When to use a night light?

Is your child afraid of the dark?

I've always said , "The darker the room, the better you sleep." But what about when your child asks for a night light?

We're going to talk about introducing night lights to your little one without disrupting their nighttime sleep!

As a mother of two girls, ages five and seven, and as a sleep consultant, I let my daughters use a night light. If it were up to them, they would have all the lights on, except I'm sure it would disrupt their sleep. They have been using a night light since they were three and four years old .

When should I introduce a night light?

When it comes to introducing a night light, I recommend starting around age three , when nighttime fears start to creep into your child's mind. Despite this recommendation, I still want to keep the room dark to help with sleep. I understand that fear of the dark is a part of childhood , as I remember having a night light in my room when I was little.

What type of night light should you buy?

When buying a night light, avoid lights like blue, white, or any other harsh light. It is better to opt for what is called amber light. You can dim the light and adjust it to suit your needs. Take a look at our collection .

What color night light should I use?

I like to think of all the colors in the light spectrum ! Red is proven to be the least disruptive color to your child's sleep. Other colors, especially bright lights like blue, can be filtered through closed eyelids and signal that it's time to wake up. We don't want our children to wake up in the middle of the night, see a bright light, and think it's time to wake up. Amber, orange, and warm red tones won't keep your child awake .

Where should I place my night light?

Now that you know what color light is best for your child, let's talk about placement in their room. I don't know how spacious your child's room is, but in our family, we try to place the night light out of direct line of sight . I avoid placing the night light right in front of my daughters' faces, even if they change positions while sleeping, so it doesn't wake them up in the middle of the night. Do you have younger children? For safety reasons, if your little one is still in their crib, my rule is to place nothing within three feet of the crib . I think this is a good rule for toddlers and preschoolers.

How to Introduce a Night Light into Your Bedtime Routine

The first time you introduce a night light, it’s best to get your child involved! When you bring a night light home (or order one online), let them hold it. Take it to the outlet and help them plug it into the wall .

This will make him feel like he owns his night light . Depending on the model, you can ask your child to turn on the night light every night. The first night, the child may not fall asleep as quickly. But after a few days, the novelty will wear off and the night light will become part of your bedtime routine.

Is your night light disturbing your child's sleep?

If your child falls asleep quickly and feels more reassured about his fear of the dark, you are on the right track! On the other hand, if your child wakes up more frequently, calls more often and gets up earlier, I recommend you lower the intensity of the lights . Or, if that is not possible or does not work, tell him that he does not need a night light and that he may need a stuffed animal instead to feel more secure.

Some children will always need encouragement at bedtime, no matter what! If you are struggling with a bedtime routine that requires you to go back multiple times to encourage your child to fall asleep, we can help!

We want to be your partner in helping you make sure sleep remains a reality as your child grows and changes! Sweet dreams.