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says to avoid floaties, water wings or inflatable toys. These can deflate and do not prevent drowning (opens in a new tab).

If your child needs help floating, use a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket that fits, and stay within arm's reach. Here's how to tell the difference, and what to use instead.

Toys vs life jackets

The store shelf can be confusing. Many swim products look like safety gear. Here's the test:

Sources: CDC (opens in a new tab), Safe Boating Campaign (opens in a new tab).

Water Safety USA, a group of national water safety organizations including CDC, says it plainly: swimming aids and water toys, such as water wings, and inflatable water wings and rings, are toys (opens in a new tab). They may give some buoyancy, but they do not prevent drowning.

How to check any product: look for the Coast Guard approval on the label. The Safe Boating Campaign says all life jackets that are U.S. Coast Guard approved have an approval number (opens in a new tab). No approval number? It's a swim aid or a toy, however it's marketed.

Why water wings can be dangerous

Water wings and floaties aren't just "less good." They can add risk:

• They can fail. The AAP says inflatables can deflate (opens in a new tab) and do not prevent drowning.
• They aren't approved as life jackets. They carry no Coast Guard approval, weight range or performance level.
• They can make adults relax. A child in floaties can look safe. Water Safety USA says parents should remain attentive even if their children are skilled at swimming and comfortable in the water (opens in a new tab).

Drowning is fast and quiet. CDC says drowning happens in seconds and is often silent (opens in a new tab). That is why supervision matters more than any product.

Some beaches don't allow these toys at all. In New York City, the Rockaway beach rules prohibit rafts, unauthorized watercraft, and other flotation devices (opens in a new tab).

Approved options for young children

If a child can't swim well, or you're near a lake, river or the ocean, use a real life jacket:

• Choose Coast Guard-approved foam, sized for your child's current weight. The Coast Guard's sizes are infant (up to 33 pounds), child (33 to 55 pounds) and youth (55 to 88 pounds). See life jackets for babies and children.
• For infants and younger children, Water Safety USA says to choose one with both a collar for head support and a strap between the legs (opens in a new tab).
• Don't buy a size up. Water Safety USA says do not buy a life jacket for your child to "grow into." (opens in a new tab)
• Don't use an inflatable life jacket for a child. The Coast Guard says inflatable life jackets are not appropriate for weak or non-swimmers (opens in a new tab).
• Do the fit test: fasten everything, lift by the shoulders, and make sure it doesn't ride up over the chin or ears. See the life jacket fit test.

When should young children wear one?

• Near natural water, always. CDC says life jackets should be used by children for all activities while in and around natural water (opens in a new tab).
• At the pool, for weak swimmers. The AAP says children and others who lack strong swim skills should also wear life jackets when at a pool or water park (opens in a new tab).
• On any boat. Federal law requires children under 13 to wear one on a moving boat, except below deck or in an enclosed cabin, according to the U.S. Coast Guard (opens in a new tab).

The Life jacket finder can help you choose.

Flotation never replaces supervision

Even a perfect life jacket is only one layer of protection.

• The AAP says a supervising adult with swimming skills should be within arm's length (opens in a new tab) and provide "touch supervision" for an infant, toddler or weak swimmer.
• Water Safety USA says that even when a child is comfortable in the water and in a life jacket, constant supervision is still needed (opens in a new tab).
• Pool Safely says to name a Water Watcher (opens in a new tab), an adult whose only task is supervising children in the water.

Read how to supervise kids around water for the details.

Learning to swim is the real goal

Life jackets keep children safe while they learn. They are not a substitute for learning.

• Water Safety USA says everyone needs to learn how to swim without a life jacket (opens in a new tab), and that life jackets are not swim lesson aids.
• The AAP says swim lessons can begin for many children starting at age 1 (opens in a new tab), depending on readiness.

See what age to start swim lessons.

What you can do today

1. Sort your swim bag. Put water wings, rings and noodles in the "toys" pile. Keep them for play only, with an adult in arm's reach.
2. Check every life jacket for the Coast Guard approval number and your child's weight range.
3. Play Safe or Not? with your kids, a quick game on our kids' site about what's safe near water.
4. Agree on a Water Watcher for your next pool or beach day.
5. Book swim lessons, so your child builds real skills.