Best Life Insurance for Children (2026)

Mutual of Omaha, Gerber, and Fidelity are the best life insurance companies for children in 2026.

Compare life insurance quotes from top providers.

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Written by Patrick Bryant

Updated: April 27, 2026

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Key Takeaways

Mutual of Omaha provides the best whole life insurance for kids, offering lifetime financial protection and guaranteed premiums for children aged 14 days to 17 years.

Gerber Life is the best life insurance company for infants, offering a unique benefit that doubles the coverage amount once the child turns 18.

Fidelity has the best term life child rider, with coverage up to $25,000.

What's the Best Life Insurance for Children?

Child life insurance isn't about replacing income. It's about locking in coverage while your child is young and healthy, guaranteeing future insurability no matter what health conditions develop later, and building cash value over time. When we analyzed children's whole life policies, one number stood out: a $50,000 policy for a newborn averages $27 per month. Wait until that child is a teenager and the same coverage costs meaningfully more, with no way to undo the gap in guaranteed insurability.

The companies below represent the best life insurance for children across three distinct needs: lifetime whole life coverage, infant-specific protection, and low-cost rider coverage that layers onto a parent's existing policy.


Whole Life Insurance	Mutual of Omaha	$50,000	14 days to 17 years	4.6
Infants	Gerber Life	$50,000	14 days to 14 years	4.3
Term Life Child Rider	Fidelity	$25,000	15 days to 18 years	4.3

Mutual of Omaha

Best Child Whole Life Insurance

MoneyGeek Rating

4.6/ 5

4.9/5Affordability

4.2/5Customer Experience

4.3/5Coverage

Max Coverage
$50,000
Ages
14 days to 17 years

pros
- No medical exam required
- Free guaranteed insurability rider locks in future coverage
- Easy online application
cons
- Monthly payments require bank withdrawal
- Not available in Washington
Mutual of Omaha's children's whole life insurance covers kids ages 14 days to 17 years with death benefits from $5,000 to $50,000. No medical exam is required, and the application asks only three health questions. Premiums are locked in at purchase, never increase and the policy builds cash value over time. The online application takes about five minutes, but monthly payments require automatic bank withdrawal and there is no limited-pay option.

Mutual of Omaha's guaranteed insurability rider is the most structured of any children's policy we reviewed. Most riders allow future purchases at major life milestones. This one names them, including marriage, homeownership, having a child and specific ages at 25, 30, 35 and 40. That specificity matters because it removes the ambiguity about when the option can be exercised.

Two free riders add value. The guaranteed insurability rider allows the child to buy additional coverage later in life without underwriting, including at major milestones like marriage, homeownership or having a child, as well as at ages 25, 30, 35 and 40. A waiver of premium rider pauses payments for 90 days if the policy owner dies.
- AM Best rating: A+
- NAIC complaint index: 0.51
- J.D. Power score: 707 (1st)
- BBB rating: A+
Mutual of Omaha requires automatic bank withdrawal for monthly payments. There's no option to pay by check or set up manual payments. If your household budget doesn't support autopay, or if you prefer to manage premium timing manually, that constraint becomes a real friction point. It's also unavailable in Washington, so residents need to look elsewhere regardless of the policy's other strengths.

Gerber

Best Life Insurance for Infants

MoneyGeek Rating

4.3/ 5

5/5Affordability

3.7/5Customer Experience

3.7/5Coverage

Max Coverage
$50,000
Ages
14 days to 14 years

pros
- Coverage automatically doubles at age 18
- Free payment waiver rider suspends premiums until age 21 if purchaser dies
- Policy ownership transfers to child at age 21
cons
- Only available for children up to age 14 (teens 15-17 need a separate Young Adult Plan)
Gerber Life's Grow-Up Plan is a whole life insurance policy for children ages 14 days to 14 years, with coverage from $5,000 to $50,000. Its standout feature is automatic coverage doubling at age 18. For example, a $25,000 policy becomes $50,000 at no extra cost and without a premium increase. Plus, your premiums are locked in when you purchase the policy and never rise.

The doubling feature is most valuable for families who buy the minimum coverage when the child is an infant and expect their financial situation to improve by the time the child turns 18. You're effectively getting a $50,000 policy for the price of a $25,000 policy, with no medical exam required at the doubling event. No other carrier in our analysis replicates this unique benefit.

Your plan builds cash value over time and ownership transfers to your child at age 21. You don’t have to take a medical exam, and a free payment waiver rider suspends premiums until age 21 if the purchaser dies or becomes disabled.
- AM Best rating: A+
- NAIC complaint index: 0.53
- J.D. Power score: N/A
- BBB rating: N/A
Gerber’s Grow-Up Plan stops accepting new applicants at age 14. Teens ages 15 to 17 must apply for a separate Young Adult Plan with different terms. If you’re shopping for a child in that age range, Mutual of Omaha’s age 17 cutoff gives you more flexibility.

Fidelity

MoneyGeek Rating

4.3/ 5

4.5/5Affordability

4.2/5Customer Experience

4/5Coverage

Max Coverage
$25,000
Ages
15 days to 18 years

pros
- One rider covers all eligible children
- No medical exam necessary
- Convert to permanent life insurance at age 23
cons
- Coverage caps at $25,000, lower than standalone child life policies
- Higher than average NAIC complaint index
A child rider is an add-on to your life insurance policy that provides a small amount of coverage for your children. Fidelity offers a child rider on its RAPIDecision term life policy that covers children ages 15 days to 18 years for $5,000 to $25,000. One rider covers every eligible child in the household, which is the key pricing advantage for families with two or more children. The per-child cost drops sharply with each additional child covered. That's where Fidelity's child rider creates the clearest value over standalone policies.

At age 23 or when your term policy expires, your child can convert the rider to a permanent life insurance policy for up to five times the original coverage amount without a medical exam. One drawback is Fidelity Life’s higher-than-average complaint record, with an NAIC complaint index of 1.66 versus the industry average of 1.0.
- AM Best rating: A+
- NAIC complaint index: 1.66
- J.D. Power score: N/A
- BBB rating: N/A
One drawback is Fidelity Life's complaint record. Its NAIC complaint index is 1.66, above the industry average of 1.0. Mutual of Omaha's index is 0.51 and Gerber's is 0.53. For a policy you're planning to hold for 20-plus years, that gap in complaint volume is worth weighing.

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.

1
Prove You're Eligible
You must be the child's parent or legal guardian. Proof of insurable interest shows you'd lose money if the child died.
2
Pick Permanent or Rider
Most child coverage is permanent life insurance or a child rider on your policy. Permanent builds cash value and lasts for life. Riders cover less and expire or convert later.
3
Sign as Parent or Guardian
You must sign the application for the child. Older children may need to sign an acknowledgment form based on insurer rules and state laws.
4
Set Who Owns the Policy
You own and control the policy. Ownership sets who pays premiums, manages cash value and makes future changes. You can transfer ownership to the child after they turn 18.
5
Pick Your Beneficiary
Parents usually name themselves or another trusted adult. This sets who gets the death benefit and should fit your family's financial plan.
6
Check Conversion and Transfer Rights
Many policies let you increase coverage or transfer ownership later without a medical exam. Check these terms now to see how the policy changes as the child grows up.

How Much Does Child Life Insurance Cost?

Child life insurance costs less than adult coverage because children carry low mortality risk. In our rate analysis, standalone whole life policies average $10 to $30 per month for $10,000 to $25,000 in coverage, with rates as low as $3.70 per month for $5,000 in coverage on a newborn. A $50,000 policy for a child under one year averages $27 per month.

Child riders added to a parent's existing policy are cheaper, averaging $5 to $10 per month for $10,000 in coverage. Your child's age at purchase is the biggest cost driver. Younger children lock in lower rates that never increase, so early enrollment is the most cost-effective approach.

ALTERNATIVES TO BUYING LIFE INSURANCE FOR CHILDREN

Some families build financial reserves outside of insurance. Education savings plans, custodial investment accounts and high-yield savings accounts can cover long-term goals without ongoing premiums. These options prioritize growth, access and flexibility for education or early adulthood expenses.
Unlike life insurance, none of these alternatives provide a death benefit or guarantee future insurability. Weigh them against child life insurance based on your priorities, whether that's education funding, liquidity or locking in coverage while your child is young and healthy.

Life Insurance for Children: FAQ

We answer common questions about the best life insurance for children:

What’s the best type of life insurance for children?

For most families, a term policy with a child rider is the lowest-cost way to cover multiple children. A $10,000 to $25,000 rider on an existing term policy runs $5 to $10 per month for all eligible children combined. Standalone permanent policies make more sense when you want guaranteed insurability for a child with existing health conditions, or when you want to build cash value over decades. The two products solve different problems. Budget-driven buyers should start with the rider and consider standalone coverage if their needs expand.

What is a child rider for life insurance?

A child rider is an add-on to an adult life insurance policy. It covers 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 get life insurance for their grandchildren. A parent or guardian needs to sign consent forms and give 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.

About Patrick Bryant

Patrick Bryant is Vertical Lead for Life and Health Insurance at MoneyGeek, where he researches and writes about life and health insurance products and maintains the scoring methodologies that underpin MoneyGeek's provider comparisons in both verticals. His scoring methodologies for both verticals are reviewed and updated quarterly to reflect current carrier data and market conditions.

Life Insurance

For life insurance, Bryant analyzed more than 50 carriers across term, whole life, universal life, indexed universal life, guaranteed acceptance, no-exam, and final expense products in all 50 states, collecting thousands of quotes across age, gender, health status, coverage level, and tobacco use profiles. He has produced articles covering life insurance reviews, best of guides, rate analysis guides and informational resources to help consumers better understand policy options, pricing factors, underwriting requirements, and how to choose coverage that fits their financial goals.

Health Insurance

For health insurance, he reviews providers across all 50 states using CMS exchange data, Quality Rating System ratings, and claim denial rates covering individual and family plans, Medicare Advantage, and Medicare Supplement plans. He has analyzed plan costs, benefits, network strength, and out-of-pocket exposure across a wide range of consumer profiles, producing in-depth reviews, best-of rankings, and educational guides to help individuals and families compare options and choose coverage that aligns with their healthcare needs and budget.

Before specializing in insurance, Bryant spent four years at Forbes Advisor reviewing small business software and services. During that time, he developed the product review and data methodology skills he now applies to carrier analysis at MoneyGeek. Earlier roles at ClickGiant and Benefitfocus involved direct content work for insurance agents, carriers and employee benefits partners including Allstate and Aflac.

Education

M.A., English, Winthrop University
B.A., English, Winthrop University

Expertise

Life Insurance, Health Insurance, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement

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Best Life Insurance for Children (2026)

What's the Best Life Insurance for Children?

Mutual of Omaha

Gerber

Fidelity

How Does Child Life Insurance Work?

How to Buy Life Insurance for a Child

How Much Does Child Life Insurance Cost?

Life Insurance for Children: FAQ

What’s the best type of life insurance for children?

What is a child rider for life insurance?

At what age can you buy life insurance for a child?

Can grandparents buy life insurance for grandchildren?

Can you get life insurance on an unborn child?

Our Review Methodology

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