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Nighttime can be dark and dreary for your child. Chase away his fears by installing a night light inside the room. Night lights are handy if you want to leave a small illumination inside the room without having to use the main lights. The glow is enough for them to see things, but not distract away from sleep. Parents would also enjoy the benefits of having a night light since they won’t need to do things in the dark, like changing the baby’s diapers.
Pros of Having a Baby Night Light
There are certain benefits in using a night light in the room of your little one, or even for yourself.
- Kids who are afraid of the dark will be comforted by the night, even if its illumination is somehow weak.
- Provides light so diaper changing in the middle of the night can be done in minutes without disasters.
- The night light is great for parents checking their babies at night without the need to switch on the main lights.
- Toddlers who can’t sleep without their favorite toys or comforters would need the light to locate them. No more mindless searching and crying at night.
- The soft glow will not disrupt your sleep cycle, in case you check on the baby.
- Night lights are cheaper to use than ceiling light. It saves on electricity, but still effective in providing the necessary illumination.
Varieties of Night Lights
Plugin Night Light
This type is a favorite among parents since it is easy to use with tried-and-tested efficiency. You can expect built-in sensors from modern plugin night lights, which makes the management of such devices easier. Daylight sensors will automatically switch the night light on when the room turns dark. Meanwhile, motion sensors will turn on the light as it detects movement nearby.
Soft Night Lights
This type is made up of a stuffed toy with light inside it. You can put it in bed with your baby for cuddling and illuminating purposes. Its light is soft enough not to hurt the baby’s eyes within close distance, but provide the necessary illumination to chase the shadows away.
Projection Night Light
This variety projects an image onto the wall or ceiling of a room. A favorite among kids, you can have their favorite superhero or Disney princess illuminated at night so the kid can take comfort from it. Placing the night light projector in the right spot is tricky, since the wrong projection can render the images too slow or too big.
Portable Night Light
As implied by the name, this type of night light will not need a power outlet to shine. This is handy if you have limited sockets in the room. It can be placed anywhere with less wiring. Rechargeable batteries are favored for this kind of night light to avoid constant replacement.
Lamp and Shade
Lamps are pretty traditional, and can be cheaper than night lights. However, unless you are using a low-light bulb or the lamp has a brightness adjustment feature, this type can interfere with sleeping.
Candle
While candles are opted by practical parents, there are certain risks in using it. If you do choose this, make sure to extinguish them every time you leave the room. Never let the baby near it since its hotness can burn.
What to Consider When Choosing a Best Night Light for Baby
Power Outlet
Before buying a night light, study the layout of your child’s room. If there are electrical sockets near the crib or bed, a plugin type will suffice. However, if power outlets are too far, invest in portable or rechargeable ones. Make sure that the brightness is also enough, no matter how far or near you place the night light from the baby.
Light Color
Skip a calming blue, and go for red and orange hues. They imitate the sunset, which signals the body to go to bed. The red color is also effective in encouraging better sleep.
Type of Bulb
The recommended type is LED, which is not hot to touch, but does the job well. Halogen ones can get too hot, while others won’t last long.
Brightness
The brightness should be enough to brighten the room, but not too much that it will cause the baby to wake up. Do a quick test by using the night light and closing your eyes. If you can still see the light even with eyes closed, it might interfere with sleep.
Other features
Depending on your needs, you might want to look into extra features when buying a night light, such as:
- Timer
- Thermometers
- Bulb color changes
- Portable handles
- Sensors
- Music boxes
The Best Night Light for Baby
Best Projection Night Light
Summer Infant Slumber Buddies Night Light
- Available in Butterfly, Elephant and Bee styles
- Has a cuddly design
- Can play soothing music
- Has a timer that can be set to 15-minute, 30-minute and 45-minute intervals
- Projects stars into ceiling
- Price & Reviews
Best Toddler Night Light
Munchkin Light My Way Night Light
- Uses an LED bulb
- Very portable
- Features an easy grip
- Has a 20-minute timer
- Price & Reviews
Best Modern Night Light
Boon Glo Night Light
- Features a modern and unique design
- Plastic structure free from BPA, PVC and Phthalate
- You can choose among multiple color choices
- Has portable balls
- Price & Reviews
Best Thermometer Night Light
Aloha Light My Way Night Light
- Can be recharged via USB
- Shows the room temperature
- Uses an LED bulb
- Bulb can change color depending on temperature readings (blue, orange and green)
- Each charge provides 13 hours of light
- Price & Reviews
Best Plug-in Night Light
Safety 1st LED Plugin Night Light
- Features low brightness
- Cool to touch
- Uses LED bulb
- Has a night sensor for automatic lighting
- Price & Reviews
Safety Concerns about Night Light
- Babies should be kept away from night lights with small parts. Read the packaging and make sure that the baby will not be at risk of a choking hazard.
- Be attentive about recall lists, since the bulbs can become too hot and cause fires or burns. Contact the manufacturer about it and discontinue its use.
- Electrocution is a deadly occurrence, so keep your baby safe by keeping him way from night lights in general. He might attempt to unplug it or even spill liquid on it. When he wants o unplug it, be around to supervise.
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