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

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

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

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

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

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

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