Has your kid wanted a smartwatch for a while? Do you want to pick a gift for them but just don’t know what to get? Do you want your little ones to be involved in more outdoor activities?
We might have the answer to these dilemmas — A Fitbit watch. But you can’t just grab any Fitbit off of the shelf. You’ll need to find one that is convenient and suits your child’s unique needs.
As a parent, you are looking for safety, longevity, and convenience. Meanwhile, your kid is looking for aesthetics, apps, and coolness. This guide will tell you how to get the best Fitbit for kids that will make both you and your young one happy.
- Fully customizable
- Fun challenges
- Water resistance
- Health insights
- Outstanding design
- Wide range of features
- Health insights
- Customized exercising modes
- Guided breathing
- Swim-proof
- Chic and stylish
- Sedentary reminders
- Modern chic look
- Personalized coaching
- Voice to text replies
The Best Kids Fitbit of 2023
Based on our experience, the best Fitbits for kids are:
Fitbit Ace 2
The Best Fitbit for Kids Overall
This is a newer addition to the Fitbit family. The Fitbit Ace 2 is the redesigned Ace Fitbit. Fitbit Ace 2 makes activities even more fun and enjoyable for children.
Kids will receive virtual rewards, celebratory messages, and can challenge their peers in activity challenges.
Fitbit designed this band for smaller hands, with colorful bands, avatars, virtual badges, animated clock faces, and many features that will keep the young moving and entertained. The band will allow you to monitor your child’s activity and approve his or her connections with the Fitbit app.
What We Like
Fully Customizable
The Fitbit Ace 2 comes in three fun colors. The first model combines night sky and neon yellow, the second is a combination of watermelon and teal, while the third one is monochrome grape.
Your child can also opt for clasps with funky patterns, but keep in mind that you’ll have to purchase these separately. The Fitbit Ace 2 has animated watch faces so kids can customize the touchscreen accordingly (this option may cause higher battery consumption).
Fun Challenges
The Fitbit Ace 2 has enough challenges and fun incentives to keep children on their feet. Kids can find step challenges, virtual badges, and avatars to motivate them to do more. They can even compete against their friends in fun activity challenges.
Water Resistance
The Fitbit Ace 2 is water-resistant for up to 50M. Children can wear their Fitbit Ace 2 while swimming in the pool or showering. So, you needn’t worry about spills and splashes.
Comfortable and Secure
With its silicon band and adjustable clasp, the band won’t fall due to a loose band, and it won’t be too tight to restrict your child’s movements.
What We Don't Like
No GPS Tracker
Despite having many valuable features, the Fitbit Ace 2 cannot track the heart rate and doesn’t have a GPS tracker. If these two features are high on your priorities, this may not be the Fitbit for your child.
Product Specs
| Recommended age | 6+ |
| Battery life | Up to 5 days |
| Touch screen | Yes |
| Water resistance | Water-resistant up to 50M |
| Heart rate monitor | No |
Our Ratings
Fitbit Charge 3
Best Fitbit for Active Teenagers
If your always-on-the-go kid loves running from one place to another and working on their fitness, then they might benefit from the Fitbit Charge 3.
It is one of the most advanced fitness wristbands on the market and has the widest range of wellness features. It has a 24/7 heart rate monitor, all-day calorie burn, tracks sleep stages, and gives personalized guidance.
This band links the fitness tracker to your child’s smartwatch allowing him/her to automate options such as phone notifications, weather updates, and calendar reminders. And in some special edition models, it could even make contactless payments.
What We Like
Health Insights
The Fitbit Change 3 affords teen girls more control over their health, such as period tracking. It also helps your child to meditate by providing them with breathing exercises when it detects an elevated heart rate.
Outstanding Design
The Fitbit Charge 3 is comfortable, light, and has a chic design with several band options — classic, Horween leather, sports bands, and woven bands.
What We Don't Like
No GPS Tracker
Fitbit Charge 3 doesn’t have a built-in GPS so your child will have to pair it with a smartphone during runs.
Product Specs
| Recommended age | 13+ |
| Battery life | Up to 7 days |
| Touch screen | Yes |
| Water resistance | Up to 50 meters |
| Heart rate monitor | Yes |
Our Ratings
Fitbit Inspire HR
Best Fitbit for Older Kids
The Fitbit Inspire HR is the equivalent of the Fitbit Ace 2 for teens and older children. The slim, simple design is meant to attract older kids. We would describe it as the starter Fitbit for teens and older children who want to share in the fitness tracker experience.
It isn’t a smartwatch and doesn’t aspire to be one. It has all the necessary features of a fitness band — steps tracking, sleep tracking, food logging, and calorie burn. All these stats are displayed on a touchscreen that responds to both scrolling and swiping.
What We Like
Health Insights
Fitbit Inspire HR offers female health-tracking options that will help young teenagers track their periods, record changes, and more. It has a 24/7 heart rate monitoring service that tracks your heart rate even while you sleep.
Premium Look
With its simple yet premium look, the Fitbit Inspire is an outstanding modern band that compliments your teenager’s style. It’s available in 3 colors — black, lilac, and a combination of black and white.
Customized Exercising Modes
The Fitbit Inspire HR offers 5+ goal-based exercising modes. All your teen has to do is select an exercise — bike, run, and yoga. Then they’ll get targets and real-time guidance on how to achieve them.
Guided Breathing
Fitbit Inspire HR has personalized guided breathing sessions based on heart rate to allow your child to relax throughout the day.
What We Don't Like
Small Monochrome Screen
The screen is monochrome and it’s a little small, so notifications may not appear too clear. This may prove quite problematic if your child has poor eyesight.
Product Specs
| Recommended age | 13+ |
| Battery life | Up to 5 days |
| Touch screen | Yes |
| Water resistance | Up to 50M |
| Heart rate monitor | Yes |
Our Ratings
Fitbit Flex 2
Best Fitbit for Swimming
If you have your own Moana or Aquaman at home, we’d recommend the Fitbit Flex 2. It’s a thin and stylish model that is 100 percent waterproof (1). The recommended user age is 13 years old and older.
The Fitbit Flex 2 can be a gift for teenagers who swim or surf and cannot get enough of the sea.
The interesting thing about this tracker is that it can be removed from its original band and joined to your teenager’s bangles and pendants.
What We Like
Swim-Proof
The Fitbit Flex 2 automatically tracks swimming. Consequently, you can track your kid’s swimming activities and progress in the Fitbit app.
Chic and Stylish
It’s available in four colors — black, magenta, lavender, and navy. It also comes with interchangeable accessories (bangles and pendants sold separately).
The simplistic design will keep your child from getting too distracted with it.
Sedentary Reminders
The Fitbit Flex 2 will remind your child to move in case they remain inactive for long. It can be a reminder that they’ve been sitting for too long.
What We Don't Like
No LCD Screen
Since it doesn’t have an LCD screen, the Fitbit Flex 2 lacks the display and visual features that other Fitbits offer. Its blinking LED light can be confusing to the newer user.
Product Specs
| Recommended age | 13+ |
| Battery life | Up to 5 days |
| Touch screen | No |
| Water resistance | Swim-proof |
| Heart rate monitor | No |
Our Ratings
Fitbit Versa 2
Best Fitbit for the Virtuoso Teenager
They are either playing an instrument or singing. You hear them humming songs all the time. This may not be news to you, but your kid is a true maestro.
If that sounds like your child, we have a fantastic Fitbit for them — the Fitbit Versa 2. It resembles smartwatches such as the Apple Watch and the Galaxy Watch.
Some of the built-in features are new to the Fitbit world, such as sleep scoring, sleep mode, Alexa and Spotify integration, and the Fitbit Premium subscription service that gives detailed insights.
The Fitbit Versa 2 allows you to control your Deezer and Spotify playlists and can store over 300 songs on your wrist.
Keep in mind that a Spotify premium subscription is required and the apps might not be available in all regions.
What We Like
Wellness Features
The Fitbit Versa 2 offers numerous wellness features — 24/7 heart rate tracking, motivational challenges, food logging, and over 15 goal-based exercise modes. It also has thorough sleep tracking with sleep scores, sleep stages, and sleep mode features.
The Modern Chic Look
The band imitates the digital watch’s modern high-tech look and it’s available in many colors. Your teenager should love it.
Personalized Coaching
With the Fitbit Versa 2, your teen can have on-screen workouts and coaching — available with the Fitbit premium subscription.
Voice to Text Replies
The voice-to-text feature, available only on the Fitbit Versa 2, will make replying to texts much easier.
What We Don't Like
Extra Payment for Additional Wellness Insights
If your teenager is to get detailed insights, they’ll have to subscribe to Fitbit Premium. However, with the volume and quality of insights that the subscription comes with, it should feel like money well spent.
No Spotify Direct Stream
Your child can’t stream directly from Spotify, they can only control it. For most teenagers, this is not quite a deal-breaker, but it all boils down to preference.
Product Specs
| Recommended age | 13+ |
| Battery life | Up to 6 days |
| Touch screen | Yes |
| Water resistance | Up to 50 meters |
| Heart rate monitor | Yes |
Our Ratings
| Product | Best | Recommended age | Battery life | Touch screen | Water resistance | Heart rate monitor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fitbit Ace 2 | Overall | 6+ | 5 days | Yes | Up to 50 m | No |
| Fitbit Charge 3 | Active Teenagers | 13+ | 7 days | Yes | Up to 50 m | Yes |
| Fitbit Inspire HR | Older Kids | 13+ | 5 days | Yes | Up to 50 m | Yes |
| Fitbit Flex 2 | Swimming | 13+ | 5 days | No | Swim-proof | No |
| Fitbit Versa 2 | Virtuoso Teenager | 13+ | 6 days | Yes | Up to 50 m | Yes |
Why Investing in a Fitbit Is a Good Idea
Nowadays, technology surrounds us wherever we go. The same goes for our children — their lives are filled with video games, kids’ TV shows, the Netflix Kid section and more.
Your child probably comes back from school and sits in front of a screen for many hours. This isn’t good for their eyes, health, and overall development (2). Plus, inactivity leads to obesity, which is a problem for children (3).
But, what alternative for screens and inactivity have you presented to your child?
If you want your young ones to move more, you’ll have to make outdoor activities fun for them.
A Fitbit watch turns mundane activities into lots of fun. With daily challenges, even running, cycling, and swimming can become a game.
Your child will love their colorful gadget on their wrists. It may appear toy-like to your little one, but Fitbit performs a lot of functions. The band can track your kid’s sleep, activity, heart rate, and much more.
This tool is powerful, and we will guide you to the model that best suits your young one’s needs.
How to Choose a Fitbit for Kids
Fitbit should look good on your child’s arm while improving his or her quality of life. Depending on each child’s needs, various options in a kids watch will suit them better than others. Below are some factors you should consider to determine the Fitbit that fits your young one best:
Age Appropriateness
Children of different ages have various interests and desires. If your kid is 8 years or older, they will probably seek some fun features, colorful designs, playful bands, and accessories. If you’re buying the Fitbit for a teenager, the requirements change.
Teenagers will probably want a device that allows them to call, text, and get calendar alerts. Those who exercise or engage in physical activities often will want to track how many calories they burned, how many steps they walked, and the duration of their activity.
Always pay attention to the manufacturer’s recommended age range to make sure that a specific Fitbit suits your kid.
Parental Controls
Fitbit has an app that allows for parental view, but it’s not available in all Fitbit bands. With this app, you can access your kid’s activity and approve their connections. If you have several children who want to create accounts, you will have to approve them by linking them to the family account.
Children under 13 (or the relevant minimum age depending on your location) will need your consent to establish an account.
Call Alerts
If your kid owns a smartphone, as almost every child today does, they’ll get a notification on their Fitbit when you call them. There’s no way for them to avoid you then. Moreover, it encourages your child to pay more attention to their phones in case of emergencies.
Proven Durability
Kids are prone to breaking things, more than adults are. If you are investing money in a fitness wristband, make sure it is both durable and sturdy.
You should also ensure that the band isn’t rough and tight on the child’s skin. The good thing about Fitbit bands is that they are made of friendly materials like silicone, with an adjustable clasp, and the tracker has a secure attachment to the band itself.
Water-Resistance
Linked to durability, water-resistance is quite important. Kids splash and spill from time to time so you want to get them a fitness band that can withstand that.
Fitbit’s water-resistance varies from one model to another. We made sure to review this criterion with every mentioned model.
The Fun Factor
Fitbits designed for children aim to make moving fun. The gamification will turn exercising into an enjoyable, entertaining activity that will keep your kid on his or her feet.
Battery Life
Your children will probably want to spend more time playing and having fun instead of waiting for their wristband to charge. The autonomy of your Fitbit is important in this regard, especially for impatient youths. Consider the battery life of a Fitbit model before making a purchase.
Ease of Use
Kids should be able to use the fitness band with minimal to no adult assistance. Buttons should be simple and easily clickable. A wide touchscreen is also important because it allows little fingers to operate the Fitbit easily.
Fitness Features
You are undoubtedly purchasing a Fitbit for its fitness features. Here are some of the features you’ll find in a Fitbit — step tracking, sleep tracking, pedometer, heart rate monitoring, and active minute tracking.
Fitbit also creates challenges and provides fun incentives that will motivate its wearer to move further and try to meet these targets. Also, the data will be synced to a mobile app. This way, you and your child can track their progress.
You also get to check on your kid anytime at the click of a button.
Preferences and Customization
There are two ways you can customize your Fitbit — personalize the on-screen dashboard or personalize the band. Children always want to express themselves and customizing their Fitbits provides ample room to get creative.
Changing the band can flip its whole look. If your kid desires this, make sure the Fitbit model you’re choosing has interchangeable accessories (the bands are sold separately).
Watch Them Bloom
The best Fitbit for kids is one that they will use every day. That means you need to pick one that has features that will appeal to your child. If your child is a teenager or a young adult, we would suggest discussing their preferences with them.
And, as always, we would encourage you to do some activities with your child — leading by example is always a great policy.
