There are several reasons why you may make use of a night light in your baby or toddler’s room - and the reasons tend to differ between the two.

For babies, you should opt for a very dim night light that can be beneficial for you when you come in to check on them at different times during the night. In general, babies benefit most from the dark as it helps with the production of melatonin so they can sleep more easily. 

Babies don’t have an inherent fear of the dark, so night lights don’t serve that specific purpose for them. But a gentle, dim light can still be comforting and makes it less disruptive when they wake up and need you. It’s worth investing in a night light that includes white noise, especially if the noise mimics the sound of breathing or a beating heart.

It’s around the age of two that young ones can develop a fear of the dark. If your toddler develops this fear and other methods of calming haven’t worked, a gentle night light can make it much easier for them to calm down and fall asleep.

For babies, you don’t want to go with an overwhelming night light. Avoid any exceedingly bright night lights or ensure you’re using a night light that has dimmer options and warmer-hued colours like orange and red. These lights can provide subtle illumination that won’t interfere with a baby’s general need for darkness.

You can always give your baby time to fall asleep in the dark and then switch on a dim night light. That allows you to come in and care for them when they wake without needing to turn on the main bedroom light.

We also strongly recommend a night light that includes different types of white noise and comforting ambient sounds. Babies benefit from present background noise, especially those that mimic the sounds of a parent’s heartbeat or breathing, as mentioned previously. These reflect the sounds they heard in the womb or when resting on a parent’s stomach.

Yes, night lights are perfectly safe for babies, but you just need to be mindful of how you use them. 

As noted, you won’t want the light to be too disruptive - so go with a night light that can be sufficiently dimmed and uses warmer colours. Keep the light out of your baby’s direct line of sight and preferably turn it on after they’ve fallen asleep.

The night light will be at its most beneficial when it allows you to go in and care for them for nighttime feedings and nappy changes.  

As we touched on, you should account for the following features when deciding on a night light specifically for your baby:

• Go for a night light that offers warm colour hues and can be sufficiently dimmed so that the room is mostly dark.
• A night light that includes white noise functionality can be particularly beneficial in helping them fall asleep and stay asleep.
• Consider a night light that allows you to schedule its turn-on and turn-off times - that way, you can set it to turn on after the usual time they fall asleep. This allows them to benefit from the natural dark they need to fall asleep while lessening the likelihood of them fully waking up thanks to dimmer lighting when you feed them or change their nappy during the night.

Yes, as long as you purchase a night light that’s designed with babies in mind. Ideally, let your baby fall asleep in the dark and then have the night light on for when they wake up and need your attention. The dimmer lighting will ensure they don’t jolt awake from excessively bright lights while you feed them or change their nappy.

As your baby gets older and reaches their toddler years (1-3 years), especially around the 2-year mark, they may develop a fear of the dark. It’s during this time when night lights with warm but brighter tones may be particularly helpful. You can have the light on before they fall asleep, especially if their fear of the dark is what’s preventing them from relaxing and falling asleep in the first place.