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6 Best Stroller Fans, Tested by a Cool and Comfortable Toddler

Being out and about with baby in the heat can be a breeze.
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profile picture of Korin Miller
Updated May 2, 2024
Parent smiling at child in the stroller
Image: Munchkin
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In a nutshell:

Based on the author’s firsthand product testing, we chose the Munchkin Stroller Fan as the overall best stroller fan. The author appreciated that this fan delivered surprisingly effective wind power and battery life in a small and lightweight package.

Being outside and getting fresh air is important for children of all ages. But when the temperatures start to soar, it can become difficult to safely enjoy an al-fresco anything with your little one in tow. One tool to help keep your kiddo cool and comfortable when out and about? A stroller fan.

Stroller fans help to keep children comfortable in warmer temperatures—whether you’re enjoying a summer walk or a long day at an amusement park. Some stroller fans come with extra features, such as misters and insect-repellant diffusers, while others can also be attached to cribs and car seats for even more uses. And as a mom of four who lives at the beach, I’ve relied on stroller fans to keep my kids cool during the hotter months. I know from past use that some are far superior to others. I tested the top stroller fans available today with my youngest child to see which are worth your money and which should stay out of your cart.

Ready to pick the stroller fan that’s best for your needs? Read on for a complete breakdown of these portable cooling contractions, plus our tested picks of the best stroller fans on the market.

How We Tested and Chose the Stroller Fans

Image: Courtesy Korin M.

Stroller fans can make the difference between pushing your child around in comfort and needing to come home early, making this an important purchase for families. Here’s how we selected our top picks:

  • I tested seven of the most popular stroller fans on the market with my toddler. Each fan went on three walks in warm weather with the device running. I also ran them inside the home for at least 20 minutes to check out noise levels at various speeds, and fans that made big claims in terms of battery life were left running for extended periods of time. I then evaluated each fan for ease of use, safety, battery life, effectiveness and value for money.
  • We consulted guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics on hot weather safety.
  • To see how these sheets worked for a variety of families, we conducted exhaustive market research, scouring forums and message boards and reading user reviews to find out what parents across the country looked for in a stroller fan.
    Editorial integrity is at the heart of everything we publish. Read about how The Bump develops and reviews all articles, including product reviews.

The Best Stroller Fans

Overall best stroller fan

Stroller Fan
Image: Munchkin
What We Love
  • Generates powerful breezes
  • Strong grip
  • Small fan head
Things To Consider
  • LED lights aren’t intuitive to turn on
  • Fan legs can be slightly tough to maneuver

Munchkin’s stroller fan is a newer addition to the market, but it’s quickly establishing itself as a must-have product for staying cool. The fan has a tripod design, with grippy rubber arms that easily wrap around stroller handles. Once it’s in place, it’s easy to use. The whole thing is operated with one button—you just toggle through for your desired speed. But my daughter and I especially appreciated its petite size; the fan is lightweight and has a small head that can be angled and rotated as needed, so it won't block much of your child's line of vision, like some more bulky and obstructive fans on the market.

The exterior and grill around the fan head has very small holes, making it all but impossible for any fingers to get inside (my daughter tried!). The fan blades themselves are small, but are still capable of generating a strong wind. While Munchkin’s fan head has the smallest diameter of all of the options I tested, it can kick up a serious wind. I also liked that it has a 4th speed setting that increases and decreases the speed within the setting, almost like a wave, to create a natural breeze-like feeling. You can barely hear the fan on the lowest setting, but it creates a whirring noise at top speed. Still, it didn't get in the way of conversation and didn't seem to annoy my daughter. The arms of the fan are slightly harder to move than others I tested with a similar design, but that translates to a stronger grip on your stroller.

Munchkin also shines in terms of battery life. The company says the fan’s rechargeable battery lasts for up to 8 hours, which is one of the better options we tested. Once you’re done using it, simply recharge it with the included USB cable. This fan also includes LED lights “for entertainment,” but the on switch isn’t intuitive and my daughter lost interest in them after a few rounds. Best of all, at $19.99, this is one of the cheaper fans out there—but it doesn’t sacrifice on quality.

Dimensions: 5.8" (L) x 3.1" (W) x 7.9" (H) | Weight: 13.2 oz. | Power source: Rechargeable battery | Number of speeds: 4

Our product tester says:
“It's very powerful, but has a smaller fan head that won't obstruct your child's vision. I'll be giving this to all of my friends who live in warmer climates, and plan to use it myself in the future.”

Buy Now

Best bladeless stroller fan

Skip Hop Portable Bladeless Stroller Fan, Adjustable 3 Speeds, Stroll and Connect
Image: Amazon
What We Love
  • Safe, bladeless design
  • Easy to adjust
  • Doesn’t block child’s line of sight
Things To Consider
  • Wind speed isn’t as strong as some others
  • Vice grip takes a little time to install

The Skip Hop Stroll & Connect Bladeless Stroller Fan has a different look and feel than other fans we tested thanks to its bladeless design. This fan simply sucks air in and pushes it back out. My daughter was intrigued by the hole that the air came through and kept sticking her hand through, but there was nothing to hurt her, a feature parents will appreciate.

The fan attaches to your stroller with the help of a clamp (they call it a "universal hub") that you tighten like a vice. This makes the process of attaching it to your stroller take a little longer than the ones that you just wrap around a bar. But once it's on, it's not moving. The fan has a sliding button on the side that can be set to three fan speeds, and it's easy to reach when your child is in the stroller. It's also simple to adjust the angle: You push it forward or back.

Skip Hop says that this fan runs for up to six hours on a full charge at low speed, and testing showed that was pretty accurate. But it's worth noting that the low speed doesn't generate a huge breeze. It's enough to gently move hair when it's attached to a stroller handlebar but it might not keep a child cool on a seriously hot day. Still, my daughter was comfortable under his fan in 80+ degree weather. The fan makes a whirring sound, almost like a very quiet vacuum cleaner, which is noticeable but not annoying. During testing, we found that it was helpful as a quiet white noise option. Overall, this is a great option for families who want gentle airflow, but won’t regularly have their child out on scorching days.

Dimensions: 3.8" (L) x 3.6" (W) x 5.7" (H) | Weight: 11.3 oz. | Power source: Rechargeable battery | Number of speeds: 3

Our product tester says:
“It came in handy at drowning out noise when nap time hit during my older son's soccer practice. I really like the bladeless design, especially if this will be in reach of children—which it needs to be to have an impact.”

Buy Now

Best stroller fan for long battery life

Momcozy Portable Stroller Fan
Image: Amazon
What We Love
  • 27-hour battery life
  • Strong wind
  • Three color choices
Things To Consider
  • Heavier than others
  • LED lights are dim

Many stroller fans will run for several hours on one charge or set of batteries, but few can run for more than a day like the Momcozy Portable Stroller Fan. This impressive device has a large-capacity 8000mAh rechargeable battery that lasts anywhere from 12 to 27 hours, depending on the fan speed you use. During testing, I left it running on the lowest setting overnight, and it was still going strong in the morning. I haven't charged it since and have used it multiple times with no issue.

The Momcozy stroller fan is simple to use: Just wrap the tripod legs around your stroller handle and turn it on; it has a head that tilts and turns to help you get the proper angle. This fan has four speed settings—and they're powerful—including a "natural wind" mode for a breeze-like feel. The fan is heavier than others, but that's likely due to the technology around its impressively long battery life. Just be aware that heavier weight means you won’t want this fan actually hanging over your child (although that’s not advised for any fan).

Momcozy’s fan also has LED lights, but they are fairly dim. It's more of an interesting feature than something that will light your path. Noise-wise, the fan is quiet on the two lower speeds but more noticeable (although not annoying) on high speeds. And while you’re probably not choosing a stroller fan based on looks, it does come in your choice of three colors.

Dimensions: 6.2" (L) x 4" (W) x 6.1" (H) | Weight: 22.9 oz. | Power source: Rechargeable battery | Number of speeds: 4

Our product tester says:
“Momcozy’s battery life blows everyone else out of the water. If you're forgetful about recharging things or tend to go out for longer trips in the heat, this is definitely worth the money.”

Buy Now

Best rotatable stroller fan

AMACOOL Battery Operated Stroller Fan Flexible Tripod Clip On Fan
Image: Amazon
Buying Options
Amazon|$29.99
What We Love
  • Highly adjustable
  • Strong fan speeds
  • Bright LED light
Things To Consider
  • No indicator for a charge
  • Can be noisy at higher speeds

Getting that just-right angle can be tricky with stroller fans, and it sometimes requires a little finesse on your end. Amacool’s stroller fan has tripod arms that you can bend and twist to attach it to a slew of stroller surfaces, along with a fan head that turns easily and clicks into different angles—and actually stays put when you configure it. Once you wrap this fan into place, it doesn't budge or tip over easily.

The Amacool fan is intuitive and easy to use. It has three fan speed settings that you click through by pushing a button that says "fan." There's also an LED light that came in handy for lighting our way during an evening walk with the family dog. The fan's interior blades are made of hard plastic, but they're well shielded inside a cage. The blades are also set far back from the exterior cage on both sides, making it unlikely that a child would get hit by them, even if they did manage to get their fingers inside the exterior.

Amacool says that its rechargeable fan lasts anywhere from 2.5 to 10 hours, depending on how long you run it. Keep in mind that the fan doesn’t indicate when it's fully charged, but it performed well during testing after two hours on the charger. The fan can also generate serious wind on its highest setting, although it's noisier when it really gets going. (On the lowest setting, the noise is barely detectable.) Between the strong fan speed and rotating head, your child is highly likely to stay cool when this fan is in place.

Dimensions: 5.1" (L) x 3.2" (W) x 7" (H) | Weight: 13.4 oz. | Power source: Rechargeable battery | Number of speeds: 3

Our product tester says:
“It's incredibly easy to use, generates a strong wind, and stays in place. The light is a nice perk for evening outings.”

Buy Now

Strongest stroller fan

What We Love
  • Very strong wind
  • Quiet
  • Several charging options
Things To Consider
  • Need a stroller handlebar to secure it in place
  • LED light can be finicky

For parents who need some serious wind, the KidCo 3-Speed Buggy Turbo Fan is up for the challenge. This fan had the strongest output of any of the options I tested, to the point where I had to dial back the speed to keep my daughter comfortable on a more mild-weather day. The fan has a unique design that allows it to double as a handheld on demand. It takes a little more thought to attach it to your stroller handle, thanks to an elastic strap you wrap around the handle before securing it to the base of your fan. For thinner handles, you'll need to wrap it twice. And, if you have a stroller without a safety bar, your child will need to hold the fan or you'll need to secure it to something else. (We were out of luck in my double jogging stroller.) That said, it's incredibly sturdy and, again, windy.

The controls are also simple to use. There's just one button and you keep pressing it to increase the wind speed. The rechargeable fan has four hard plastic blades that are surrounded by a sturdy cage and, while my daughter tried to fit her fingers inside, she wasn't successful. KidCo says that the fan can last for up to six hours, and testing found no change in fan strength over repeat uses. KidCo also included a thoughtful feature with the included USB charger: You can charge the fan with both ends of the charger thanks to two charging holes.

The head of this fan is wide, covering a wide area when it's on. The fan makes a whirring sound, but doesn't get overly loud when it’s on high. The description says that the fan has a light you can use as a flashlight, but I couldn't figure out how to turn it on, even after watching several YouTube videos on it. But the fan’s impressively strong wind speed and charging options overcame that flaw. Overall, this is a great option to use on hot days.

Dimensions: 8.5" (L) x 4.3" (W) x 8.4" (H) | Weight: 10.6 oz. | Power source: Rechargeable battery | Number of speeds: 3

Our product tester says:
“KidCo generated the strongest wind of any of the fans I tested. There are three speed settings, and the highest one creates a very strong breeze that blew my daughter’s hair back.”

Buy Now

Best budget-friendly stroller fan

Dreambaby Deluxe EZY-Fit Clip on Fan with Soft Fins
Image: Amazon
What We Love
  • Inexpensive
  • Soft blades
  • Easy to attach
Things To Consider
  • Only one speed
  • Blades have a slight odor at first

For parents on a budget, the under $9 Dreambaby EZY-Fit Clip-On Fan is a great pick that will keep your child cool—and entertained. This fan has more of an old school design, with an alligator clip that you can easily attach to your stroller handle. That clip is difficult for kids to move once it’s in place, too. Adjustments are also a breeze: Simply move the fan’s neck to your desired position.

This fan only has one speed, but it’s powerful enough to blow toddler curls around. The head is also wide enough to create a big enough breeze to cover your child’s upper torso. Dreambaby’s fan has soft, kid-friendly blades. While they’re exposed, it’s highly unlikely your child will harm themselves on it. My daughter repeatedly stuck her fingers in the blades on purpose and cracked up every time. (The fan automatically stops when you put a finger or hand in the way.)

This fan isn't rechargeable, but its battery life is great. I ran it for several hours during testing and had no issues with strength fading or dying. (Worth noting: The fan did not come with batteries, so you'll need to have two AA batteries available to get started.) The Dreambaby creates a gentle whirring sound, but it's not noticeable when you're outside. The only downside is a patchouli-type scent that comes from the fan's fins. It's not very noticeable outdoors, but it's strong indoors. However, it does dissipate with time. At under $9, this fan is a steal.

Dimensions: 2.8" (L) x 4.7" (W) x 8.7" (H) | Weight: 4.2 oz. | Power source: Two AA batteries (not included) | Number of speeds: 1

Our product tester says:
“I really liked this stroller fan and appreciate the low price tag. The only annoyance is that you'll need to be on top of battery life—it may be helpful to keep a spare pair in your diaper bag if you plan to use this regularly.”

Buy Now

Benefits of a Stroller Fan

The primary benefit of a stroller fan is obvious: It keeps your little one cool and comfortable when it’s hot outside. But keeping cool isn’t just about comfort for babies and toddlers, it’s also important for their overall health and well-being. According to the AAP, children are less able to regulate their body temperature compared with adults; and, in turn, they’re more likely to develop significant health effects when exposed to extreme temperatures. Prolonged exposure to high temperatures can lead to dehydration, heat exhaustion and even heat stroke, the AAP warns. Since babies and toddlers are unable to communicate when they might be feeling overheated, the AAP details signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke for parents and caregivers to watch out for:

  • Heat exhaustion: Signs of heat exhaustion in baby include pale skin, profuse sweating and weakness. Heat exhaustion can progress into heat stroke, so it’s important to take steps, such as increasing fluids and contacting your pediatrician, promptly.
  • Heat stroke: Symptoms of heat stroke include hot, flushed skin and a high fever (105° F or higher). The AAP stresses that heat stroke is a life-threatening emergency and needs to be addressed immediately.

To avoid the dangerous side effects of heat, the AAP recommends that caregivers keep children hydrated, dress them in light and breathable clothes and keep them cool—which is where stroller fans can come in handy.

What to Look for in a Stroller Fan

Stroller fans are less cut and dry than you might assume. There are different blades and attachments to choose from. Here’s a breakdown of the options:

  • Blade styles. Typical stroller fans have plastic blades that are protected by a cage; however, these can present a safety hazard if the slats on the cage are big enough for tiny fingers to fit through. Other options include foam-bladed fans, which are softer and safer, but often don’t spin as fast, and bladeless fans, which produce air with an internal mechanism.
  • Attachment styles: Fans can connect to a stroller in a variety of ways. A clamp or clip-on apparatus is one of the most popular, but a strong grip and non-slip design are essential to make sure it doesn’t tip over or fall off. Another common attachment style features bendable legs that can be twisted around stroller and car seat handles. These flexible legs often provide a better connection, but overuse can weaken the legs. Some stroller fans have a hybrid design, and can also function as a hand-held or self-standing fan as well.

In addition to the different types, here are some helpful features—and safety concerns—to know about before purchasing a fan for a stroller.

  • Battery type and life. For families who plan to spend full days out in the sun or heat, a long-lasting battery is key. Most stroller fans come equipped with rechargeable batteries, and some can go as long as 24 hours without needing to be recharged (and have USB charging cords for when you do). However, if you’re planning on using the stroller fan in shorter spurts (like for walks or play dates), a battery life of a few hours will suffice.
  • Fan speed. Many stroller fans will offer multiple fan speeds, allowing you to customize the amount of air blowing at your little one.
  • Adjustability. Rotating fan heads, bendable necks, full vertical and horizontal tilt—these are all features that allow you to adjust the fan to directly blow on your child.
  • Blade safety. Again, tiny fingers and fast-moving blades do not mix, and present the potential for injury. Bladeless and foam-blade options help prevent any injuries. For stroller fans with whirling blades, look for close-together slats that baby fingers can’t fit through.

About the writer:

Korin Miller is a journalist with experience writing dozens of health and shopping features for The Bump. Korin specializes in commerce, wellness and lifestyle trends, with work appearing in Women’s Health, Forbes, WSJ, SELF, Prevention and more. Korin is a mom to four kids, ranging in age from 1 to 10 years old. She has a master’s degree from American University and lives by the beach.

Interested in becoming a product tester for The Bump? Head here to apply.

Sources

American Academy of Pediatrics, Extreme Temperatures: Disaster Management Resources, October 2023

Healthy Children (AAP), Heat Exposure and Reactions

Healthy Children (AAP), Extreme Heat: Tips to Keep Kids Safe When Temperatures Soar, July 2023

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