Colgate Kids battery-powered toothbrush review

Colgate, along with Oral-B, is one of the most trusted brands in oral hygiene and it’s put this reputation for excellence and reliability to good use in its Extra Soft Kids Toothbrush, which is designed for children aged three and up. Simply but effectively designed and affordably priced, this battery-powered kids' brush is a great option if you’re looking to move on from a manual brush for your little one, without investing big bucks in a rechargeable electric toothbrush.

Available in a range of fun characters from Trolls to Batman, the Barbie one we’re reviewing has a vibrant pink and purple design, with Barbie graphics that are sure to delight young fans. The handle is ergonomically designed for little hands, making it easy to grip and move around the mouth, while the extra soft bristles are gentle on tiny teeth and gums, ensuring a comfortable brushing experience for even the most sensitive tots.

Priced at around $5 to $20 on Amazon, this toothbrush is an affordable option for parents. It comes with a single replaceable AA battery, which powers the brush to provide gentle vibrations to help clean teeth more effectively than manual brushing can. However, some parents may find it’s not enough to entice reluctant or careless brushers into upping their game, as it has no extra features to help encourage good brushing habits. If you are looking for something more premium, there are plenty of excellent electric toothbrushes for kids that can satisfy your needs.

Colgate Kids battery-powered toothbrush review

Colgate Kids Battery Powered Toothbrush: Design

• Vibrant colorful design
• Ergonomic handle for little hands
• Simple and easy to operate

The Colgate Kids Battery Powered Toothbrush is designed with young kids in mind. The bright colors and series of characters available (Barbie, Trolls and Batman at the last check) make it an attractive and appealing option for young ones.

The handle features a thumb indent on the back and a rubber section that extends from the front to run down the back of the handle. This helps tiny hands get a good, comfortable grip while brushing. Beneath the front rubber grip section are the on and off buttons.

The toothbrush is super light and easy to maneuver around the mouth, making it a great option for kids just learning to brush on their own. While it may take younger kids a while to understand using the on and off buttons, they are clearly marked out and make a satisfying click when depressed. It’s a good idea to have these kinds of buttons in the “Goldilocks zone” for kids — not too easy to push but not too hard, so they don't inadvertently power the toothbrush off while using it. We reckon Colgate has got it spot on here.

While it won’t win any prizes for sophisticated style, there’s no doubt the Colgate Kids battery-powered toothbrush is designed to win over budding little brushers and make their twice-daily brushing sessions more appealing. However, we would have liked to have seen the option of removing and replacing the brush head, to extend the life of this brush and reduce the amount of plastic going to landfill.

What we liked most about the design of the brush is that it lies flat, allowing your child to squeeze their toothpaste onto the brush head themselves, which is a smart touch from Colgate.

The battery port is at the base of the handset, protected by a plastic cover. You can remove this by inserting a coin and turning the cover anti-clockwise. Incidentally, this performed well when we submerged the toothbrush in water for the duration of a two-minute brushing session, so you can hand your kids a toothbrush in the bath without worrying about it becoming waterlogged and malfunctioning.

Turning to the toothbrush head, we find a small oscillating head with extra soft bristles designed to gently clean teeth and sweep away plaque. The toothbrush head itself is a little on the large side compared with some kids’ brushes, but should be small enough for most children to use, while the soft bristles mean they can squeeze the brush into even the tightest gaps between the cheeks and the teeth.

Colgate Kids Battery Powered Toothbrush: Features

• Quiet during operation at just 32dB
• No quad pacer or timer
• No advanced features

The Colgate Kids toothbrush's lack of advanced features will make this section short, but hey — it’s an affordable brush that provides gentle vibrations to help clean teeth more effectively than manual brushing. What else do you really need for a three-year-old?

While it might be nice to have a timer that stops working after the recommended two minutes, most parents of preschoolers will tell you that getting them to brush for that period of time is nigh on impossible anyway!

However, if you have a child who can brush for that long, you might prefer to have a timer so that you don't need to get your phone out and time them separately. The same is true of a quad pacer, which would direct the child to brush a different section of their mouth every 30 seconds. It’s nice to have, but, at this age, parents are much more effective than a little buzzing sensation or noise in encouraging good brushing habits.

Overall, while the toothbrush lacks advanced features like a timer or pressure sensor, its simplicity makes it super easy for young children to use. The fun designs are a great way to encourage kids to brush regularly. Plus, the affordable price point makes it accessible for most families.

Colgate Kids Battery Powered Toothbrush: Performance

• Waterproof to use
• Reliable and consistent brushing
• No need to charge

Again, the simplicity of features means our performance review will be pretty straightforward, but the Colgate Kids battery-powered toothbrush does exactly what it says on the tin. Our small tester (aged three and a half) enjoyed using the brush and said the bristles were “nice and soft”. We also enjoyed the experience of offering a younger child the responsibility of levelling up their brushing routine, from a manual to a battery-powered toothbrush.

Parents worried that the sound and feel of a battery-powered brush may put a younger child off brushing their teeth should be reassured that the toothbrush operates at a whisper quiet 32dB — similar to background noise in a library. At the same time, the super soft bristles offer a pleasant sensation without being overpowering.

The toothbrush is also waterproof, so if your little one prefers to brush their teeth in the bath or shower, you needn't fear water damage.

Colgate Kids Battery Powered Toothbrush: User reviews

The Colgate Kids Battery Powered Toothbrush gets a more than decent four stars out of five on Amazon, with over 5,000 reviews so far. The vast majority of parents and grandparents report their kids love their brushes and are encouraged to brush twice a day, every day, as a result. One happy parent said, “I bought this toothbrush for my 3-year-old daughter, and she finally cleans her teeth with pleasure. The toothbrush works well, is well made and nice to look at. I recommend it.” They also rated how well it cleans teeth without too much added pressure.

Many purchasers, however, said it’s a real shame there is no option to replace the brush heads, and that you have to buy a new toothbrush every time you want to replace the worn-out bristles. Some negative reviews also mentioned concerns about the plastic build quality and occasional defects in individual units.

Should you buy the Colgate Kids Battery Powered Toothbrush?

✅ Buy it if: You're looking for an affordable and engaging toothbrush for your child. The fun design and gentle cleaning make it an excellent option for young brushers.

❌ Don’t buy it if: You're looking for a toothbrush with advanced features like a timer or pressure sensor. This simple, battery-powered option is best suited for younger children as a first non-manual brush.

If the Colgate Kids Battery Powered Toothbrush is not for you

If you want an all-singing and all-dancing brush with plenty of extras, the Oral-B Kids electric toothbrush takes our top spot. With its excellent battery life, interchangeable brush heads, colorful, child-friendly design and fun-filled app that guides children in improving their brushing technique, your child will truly be leveling up their brushing routine.

If your child struggles with regular brushing, the Autobrush Sonic Pro for Kids is a game-changer. Its unique design allows for an ultra-quick clean, making brushing less of a chore and more fun and efficient activity. Thanks to its full-mouth cleaning technology, the brush's innovative approach ensures that even the most reluctant brushers can achieve a thorough clean in just 30 seconds.

If you want to monitor your child's brushing progress, the Philips Sonicare for Kids offers advanced tracking through its connected app, which stores brushing history and provides feedback on your child's brushing habits. The brush and the app work together to help you and your child stay on top of their oral hygiene, ensuring they’re brushing effectively and for the recommended two minutes.

Colgate Kids Battery Powered Toothbrush: How we tested

We spent two weeks testing the Colgate Kids Battery Powered Toothbrush, assessing design, brushing efficiency, ease of use, battery life, and value for money. We also measured how loud it was with the Sound Meter decibel-counting app and tested its water resistance by submerging it underwater for the duration of a two-minute brushing cycle.