J.N.
I absolutely think you need a infant life jacket. I bought my son's @ a sporting goods store, I think it was O'Brien brand. Those floaty things are not designed to be life preservers. The life jacket isn't the most comfortable thing, but you'll have peace of mind and your child will be safe. At that age they don't necessarily have any fear and it's important that you exercise as much caution as possible. We took my son to the lake at that age and he learned that he 'has' to wear his life jacket at all times. It's just a good habit to get into.