The one you will actually wear while on board may be the best answer. You may, however, want to choose more than one type of PFD if you use your boat for a variety of purposes, such as on the lake one day and deep sea fishing another. How to choose a PFD for your child Just as you should yourself, have your child try on a PFD before buying it. To work right, it must fit snugly. If the fit is correct, the child's chin and ears will not slip through.
Children are apt to panic when they fall in the water suddenly.
Because their body weight is distributed differently, children float differently from adults. A PFD will keep a child afloat, but may not keep a struggling child face-up. Take your child to a pool or shallow water and let them become comfortable and used to wearing a PFD in the water. Children should always wear a PFD when onboard and underway. In many states it is the law.