I’m sure that we all know by now the importance and benefits of having a good night’s sleep! Improved mood, improved concentration, better learning, health, growth, immunity, memory, the list goes on…and I’m not just talking about children. Disrupted sleep affects the entire family!

Getting a good night’s sleep is front and centre of many families’ minds and along with having a consistent bedtime routine, being exposed to sunlight and exercise during the day, sleeping in a darkened, cool room, using a night light could be one of the weapons in your attack on sleepless nights.

Now, all night lights are not created equal, and choosing the wrong night light could have the opposite affect and make sleep worse. So, if you have decided to use a night light in your nursery or children’s bedroom, it’s important that you use it on a dim setting and with a red light option. Red is the only colour that does not interfere with the body’s natural production of Melatonin – the hormone that helps you to sleep well. Head to ourred light blogif you would like to learn more about the importance of a red light at night.

To help you decide if using a night light is right for your family, we have compiled a list of the benefits of using one during each stage of life.

Babies

A night light could be beneficial in your nursery to help with nappy changes and night feeds. This will remove the need to put a bright light on and help to keep bubs sleepy whilst enabling you to see what you are doing.

If you have already tried a night light, you may need a more all-round sleep solution. Try to add white noise and make sure that you are using your light on red. 

Suggested night light:Duski Dream Guardian

Key features:

• Easy to use remote – perfect when you are juggling nappies, baby, bottles, etc.
• Can also act as a sound machine
• Has the red-light option
• Is dimmable down to sleep mode
• Rechargeable
• Has a timer.

Toddlers

Fear of the dark can happen anywhere from 2 years onwards. This can be short lived or last for a lot longer. Adding a night light can give them the reassurance they need during the night. It will also give you a dim light if you still need to change nappies or for trips to the toilet during the night.

At this age, adding a role play element to your night light may also help them to get to sleep, with their guardian or fairy watching over them. You may also need to add sound if you have already tried a night light and found that it’s not working quite as well as you had hoped. Remember to ensure that your light is on red.

Suggested night light:Duski Dream Guardian

Key features:

• Easy to use remote
• Tactile, squishy baby safe silicone woodland protector
• Can also act as a sound machine or used to stream meditation tracks
• Has the red-light option
• Is dimmable down to sleep mode
• Rechargeable
• Has a timer.

Preschool – 3 years +

Adding a night light to your bedtime routine can help as fear of the dark can continue or start to rear its ugly head as monsters become real to them and noises in the night become living entities. Children will also be starting pre-school and change can sometimes be scary and lead to disrupted sleep. Again, role play at night time works wonders with this age group.

Suggested night light:Duski Dream Guardian

Key features:

• Rechargeable
• Tactile squishy woodland protector
• Gentle light to visit the bathroom safely
• Red light option
• Stream meditation tracks to calm busy minds
• Dimmable down to sleep mode
• Easy to use remote.

School age

A night light could be beneficial as fear of the dark can continue or start to rear its ugly head as children’s imaginations continue to soar. Changing school years or friendship groups can sometimes be challenging, scary and lead to disrupted sleep too. A night light can also provide safety in the night if children need to use the toilet, removing the need to switch the main light on.

Suggested night light:Duski Dream Light

Key features:

• Classic night light in choice of designs
• Red light option
• Dimmable down to sleep mode
• Gentle light to visit the bathroom
• Easy to use remote
• Timer
• Plug in.

Teens

Being a teenager is hard! Enter high school and hormones! Friendship groups seem to constantly change. Mood swings, changes to their body. If ever there was a time for calming, soothing night time routines it would be now! But night times are full of blue light from the television and mobile devices, and did we mention hormones?! If you find that your teen is unable to get to sleep or is waking through the night, try meditation to relax them while they go to sleep and perhaps a red light.

Suggested night light:Dream Catcher Dream Light

Key features:

• Classic night light in boho design
• Red light option
• Dimmable down to sleep mode
• Gentle, calming light
• Easy to use remote
• Timer
• Plug in. 

You could also try aDream Guardianwith the added benefit of having the ability to stream calming sounds and meditation tracks. There are cute woodland design options like a bear or an owl or fox.

Adults

Fear of the dark can affect anyone, at any age, not just children. Especially if you have been through a traumatic event or your life has suddenly changed track. Being able to get to sleep and sleep well through the night supports your overall health. Lack of adequate sleep can increase your risk of depression, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes so use whatever tools you have available to help you to sleep, including a night light.

Suggested night light:Dream Catcher Dream Light

Key features:

• Classic night light in boho design
• Red light option
• Dimmable down to sleep mode
• Gentle, calming light
• Easy to use remote
• Timer
• Plug in.

If you have any questions after reading our comprehensive list of night light suggestions or are still unsure which night light is best for your family, please don’t hesitate toreach out. We’re always here to help.