Short answer: the typical UK "life insurance amount" for a child is £10,000–£25,000 — and in most cases it isn't a standalone policy at all. It's the free children's critical illness benefit included in a parent's policy (most commonly £25,000 per child), or a small child cover rider. Standalone child life insurance is rare in the UK and typically covers £5,000–£20,000 for £3–8/month.
Reviewed by: Ben Darke, lifecoverfor.com · Last updated: 2026-07-08
Key facts (2026)
| Children's critical illness cover (free with parent CIC) | Typically £25,000 per child; some insurers £10,000–£30,000 |
| Age range covered | Usually birth (or 30 days) to age 18–22 |
| Standalone child life insurance | £5,000–£20,000 typical cover, £3–8/month — rare in the UK |
| Why so low vs adult cover | Children have no income to replace; cover targets funeral costs and family recovery time |
| UK average funeral cost benchmark | £4,141 (SunLife Cost of Dying Report, 2025) |
Should parents buy life insurance for kids at all?
Usually not as a standalone product. The financial logic of life insurance is income replacement, and children have no income. The two needs that are real: (1) funeral costs and time off work if the worst happens — covered by the free children's benefit in most parent CIC policies, and (2) the child's future insurability — a handful of policies guarantee future adult cover regardless of health developments. For building a child's financial future, a Junior ISA beats any insurance product.
Sources
Insurer 2026 policy summaries (Aviva, Legal & General, Vitality, Royal London, Guardian); SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2025.