How to use a rabbit vibrator: get aroused, add water-based lube, and slide the shaft in slowly with the ears (the external arm) facing your clitoris. Tilt the handle until the ears land, start on the lowest setting, and change the angle before the depth. If the ears still miss, use each part on its own.
What is a rabbit vibrator, and how does it work?
A rabbit vibrator, or bunny vibrator, is a toy with two working parts: an insertable shaft that goes in the vagina and an external arm, the "ears," that sits on the clitoris.[1] Some models run each part on its own motor, so either one can work alone.[2]
The clitoris is bigger than it looks: it's a network of erectile tissue and nerves with parts inside and outside the body, and the nub at the top of the vulva is just the part you can see.[3] That visible part, the glans, is what the ears are aimed at.[3]
The case for a dual rabbit vibrator is in the numbers. In a 2015 survey of 1,055 US women aged 18 to 94, drawn from a nationally representative panel, 18.4% said intercourse alone was enough for orgasm.[4] Another 36.6% said clitoral stimulation was necessary for orgasm during intercourse, and a further 36% said it wasn't needed but made their orgasms feel better.[4] Those last two groups are who the ears are for.
Shop by features, not looks: the toys in our rabbit vibrators collection differ in shaft motion, arm flex and controls.
How to use a rabbit vibrator, step by step
Set up first, start outside, and add the shaft last.
- Charge it and learn the buttons before you're in bed, including whether the ears get their own.
- Warm up. Arousal makes the vagina expand and lubricate, which keeps friction from feeling painful.[5]
- Lube both parts with a water-based lube. It's a safe bet with silicone toys.[6]
- Start outside. Hold the ears against your clitoris on the lowest setting before anything goes in. That's also how to use a clitoral vibrator, and it shows you what intensity you like.
- Insert slowly, ears facing your clitoris and the curve toward your belly. That aims the shaft at the front vaginal wall, where pressure feels pleasurable to some people; the area is sometimes called the G-spot.[7] More in our G-spot guide.
- Land the ears with angle, not depth. Tilt the handle a little at a time until the ears sit where you want them. Then try a touch deeper or shallower.
- Turn up one part at a time if the controls are separate, so you know which change you like.
- Rock, don't stroke. Small rocking or grinding keeps the ears in place, while long in-and-out strokes drag them off.
Positions that keep the ears in place
Pick a position that keeps your hips steady and a hand free.
- On your back, knees bent, pillow under your hips. Easy to see and reach. Trade-off: your wrist holds the angle the whole time.
- On your side. One hand runs the handle and the other holds the ears down. Trade-off: less leverage for firm pressure.
- Face-down or kneeling, handle braced on a pillow. You grind against the ears while the pillow steadies the toy. Trade-off: the buttons are hard to reach, so set the speed first.
- With a partner on the handle. Agree on it first, keep the words simple ("higher," "lower," "stop") and check in when they change anything. Trade-off: they can't feel where the ears land, so tell them.
Why doesn't my rabbit vibrator reach my clit?
Because the gap between shaft and ears on a rigid rabbit is set at the factory, and bodies aren't built to one spec. Researchers measured from the clitoral glans to the urethral opening (a stand-in for the vaginal opening) and found anything from 1.6 cm to 4.5 cm.[8] That's roughly 5/8 inch to 1 3/4 inches, by our conversion. Wherever your body falls in that range, a rigid arm won't move to meet you.
That range comes from a 2005 study that also measured clitoral size and vaginal length.[8][9] All three varied widely from woman to woman.[9] Ears that miss are a fit problem, not a body problem.
Depth shifts as you go, too. The vagina is about 3 to 4 inches (7 to 10 centimeters) deep unaroused and can stretch to about 4 to 8 inches when aroused.[5] A shaft that bumps early may sit fine after a longer warm-up.
And dead center isn't always the goal. The glans has about 10,000 nerve endings, and too much pressure or direct touch may feel painful.[3] Ears resting just beside it, on a lower setting, may feel better.
Fit fixes: what to change when the ears miss
Find your symptom, then work left to right.
| Symptom | Try this now | Look for in your next rabbit |
|---|---|---|
| Ears land above the clitoris | Tilt the handle in small steps before changing depth, or guide the arm with a fingertip | A flexible arm, or a bend-and-hold body you can reshape[2] |
| Ears fall short | Hold the arm in place, or take the shaft out and use the ears alone as a clitoral vibrator | A G-spot vibrator plus a bullet vibrator you can place separately |
| Ears on target but too intense | Drop to the lowest setting, or shift the ears slightly off-center[3] | Independent controls, so the ears can run lower than the shaft[2] |
| Only works while you hold the arm | Keep holding it; that's a real technique. Lie on your side to free a hand | A bend-and-hold body that keeps the shape you set[2] |
| Ears slide off when you move | Rock or grind instead of stroking, and move your hips rather than the handle | A rotating or thrusting shaft, which moves inside so your hand doesn't have to[10][11] |
| Shaft feels too long or bumps | Insert less and warm up longer, since depth increases with arousal.[5] Stop if it hurts | A listed insertable length you can compare, or a petite body |
When to stop and get it checked
Pain is a stop sign, not a fit problem to push through. If you have frequent or severe pain during sex, see an ob-gyn or another health care professional to find out what's causing it.[12] Itching, burning or pain after a new lube or soap can be contact dermatitis, a reaction to an irritating product.[12] Switch to plain, unscented products, and see a clinician if it doesn't settle or if you notice unusual discharge, odor or sores.
If you're pregnant, have recently given birth or had pelvic or genital surgery, ask your clinician before you use anything insertable. After a birth, Cleveland Clinic advises keeping toys out of the vagina for a few weeks.[13]
Classic, rotating, thrusting or flexible: which rabbit fits you?
Choose by what you want the shaft to do and how much give your fit needs. A rotating rabbit turns its curved tip as well as vibrating it.[10] A thrusting rabbit vibrator moves its tip up and down on its own.[11] Some flexible rabbits bend and hold a shape, so you can reset the gap between shaft and arm.[2]
Only one of the five below lists an insertable length, and none lists arm reach. We'd rather write "not listed" than guess.
| Style | What the shaft does | Good for | Trade-off | On our shelf |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classic vibrating | Vibrates; you supply any motion | A first rabbit at a lower price | In-and-out strokes are on you, and they pull the ears off | Kroma Turbo Passion Rabbit, $69.99. Petite, flexible silicone body; IPX7 waterproof and submersible. Insertable length not listed |
| Rotating | Curved tip turns and vibrates | Movement inside while the handle stays still | More to learn: 10 vibration functions, 3 rotation speeds | Jack Rabbit Elite Rotating, $119.99. Waterproof wording and insertable length not listed. Kristy's 5-star review on our product page: "It’s amazing!" |
| Thrusting | Tip moves up and down by itself | In-and-out motion without moving your hand | Priciest here; a 150-minute charge for over an hour of play | Jack Rabbit Signature Thrusting Rabbit, $189.99. Silicone. Waterproof wording and insertable length not listed |
| Flexible shaft and arm | Vibrates and flexes | Ears that miss on rigid rabbits | Flex helps you adjust, but it can't add reach | We-Vibe Nova 2, $149.99. IPX7 waterproof, listed for bath or shower; app control. Insertable length not listed |
| Rotating with a flexible arm | Head rotates | Fit trouble plus app control | IPX6 splashproof, so keep it out of the bath | Lovense Nora, $149.99. Silicone and ABS; insertable length 4.72 in (120 mm) |
Suzie's take: Not sure how your body lines up? Make your first rabbit one with a flexible arm. A rigid arm is a bet that your body matches its factory gap. Flex isn't magic, but it gives you room to adjust before you give up on the toy.
What does "jack rabbit" mean?
Jack Rabbit is a CalExotics collection name, not a separate type of toy.[10][14] The line includes rotating and thrusting models, like the two above.[10][11] So a jack rabbit vibrator works like any rabbit: follow the same steps, then add the rotation or thrusting once you're comfortable.
What to check on the product page before you buy
- Insertable length. Often missing; when it's listed, compare it with the depth that feels good to you.
- A flexible or bendable arm. The most useful feature if your ears miss, because it's the part that adapts.
- Independent controls for shaft and ears, so either can run alone.[2]
- Material. 100% silicone, not a blend, jelly rubber or TPE (more on why below).[6]
- Waterproof wording. "Waterproof," "submersible" and "splashproof" are different claims, so go by the exact words.
- Charging. Compare charge time with play time. The Kroma takes a 1.25-hour charge for 65 minutes on high.
Which lube and materials are safe with a rabbit vibrator?
Water-based lube is a safe bet with any toy and any condom, including a silicone rabbit.[6] Silicone lube can react with the solid silicone in a toy and damage it, so save it for when the toy wears a condom.[6] It does last longer and tends to be more slippery.[12]
The ob-gyns at ACOG call water-soluble lube a good choice if you get vaginal irritation or sensitivity.[12] With condoms, skip petroleum jelly, baby oil and mineral oil, which can dissolve latex and cause the condom to break.[12]
For anything that goes inside, Planned Parenthood recommends non-porous materials like 100% silicone, hard plastic, stainless steel, aluminum and break-resistant glass, which don't absorb germs.[6] Materials that may be porous, including silicone blends, jelly rubber, PVC, vinyl, TPR, TPE and elastomer, can absorb germs even when washed.[6] Already own one? Use it with a condom.[6]
One small study is another reason we lean silicone. Twelve women used a TPE vibrator and a silicone one; 24 hours after cleaning with a commercial cleaner, HPV DNA still showed up on some TPE shaft swabs and on none of the silicone ones.[15] It measured HPV DNA, not infections, but it makes a decent tiebreaker.
How do you clean a rabbit vibrator?
Wash it with mild soap and water after every use.[6]
- Check the care directions and the waterproof wording before it goes under the tap, since they differ by model.[6]
- Use unscented soap. Perfumed soaps can irritate the vulva.[12]
- Dry it fully before you store it or plug it in.
- Sharing? Wash it and cover it with a new condom before anyone else uses it.[16]
- Never go from anus to vagina without washing the toy or changing the condom; anal germs in the vagina can lead to vaginitis.[6] That goes for every part of the toy, not just the shaft.
For the full routine, see how to clean your sex toys.
Quick answers
How do you use a dual rabbit vibrator?
Like any rabbit: "dual" just means shaft inside, ears outside.[1] All eight steps apply.
Are rabbit vibrators good for beginners?
Yes, if you start with the ears alone and add the shaft later. In one US survey of 2,056 women aged 18 to 60, published in 2009, 52.5% had used a vibrator, and 71.5% said they'd never had genital symptoms linked to vibrator use.[17][18] Cheapest in our table: the Kroma, $69.99, petite and waterproof.
Can men use a rabbit vibrator?
Yes. The vibrating parts work on any body: vibrators can stimulate the penis, scrotum and testicles, nipples and anus, not just the vulva.[6] The shaft is shaped for a vagina, though, so on other bodies the ears do the work.
Can you use a rabbit vibrator anally?
Keep the shaft out of your anus unless the product page says it's designed for anal use. Anything in your butt needs lube and a flared base, or another way to pull it out, so it can't slip all the way in.[6] Go slowly, stop if anything hurts, and get medical advice for any pain or bleeding.[19] Skip numbing products: they dull pain, so you may not notice when you're getting hurt.[20]
Do you need to find your G-spot?
No. Pressure on the front vaginal wall feels pleasurable to some people, not everyone.[7] And researchers who've gone looking for a distinct G-spot structure haven't found strong, consistent evidence that one exists.[21] If the shaft does little for you, the ears alone are a perfectly good way to use a rabbit.
Can you use a rabbit vibrator in the shower?
Only if the product page says waterproof. In our table, only the Nova 2 and the Kroma are listed as waterproof (IPX7).
How do you charge a rabbit vibrator?
Plug in its charging cable, and only when the toy is dry. The Nora and the Kroma charge by USB, and the Elite Rotating takes a 2-hour charge for 120 minutes of play.
How do you turn on a rabbit vibrator?
Check the manual, since controls differ: the Elite Rotating has a 3-button control pad. (Turning yourself on is step 2.)
Which rabbit should you try if the ears keep missing?
One with a flexible arm. The We-Vibe Nova 2 and the Lovense Nora both have one, and both are currently $149.99. Pick the Nova 2 if you want a waterproof toy for the bath or shower, or the Nora for rotation and a listed 4.72-inch insertable length. Or find another flexible arm in our rabbit vibrators.
Sources
- WE VIBE NOVA 2 BLUE, We-Vibe (manufacturer description on the Suzie's product page)
- FLEX BEND & HOLD DOUBLE RUMBLER PURPLE, CalExotics (manufacturer description on the Suzie's product page)
- Clitoris: Anatomy, Location, Purpose & Conditions, Cleveland Clinic
- Women's Experiences With Genital Touching, Sexual Pleasure, and Orgasm: Results From a U.S. Probability Sample of Women Ages 18 to 94 (Herbenick D, Fu TJ, Arter J, Sanders SA, Dodge B, 2018), Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, abstract on PubMed
- Vagina: Anatomy, Function, Conditions & Care, Cleveland Clinic
- Sex Toys, Planned Parenthood
- Vulva: Location, Anatomy, Function, Conditions & Care, Cleveland Clinic
- Female sexual arousal: genital anatomy and orgasm in intercourse (Wallen K, Lloyd EA, 2011), Hormones and Behavior (Elsevier), full text on PubMed Central
- Female genital appearance: "normality" unfolds (Lloyd J, Crouch NS, Minto CL, Liao LM, Creighton SM, 2005), BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, abstract on PubMed
- JACK RABBIT ELITE ROTATING BLUE, CalExotics (manufacturer description on the Suzie's product page)
- JACK RABBIT SIGNATURE THRUSTING RABBIT PURPLE, CalExotics (manufacturer description on the Suzie's product page)
- When Sex Is Painful, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
- What You Should Know About Postpartum Sex, Cleveland Clinic (Health Essentials)
- Jack attack: CalExotics unveils new luxury Jack Rabbit Signature collection, ETO (Erotic Trade Only), trade press
- A study of human papillomavirus on vaginally inserted sex toys, before and after cleaning, among women who have sex with women and men (Anderson TA, Schick V, Herbenick D, Dodge B, Fortenberry JD, 2014), Sexually Transmitted Infections (BMJ), abstract on PubMed
- Chlamydia, NHS
- Prevalence and characteristics of vibrator use by women in the United States: results from a nationally representative study (Herbenick D, Reece M, Sanders S, Dodge B, Ghassemi A, Fortenberry JD, 2009), The Journal of Sexual Medicine, abstract on PubMed
- Prevalence and characteristics of vibrator use by women in the United States: results from a nationally representative study (Herbenick D, Reece M, Sanders S, Dodge B, Ghassemi A, Fortenberry JD, 2009), The Journal of Sexual Medicine, abstract via Europe PMC
- Anal Play: for men and for women (Better Sex booklet series), Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL) sexual health service
- Lidocaine; Hydrocortisone Rectal Cream or Gel, Cleveland Clinic
- Is the female G-spot truly a distinct anatomic entity? (Kilchevsky A, Vardi Y, Lowenstein L, Gruenwald I, 2012), The Journal of Sexual Medicine, abstract on PubMed
