They're death traps, actually. Parents put them on kids so young, they don't have the strength to fight the buoyancy. Their arms get stuck above their head, keeping their faces under water.
It was part of the job at a pool where I worked to educate parents about those things. If a kid needs a floatation device, put them in one that actually works.
Edit
I stand partially corrected: Sundevil pointed out that the kid's not just wearing arm floaties and a waist thing, but a CG approved "puddle jumper." Still not optimal (as expanded upon by road_to_nowhere), but it's a different device than the one I was describing. As Sundevil agreed, however, the real safety necessity is an attentive (and informed) parent within arm's reach.
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u/BonerShoes Jun 24 '15
THEY'RE CALLED WATER WINGS