As a parent, grandparent or legal guardian, buying life insurance for children is one way to guarantee coverage for them later in life.

Our list of the best life insurance for kids includes companies that offer standalone life insurance policies for children — not child riders, which you typically attach to an existing policy. It’s worth noting that child riders can sometimes be converted to standalone, permanent policies at a later date. 

To refine the list, we assessed age eligibility, coverage amounts available, and the ease of getting a quote and purchasing a policy. We also looked at additional features, like the ability to top up the policy when the child grows up and reaches major milestones such as marriage or parenthood. 

» MORE: Child life insurance: What is it and should you buy it?

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Best life insurance for children in May 2023
All of the life insurance companies listed below scored at least 3 out of 5 stars. While life insurance policies for kids aren’t an everyday purchase, it’s important to compare life insurance quotes from a few companies before making a decision.

American Family

4.0NerdWallet rating 
Available to children from 0 to 17 years old.

Mutual of Omaha

3.5NerdWallet rating 
Available to children from 14 days to 17 years old.

Aflac

3.0NerdWallet rating 
Available to children 14 days to 17 years old.

Gerber

3.0NerdWallet rating 
Available to children up to 14 years old.

Foresters

3.0NerdWallet rating 
Available to children up to 18 years old.

Note: With some insurers, a newborn may need to reach a certain age, such as 14 days old, before becoming eligible for coverage.

NerdWallet rates insurers at the company level, not the policy level. This means our star rating reflects the company as a whole, and not its child life insurance policy specifically.

How we ranked the top life insurers
NerdWallet’s life insurance ratings are based on consumer experience, complaint index scores from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners for individual life insurance, and weighted averages of financial strength ratings, which indicate a company’s ability to pay future claims. Within the consumer experience category, we consider ease of communication and website transparency, which looks at the depth of policy details available online. To calculate each insurer’s rating, we adjusted the scores to a curved 5-point scale.

These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines.

Best life insurance for children: Pros and cons
Learn more about our top picks for life insurance for kids in 2023 by reading the brief summaries below and checking out our comprehensive reviews.

Jump to:

American Family: Best for flexible payment structures

Mutual of Omaha: Best for boosting coverage over time

Aflac: Best for policy options

Gerber: Best for generous coverage amounts

Foresters: Best for customizable coverage

BEST FOR FLEXIBLE PAYMENT STRUCTURES
insurance-product-card-logo
on Policygenius

American Family Life Insurance
4.0

NerdWallet rating 
AmFam offers a range of payment options and high coverage amounts, but you need to apply through an agent.

OVERVIEW

PROS & CONS
Financial strength rating
Strong
Online purchase
No
NAIC complaints
Fewer than expected
Policies offered
Term, permanent & no-exam
Overview: Along with its high coverage levels, American Family Life Insurance Company — also known as AmFam — stands out for its flexible payment options that allow you to pay off the policy sooner. You can choose a 10-year or 20-year payment plan, with the latter having more affordable life insurance rates. Regardless of which plan you pick, the premiums are locked in.

The policy has a built-in guaranteed purchase option benefit rider, which lets you increase the coverage at certain ages when the child experiences major life events, like getting married, buying a house or becoming a parent. American Family doesn’t require a life insurance medical exam at any of those times.

AmFam child policy details

Read the full review: American Family insurance review

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BEST FOR BOOSTING COVERAGE OVER TIME
insurance-product-card-logo
on Policygenius

Mutual of Omaha
3.5

NerdWallet rating 
Mutual of Omaha gives policyholders more opportunities to top up their coverage. However, its child policies aren't available in Washington.

OVERVIEW

PROS & CONS
Financial strength rating
Exceptional
Online purchase
Yes
NAIC complaints
Close to expected
Policies offered
Term, permanent & no-exam
Overview: Mutual of Omaha’s policy offers simplified life insurance underwriting, which means you only have to answer three health questions about the child or grandchild you’re hoping to cover. The maximum coverage amount is relatively high at $50,000, and you can buy over the phone if you’d like to speak to an agent or online.

As with most children’s whole life policies, you have the option to buy additional whole life coverage when the child is an adult and gets married, purchases a home or has a child of their own, without their needing to take a medical exam. Mutual of Omaha stands out for also allowing you to buy more coverage at specific birthdays: 25, 30, 35 and 40.

If the policy owner dies within two years of taking out the policy, Mutual of Omaha will waive premiums and the cost of other life insurance riders for 90 days.