As soon as a child is a few weeks old, insurance companies can issue life insurance policies on them.

That is actually the best time to purchase life insurance for your child.

Child life insurance plans offer the lowest rates at this age and you can lock in that rate for the rest of your child's life, all the while accumulating cash value inside your child's life insurance policy which can be borrowed against or used in later years for retirement with a permanent child life insurance policy.

Insuring your child with life insurance is very affordable and offers several benefits.

First, in case of the loss of your child's life, it would provide funds to pay for final expenses which can range from $7,000 to $10,000 or more.

Next, child life insurance can help to protect your child's future insurability. If your child develops health issues, such as, juvenile diabetes or cancer and you have purchased a permanent life insurance policy, your child now has life insurance at a very affordable rate for the rest of his or her life.

In addition, purchasing cash value child life insurance coverage can help your child in later life with funds to be used for college, a down payment for a house, or even retirement.

Here's how to buy life insurance for your child.