Mutual of Omaha offers the best child life insurance today. This company provides both standalone life insurance for children and term life child riders, giving families flexible options. The best choice for you depends on your needs. Below are the top life insurance companies for kids by category to help you find the right fit.
Best Life Insurance for Children (2026)
Mutual of Omaha, Gerber, North American, Protective and State Farm are the best life insurance companies for children.
Compare the top insurers below.
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Updated: January 8, 2026
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Key Takeaways
Mutual of Omaha provides the best life insurance for kids. Its Children’s Whole Life Insurance offers lifetime financial protection and guaranteed premiums for children aged 14 days to 17 years.
Gerber is the best life insurance company for babies, offering a unique benefit that doubles the coverage amount once the child turns 18.
North American ranks first for indexed universal life insurance for children, offering coverage for kids as young as 15 days old.
Protective has the best child term rider, which allows parents to extend coverage to their children. State Farm has the best customer service for those shopping for a child rider.
What is the Best Life Insurance for Children?
Mutual of Omaha | $50,000 | 14 days to 17 years old | |
Gerber | $50,000 | 14 days to 14 years old | |
North American | $50,000 | starts at 15 days old | |
Protective | $25,000 | 15 days to 18 years old | |
State Farm | $20,000 | 15 days to 25 years old |
Best Child Life Insurance Overall
Mutual of Omaha
Overview
Mutual of Omaha provides a range of products, including term life, whole life and universal life insurance, ensuring customers can access diverse options that suit their needs and circumstances. With 116 years of experience, Mutual of Omaha has a long track record offering life insurance policies designed for children.
Its Children's Whole Life Insurance covers children from 14 days old to age 17 and guarantees never-increasing premiums and lifetime coverage.
The Dependent Children’s Rider can be added to a base policy. It allows coverage extension to all unmarried dependent children in the household, including automatic coverage for children born or adopted after the rider is issued.
Best Life Insurance for Babies
Gerber
Overview
Gerber leads the children's insurance space with its Grow-Up® Plan, a whole life policy designed for children as young as 14 days to 14 years old. This policy costs as low as $3.70 per month, though actual premiums depend on the child's age, coverage amount selected and state of residence. Coverage ranges from $5,000 to $50,000, with guaranteed premiums that never increase and cash value that grows steadily over time.
The coverage amount automatically doubles during the year the child turns 18, at no added cost. At age 21, ownership transfers to the child, who can continue the policy, access accumulated cash value, or expand financial protection through a guaranteed purchase option. With strong financial stability and affordable monthly premiums, Gerber delivers lasting finanical protection and long-term value for families.
Best IUL for Children
North American
Overview
North American has multiple Indexed Universal Life products, including Builder Plus IUL 4, Smart Builder IUL, and Protection Builder IUL 2. These policies can be issued starting at 15 days old, providing death benefit protection and indexed cash value growth through features like floors, caps and flexible loan options.
North American holds A+ ratings from A.M. Best, Standard & Poor's and Fitch Ratings, demonstrating strong financial stability. Its products work well for long-term planning, but details specific to children’s coverage are not fully available online, and pricing requires a custom quote.
Best Child Rider
Protective
Overview
Protective provides children’s coverage through its Children’s Term Rider, available for children aged 15 days to 18 years. It's offered as a rider on adult policies. Protective provides affordable, family-wide financial protection with a single flat annual charge covering multiple children.
When each child reaches age 25, they can convert to a permanent life policy up to five times the rider amount (no underwriting required). Coverage continues even if the insured parent passes away, and the rider remains effective until age 75.
Best Customer Experience
State Farm
Overview
State Farm ranks first for customer experience for people buying child rider coverage. The company ranks first in J.D. Power’s U.S. Life Insurance Study and holds an A++ A.M. Best rating, reflecting both service quality and financial strength. Families can benefit from its nationwide agent network and digital tools, including an online portal, mobile app and Life Enhanced® app for wellness and planning.
State Farm's Children's Term Rider provides flexible and comprehensive coverage for children up to age 25 or until the policyholder turns 65, with $5,000 to $20,000 coverage per child. It can be conveniently converted to permanent insurance, ensuring long-term security for the child, regardless of future health changes. The option to buy up to five times the amount of coverage on the child's 18th birthday adds another layer of adaptability and foresight to its offerings.
How Does Child Life Insurance Work?
A life insurance policy for children is usually a whole life policy, a form of permanent life insurance designed to last their lifetime. Premiums and death benefits are guaranteed, while cash value growth is guaranteed at minimum rates specified in the policy contract. Cash value accumulates throughout the policy's duration and can be accessed later.
Whole life insurance differs from term life insurance, which offers level premiums and death benefits for a certain number of years and doesn't build cash value. While more expensive, buying whole life insurance for a child can be cost-effective compared to waiting until children are old enough to buy their own term life policy.
How to Buy Life Insurance for a Child
Parents or legal guardians control the buying process for child life insurance. The steps focus on consent, ownership structure and beneficiary decisions rather than income replacement or complex underwriting.
- 1Confirm Eligibility and Relationship
Insurers need the applicant to be a parent or legal guardian. Proof of insurable interest shows the policyholder would lose financially if the child died.
- 2Choose the Policy Type
Most child coverage comes from permanent life insurance or a child rider on an adult policy. Permanent policies build cash value and stay in force for life, while riders give smaller coverage amounts and expire or convert later.
- 3Provide Parental Consent
A parent or legal guardian must sign the application for the child. Older children may need to sign an acknowledgment form depending on insurer rules and state regulations.
- 4Set Policy Ownership
The adult buyer owns and controls the policy. Ownership sets who pays premiums, manages cash value and decides future changes. Ownership can transfer to the child after they reach adulthood.
- 5Name Beneficiaries
Parents usually name themselves or another trusted adult as beneficiary. Beneficiary designations set who gets the death benefit and should match the family's broader financial plan.
- 6Review Conversion and Transfer Options
Many policies let you increase coverage or transfer ownership later without medical underwriting. Review these terms upfront to see how the policy adapts as the child becomes financially independent.
How Much Does Child Life Insurance Cost?
Policies cost an average of $10 to $30 per month for $10,000 to $25,000 in coverage, though coverage limits differ by insurer. A child rider added to a parent’s policy is often cheaper, averaging just $5 to $10 per month.
These costs reflect industry averages. Your actual rates depend on your insurer and how much coverage you choose. Talk with licensed insurance professionals to get quotes tailored to your situation. Rates vary by state, insurer, and individual situation. This information is for educational purposes only and should not be considered personalized insurance advice.
ALTERNATIVES TO BUYING LIFE INSURANCE FOR CHILDREN
Some families prefer to build financial reserves outside of insurance. Education savings plans, custodial investment accounts and high-yield savings accounts can support long-term goals without ongoing insurance premiums. These options emphasize growth, flexibility and access to funds for education or early adulthood expenses.
Unlike life insurance, these alternatives don't provide a death benefit or guarantee future insurability. Compare these alternatives alongside child life insurance to align financial tools with priorities such as education funding, liquidity and long-term planning
Best Life Insurance for Kids: Bottom Line
The best life insurance for children depends on whether a family values long-term insurability, predictable premiums or flexible coverage options. Child life insurance functions as a long-term planning tool rather than a financial necessity for most families. Policies can lock in coverage early and support future needs through conversion or riders.
We analyzed children’s life insurance offerings from major insurers, reviewing policy structures, age eligibility, conversion options and financial strength ratings. Mutual of Omaha is the best overall company. Gerber is the best option for babies, while North American has the best indexed universal life insurance for children. Protective is the top choice for a child rider, while State Farm has the best customer service for those looking for a child rider.
Life Insurance for Children: FAQ
What’s the best type of life insurance for children?
Most families choose a term life policy with a child rider. A single rider typically covers all eligible children for a flat annual fee and offers modest coverage amounts. Standalone permanent policies work better for families who want higher coverage limits or guaranteed lifelong insurance. The best choice depends on your budget and coverage needs.
What is a child rider for life insurance?
A child rider is an add-on to an adult life insurance policy. It provides coverage for all eligible children in the household under one rider. Coverage ranges from $10,000 to $25,000 per child and remains active until age 18 or 25, depending on the policy terms.
At what age can you buy life insurance for a child?
Many insurers allow parents to buy coverage once a child is 14 to 15 days old and up until age 18. Some carriers accept applications for infants as young as one week old, while others require waiting until 30 days after birth.
Age requirements vary by state and insurer. Some states may have additional restrictions on buying life insurance for minors. Consult your state's insurance department or a licensed agent for specific requirements in your jurisdiction.
Can grandparents buy life insurance for grandchildren?
Grandparents can buy life insurance for grandchildren, but parental consent is required. A parent or guardian needs to sign consent forms and provide access to health information if requested. Many grandparents use children's life insurance to contribute to long-term financial security or legacy planning.
Can you get life insurance on an unborn child?
You can't buy life insurance for unborn children. Most insurers require children to be at least 14 or 15 days old before issuing coverage, though some allow enrollment immediately after birth.
Our Review Methodology
Evaluating life insurance companies for children requires balancing coverage features, policy structure and insurer stability.
How We Evaluated Insurers
- Financial Strength Analysis: We examined each company's A.M. Best ratings and years in business to find insurers with proven staying power. Children's life insurance is a long-term commitment, so financial stability matters. Companies with strong ratings can pay claims and weather economic downturns.
- Customer Experience Assessment: We analyzed complaint index data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) to see how insurers treat policyholders when problems come up. Lower complaint ratios mean fewer customer disputes relative to market share, which points to better service.
- Buying Process Evaluation: The evaluation looked at application processes, including:
- Online tools and educational resources for parents
- Product materials that explain coverage in plain terms
- Payment options designed to work with everyday family budgets
- Customer support accessibility when you're making your decision
- Product Range Review: We reviewed each company’s policy lineup for children and families. Some insurers concentrate on whole life policies for minors, while others offer broader family coverage.
We didn't factor in affordability because children's life insurance quotes aren't publicly available and require individual underwriting based on the child's age, health and policy type.
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About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research for insurance shoppers. His insights have been featured in CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.