Night Lights & The Benefits For Your Child

Practical with adorable designs, night lights are the perfect addition to your baby's nursery for an enchanting glow. And, understandably, many parents are worried about the effects these illuminating lights may have on their baby's vision development. So let us tell you real quick — infant night light poses no cause for concern, according to a recent scientific study! In fact, doctors have concluded that night lights may benefit infant development and recommend parents leave a night light on in their baby's room to help boost visual development, particularly from birth to four months of age.

Pros of using night lights

One of the main benefits of using a night light is that it helps to reduce your child's fear of the dark. Many children experience discomfort or anxiety when it is time to sleep in a pitch-black room. Having a night light helps provide a soft and soothing glow that may offer a sense of comfort and help them fall asleep more easily.

Placing a night light in your baby's room also gives convenience to you or the caretaker during night visits. If your elder child wakes up during the night, the dim-lit surroundings can help them navigate the room safely, reducing the risks of accidents and stumbling in the dark. 

Cons of using night lights

A potential setback of using a night light is the dependency might make it harder for your child to eventually transition to sleeping without it. As they grow older, children need to develop the ability to sleep in varied environments and adapt to different lighting conditions.

Additionally, some experts state that using a night light may disrupt the natural sleep-wake cycle. Exposure to light, although it is dim, can disturb the production of melatonin (the hormone that regulates sleep), which can lead to difficulties in falling asleep and staying asleep throughout the night.

Tips for using night lights

• Use a night light with a warm or red colour — blue tones light are what disturb your sleep when you sleep with the TV on or you lie in bed on your phone. A warm or red tones light, however, will not interfere with circadian rhythm and melatonin production.
  
  
• Avoid harsh lighting — this type of lighting can be overstimulating and cause your baby to be upset. Soft lighting or dimmable LED lights are perfect for babies to sleep at night.
  
  
• Use LED lights — ensure the light is low-wattage and dim as the baby's eyes are sensitive and can be damaged by bright lights. LED lights are safe for the eyes and are a good selection for the baby's room. They are cost-effective, too!
  
  
• Keep it a safe distance from your child — you don't want to place it too close to your child's sleeping area as it may interrupt their sleep, but you also don't want them having to walk too far in the dark if they need to use the bathroom at night.

Top night lights on Babydash

Cloud B CloudBox

includes immersive stories as well as sounds and light projection.

bblüv Hibü Night Light

compact, durable, and portable which makes it easy for your child to take it everywhere they go!

Infantino Musical Soother & Night Light Projector

plays lullaby music while projecting a colourful, moving light display.

Fisher-Price Ocean Wonders Soothe & Glow Seahorse

features a soft glow with soothing music and sounds of the ocean to comfort baby.

VTech Glowing Lullabies Elephant

features gentle light, soothing lullabies, loving phrases, and relaxing sounds.