When summer comes around, it’s crucial to find practical ways to keep babies and kids cool. The best stroller fans do this effortlessly by securely attaching to your stroller and providing your baby with a long-lasting cooling breeze. After conducting thorough research, speaking to experts and considering my years of experience using stroller fans, I picked the Amacool Stroller Fan as the best stroller fan. With three speeds, a night light and a secure attachment to various surfaces, it’s versatile.
The best stroller fans help keep your little one cool in warmer weather.
Illustration: Forbes / Photos: Retailers
It’s important to find a stroller fan that is flexible so it can cool your baby no matter what position they’re in. Dr. Gary Kirkilas, a pediatrician at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, explains that babies can’t fully regulate their core temperature, lack fully developed sweat glands and produce more heat than adults due to their higher metabolic rate. “Combine these factors with a day at the beach or park and overheating can result without careful planning and preparation,” he says. Here are our recommendations for the best stroller fans to keep your baby cool.
Though simple, the Amacool Stroller Fan does everything you need it to. The fan has three speeds and a night light, which is helpful if you’re going for a walk at night or are traveling and need a portable light for the baby or kid’s room. The rechargeable battery can last for 2.5 to 10 hours, depending on the speed setting. Like many stroller fans, the base is a moldable tripod, which gives you flexibility in where you place the fan. It can also rotate 360 degrees, helping the breeze reach your child no matter what position they’re in.
To protect your child, the gaps in the cover of the fan are less than 0.2 inches to prevent their fingers from getting through, and the fan runs at 30 decibels (the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping noise levels under 70 decibels). You can choose from four colors: black, blue, green or pink. Because the battery only lasts for 2.5 hours in some cases, you might need to plan to swap out the fan for another one or be mindful to turn it off whenever it’s not in use.
Best Value Stroller Fan
A Simple Option That Gets The Job Done
Amazon
WiHoo Stroller Fan
I’ve used the Wihoo Stroller Fan with my kids for years, and we used it heavily when we traveled to Florida during a particularly hot September. Whether it’s at theme parks or walks around the neighborhood, it’s been an affordable, trusty fan that has kept my kids cool (they also like to use it to blow bubbles in the back yard). The fan comes in four colors: black, blue, pink and white.
The rechargeable battery lasts from 4.5 to 10 hours, and the fan has three speeds. For safety, gaps between the cover are less than 5 millimeters and the fan operates at 35 decibels. With flexible tripod legs, you can attach this fan to various parts of the stroller, and it features 360-degree rotation to help keep your child cool. There is no night light on this fan, so if you’re looking for something a bit more versatile, check out the Amacool Stroller Fan.
Best Bladeless Stroller Fan
Offers A Gentle Breeze With No Vents To Worry About
MOST POPULAR
Amazon
Skip Hop Portable Bladeless Stroller Fan
Though most stroller fans have very small gaps so that little fingers can’t reach the fan, using a bladeless stroller fan provides extra peace of mind. This rechargeable fan has three speeds, though some reviewers complain that the breeze from the fan isn’t as strong as they would like.
The fan attaches to the stroller with a universal hub and can be adjusted to various angles. You’ll get a maximum of six hours of use on one charge, which is on the lower end. With no night light or extra features, it’s a no-frills fan. However, if you’re really concerned about fan blades, this might be the one for you.
Most Versatile Stroller Fan
Purifies Up To 6 Square Feet Of Air
Amazon
Pure Enrichment PureBaby On-The-Go Air Purifier
A stroller fan that also purifies the air in and around your baby’s stroller can be a huge draw for families who have kids with allergies or lung conditions like asthma. The Pure Enrichment PureBaby On-the-Go Air Purifier has three fan speeds and also filters 6 square feet of air around your baby, filtering out dust, pollen, pet hair, pet dander, household odors and tobacco smoke with a HEPA filter. Recharge via a USB-C cable for a charge that lasts between 2.5 and 12 hours.
The fan attaches to your stroller with an adjustable clamp and can rotate 360 degrees. This versatile fan and air purifier combo is a great option for traveling or for families who regularly walk in areas with high levels of air pollution. There are three fan speeds that provide a light breeze, so this might not be the best option if you are looking for a really strong fan. However, for families looking for something quiet, it runs at only 5 decibels. The fan is available in six colors: black, blue, blush, dark gray, starlight blue and white.
Best Stroller Fan With Long Battery Life
Lasts Up To 27 Hours
Amazon
Momcozy Portable Stroller Fan
When you’re planning an entire day out, you don’t want your fan to die halfway through. The Momcozy Portable Stroller Fan has a rechargeable battery that lasts between 12 and 27 hours, which is by far the highest on our list. When it’s time to recharge the fan, you can separate it from the base, so if you get it in the perfect spot, you don’t have to reposition it every time. It also offers four speeds: three regular speeds and a natural wind speed, as well as an LED night light with two modes.
The fan attaches with flexible tripod legs and can rotate 360 degrees. The cover has a less than 5 millimeter gap to protect your baby’s fingers, and the fan is available in six colors: green, purple, sage green, black, pink and blue. “I like the Momcozy Stroller fan a lot. Its tripod tentacle-style attachment is super easy to use and allows you to attach the fan in multiple places. It has a nice strong breeze and small slats so curious little fingers won’t reach the fan blades,” says Sarah Huff, senior manager of customer and community and a baby gear product expert at BabyQuip, a baby gear rental company.
Best Stroller Fan With Foam Blades
Soft Blades Won’t Hurt
Amazon
Dreambaby Deluxe Clip-On Fan With Soft Fins
Parents and caregivers looking for a more traditional fan, but who are still worried about their baby getting hurt on the blades will like the Dreambaby Deluxe Clip On Fan With Soft Fins. The fan attaches to the stroller with an alligator clip and has a flexible neck so you can adjust it to cool your baby. This type of fan is probably best for older kids who aren’t going to grab at the fan too much. Even though the blades are soft, they could damage it if they grab and pull at it.
Unlike the other fans on our list, this one uses AA batteries, which could be a plus if you plan on being out all day with the fan. Simply bring an extra set of batteries so you can replace them if the fan dies. The fan only has one speed, so you won’t be able to adjust it to your child’s liking.
At Forbes Vetted, the baby and kids gear team has decades of experience testing, reviewing and writing about baby and kids products. From the best swing sets to the best maternity clothes, we take our product recommendations seriously.
The author of this article, Alicia Betz is a mom to three and has used various stroller fans. She’s also an experienced parenting writer and has tested and reviewed baby and kids gear for nearly seven years.
This article was edited by Esther Carlsone, a mom to three and an experienced parenting journalist and editor who has also used multiple stroller fans.
To learn more about how stroller fans can be helpful and what to look for when choosing a stroller fan, Betz spoke to two experts: Dr. Gary Kirkilas, a pediatrician at Phoenix Children’s Hospital and Sarah Huff, senior manager of customer and community and a baby gear product expert at BabyQuip, a baby gear rental company.
How We Chose The Best Stroller Fans
When curating our list of the best stroller fans, we conducted research, interviewed experts and considered our firsthand experience.
We researched the best-selling stroller fans and favored those made by reputable brands.
We analyzed features and performance of the fans, including battery life, fan type and attachment style. We also ensured all of the fans we chose have some way to protect kids from getting hurt on the blades.
To diversify our options, we included fans that are budget-friendly as well as ones that are more expensive. We also chose different types of fans.
What To Look For In The Best Stroller Fans
Most stroller fans function similarly, but there are a few different factors to consider when purchasing one.
Safety Mechanisms
“For obvious reasons, a fan with soft, baby-safe blades or a good protective cover is a must,” says Huff. There are various ways manufacturers make blades safe for babies. Most commonly, you’ll see foam blades, bladeless fans or covers over blades with tight spaces that babies’ fingers can’t reach through.
Noise Level
Most stroller fans are relatively quiet, but you’ll want to check the decibel level. The lower the number, the quieter the fan. If you want a fan that can create some white noise to help your baby sleep, you’ll want to look for a fan with a higher decibel (but still aim to keep it below 70 decibels).
Battery Life
Battery life can vary widely, from a few hours to over 24 hours. “Look for fans that are rechargeable; otherwise, you’ll need to bring extra batteries with you in case your fan dies midday,” says Huff.
Attachment Style
Most stroller fans attach with a simple clip, a tightening hub or a flexible tripod. While you can typically attach clips faster, tightening hubs or flexible tripods tend to provide more versatility, and they may provide a more secure attachment, too.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
After researching and interviewing experts, we believe the Amacool Stroller Fan is the best option. It has three fan speeds, a night light and it attaches securely with a flexible tripod. Its battery life can also last up to 10 hours, depending on the setting you use.
Strollers can get hot—and so can babies—especially if you’re out in the sun all day. To keep your baby comfortable, a stroller fan is definitely worth it. “It is important to remember that older children and adults can verbalize about feeling overheated and can take action to mitigate overheating, such as standing in the shade, removing articles of clothing, heading back home or drinking a cold beverage. Infants, who are not yet verbal, have no way to tell us they are feeling too hot,” says pediatrician Kirkilas.
Some strollers have built-in features that can help keep babies cool, like breathable mesh and sun protection canopies. According to Kirkilas, other ways to keep babies cool include “limiting prolonged sun exposure, providing ample shade or planning activities near shade, dressing babies in proper attire, bringing adequate hydration (no water for children under 6 months of age) and planning activities that allow a quick return to somewhere that is climate controlled.”
