The Connelly Babysafe Nylon Infant Life Vest is our best nylon type ii infant life jacket pick, and it scored 78 out of 100 in our testing.
The nylon sibling to the Baby-Soft: a solid, well-built Type II vest with a big head pillow, competent rather than exciting.
A USCG Type II vest for infants under 30 lb from Connelly, using lightweight nylon over closed-cell foam with mesh drain holes and an oversized head pillow.
Now:
We tested it head to head against the other top infant life jackets, and below we break down how it did on Value for Money, Comfort, Durability, Safety, where it falls short, and whether it is worth your money.
Table of Contents
- Best Nylon Type II Infant Life Jacket
- Our Verdict: Connelly Babysafe Nylon Infant Life Vest
- Our Analysis, Comparisons, and Test Results
- Should You Buy the Connelly Babysafe Nylon Infant Life Vest?
- What Other Infant Life Jackets Should You Consider?
- Specifications
- Conclusion: Connelly Babysafe Nylon Infant Life Vest
Best Nylon Type II Infant Life Jacket
Connelly Babysafe Nylon Infant Life Vest
- Type: USCG Type II
- Weight range: Under 30 lb
- Shell: Lightweight nylon
- Flotation: Closed-cell foam
- Drainage: Mesh drain holes
- Closure: Belt closure plus crotch strap
- Head support: Oversized pillow with grab strap
Bottom Line : The nylon sibling to the Baby-Soft: a solid, well-built Type II vest with a big head pillow, competent rather than exciting.
Pros
- Well-built nylon and foam
- Quality-feeling buckles
- Oversized head pillow with grab strap
- Mesh drain holes
Cons
- Firm fit, middling comfort
- Little to set it apart
- Foam bulk on small infants
Our Verdict: Connelly Babysafe Nylon Infant Life Vest
The nylon sibling to the Baby-Soft: a solid, well-built Type II vest with a big head pillow, competent rather than exciting.
A USCG Type II vest for infants under 30 lb from Connelly, using lightweight nylon over closed-cell foam with mesh drain holes and an oversized head pillow.
What's the bottom line?
Lightweight nylon over closed-cell foam with quality-feeling clips holds up well.
Reviewers single out the buckles as feeling high quality.
The buckles feel solid and my son actually dozed off wearing it, though the foam is firm enough that it is clearly built for safety over softness.
James, Top-Notch field tester
Reasons to buy:
- Well-built nylon and foam
- Quality-feeling buckles
- Oversized head pillow with grab strap
- Mesh drain holes
Reasons to avoid:
- Firm fit, middling comfort
- Little to set it apart
- Foam bulk on small infants
Our Analysis, Comparisons, and Test Results
The Connelly Babysafe Nylon Infant Life Vest scored 78 out of 100 overall.
It is strongest on durability and weakest on comfort.
Here is how it did on every metric we tested, with exactly how each score compares to the rest of the field.
Value for Money
Mid-priced for a name-brand Type II nylon vest.
Head pillow with grab strap, crotch strap and mesh drainage all come standard.
Value is fair but unremarkable next to the field.
| Value for Money | Rating |
|---|---|
| Best in test | 9/10 |
| Connelly Babysafe Nylon Infant Life Vest | 7/10 |
| Category average | 7.4/10 |
| Worst in test | 5/10 |
Comfort
Owners call it comfortable and easy to size to a snug fit.
One parent said their son kept it on happily and would even fall asleep in it.
But here is the catch:
The nylon shell over foam is still firmer than neoprene alternatives.
| Comfort | Rating |
|---|---|
| Best in test | 10/10 |
| Connelly Babysafe Nylon Infant Life Vest | 6/10 |
| Category average | 7.3/10 |
| Worst in test | 6/10 |
Durability
Lightweight nylon over closed-cell foam with quality-feeling clips holds up well.
Reviewers single out the buckles as feeling high quality.
Mesh drain holes stop water pooling and keep the vest from staying heavy.
| Durability | Rating |
|---|---|
| Best in test | 9/10 |
| Connelly Babysafe Nylon Infant Life Vest | 8/10 |
| Category average | 7.8/10 |
| Worst in test | 6/10 |
Safety
USCG Type II approved for infants under 30 lb.
Built-in crotch strap, belt closure and head pillow work together to keep a baby floating and the head supported.
The grab strap on the collar lets an adult recover the child quickly.
Face-up flip is not guaranteed on the lightest babies, so fit it within range and pool test as a supervision aid.
| Safety | Rating |
|---|---|
| Best in test | 8/10 |
| Connelly Babysafe Nylon Infant Life Vest | 7/10 |
| Category average | 7.4/10 |
| Worst in test | 7/10 |
Should You Buy the Connelly Babysafe Nylon Infant Life Vest?
The nylon sibling to the Baby-Soft: a solid, well-built Type II vest with a big head pillow, competent rather than exciting.
It is best suited to boating families wanting a dependable nylon type ii vest with a big head pillow.
Want to know the best part?
The big win: Well-built nylon and foam.
The main compromise: Firm fit, middling comfort.
We scored it 78 out of 100.
What Other Infant Life Jackets Should You Consider?
Not sold on this one? A few others from our testing are worth a look.
The Connelly Baby-Soft Infant Life Vest is our best type ii pfd infant life jacket. A soft-nylon Type II vest with a big head pillow that does the job for boating, without standing out on comfort or price.
The Full Throttle Baby-Safe Infant Life Jacket is our best affordable infant life jacket. The budget pick that still ticks every USCG Type II box, ideal for occasional lake and boat days when you do not want to overspend.
The Stearns Infant Life Jacket with Head Support is our best infant life jacket with head pillow. A proven, widely owned Type II vest whose oversized head pillow and grab handle make it the safe default for babies under 30 lb, provided you pool test the fit first.
Specifications
| Type | USCG Type II |
| Weight range | Under 30 lb |
| Shell | Lightweight nylon |
| Flotation | Closed-cell foam |
| Drainage | Mesh drain holes |
| Closure | Belt closure plus crotch strap |
| Head support | Oversized pillow with grab strap |
Conclusion: Connelly Babysafe Nylon Infant Life Vest
After testing it against the other top infant life jackets, the Connelly Babysafe Nylon Infant Life Vest earns its place as our best nylon type ii infant life jacket pick.
Its standout strength: Well-built nylon and foam.
So:
The main thing to weigh before you buy: Firm fit, middling comfort.
If you want boating families wanting a dependable nylon type ii vest with a big head pillow, it belongs at the top of your shortlist.
Still comparing? See exactly where the Connelly Babysafe Nylon Infant Life Vest ranks against the full field in our Best Infant Life Jacket guide.
