Do You Use a Night Light in Your Baby's Room?

A nightlight was definitely a must for my son when he was a baby. It definitely seemed to calm him when he woke up at night and was able to see where he was. I plugged it in one of the outlets near the floor and with the bumper around the crib, it didn't shine directly in his eyes. He's now 5 and still has a nightlight in his room so he can see when he has to get up to go to the bathroom at night. It was also helpful when he started thinking there might be monsters in his room when he was 3!

When my son was that age, we used a mobile that lit up. It had an aquarium in the base of the mobile that would light up and a little fish would swim around. It would only stay on for a few minutes and then turn itself off. It was enough to help him go to sleep but it wouldn't disturb his sleep in the middle of the night (ie, if he woke up he wouldn't confuse the night light with morning light). I would suggest a product like this with a built in timer.

I leave the closet light on with the door open, only because I have not gotten a night light yet, but it works for my daughter very well, we tried leaving it off a few nights ago and she noticed, so I say having a light of any sort is good for self soothing.

We have a night light in my son's room. He's been in his own room since he was 5 months old and has always had one in there and will continue until he determines otherwise.

I use to be scared of the dark, so I always had a night light, up until I was around 15 or 16. Now, I can't stand any light in the room, even the little blue light from the DirecTv box. I still don't like the dark, but I need it to sleep now.

I find comfort when I look towards my son's room & can see the little glow coming from his room. Hope you figure out what's beset for you & your son!

Hi C.
I have also heard about certain lights will cause the eye to move towards it while sleeping and that's where the vision problem starts. I do have night lights in the kids rooms now... I didn't at the beginning. I place he light where there is something blocking their direct view of the night light so there's enough for the room but not something that they can stare at directly while awake or asleep. Walmart has real pretty LED ones that are not too bright and you don't have to worry about replacing bulbs or someone touching it and getting burned. Good Luck!

We use a lava lamp. It has a soothing effect and offfrs a low light to check on him during the night. He loves to watch it!
Cathy

My 16 month old twin girls (who sleep in seperate rooms) never slept through the night even with a night light, until I left a lamp on (with a 15 watt bulb). They've slept through the night every night since. Too bad I didn't figure it out before they were 11 months old - HA!

I think it's a matter of trial and error. With my twin boys, I had used a mobile with a light on it but after a couple of uses I realized it was keeping them up and making matters worse. So we decided not to use a night light. They are great sleepers now so it hasn't been an issue. I think every kid is different so you'll just have to try and see if it makes a difference. Good luck!

We used on of those toys that straps to the side of the crib and plays music and light up a little bit. Once he was old enough, he would turn it on by pushing the button if he woke up during the night. This helped him go right back to sleep.

Once he moved to his toddler bed we continued to use it so that he can give himself light if he needs it when he is waking up, or when he is trying to go back to sleep.

When a night light (or any light really) shines in his room he sleeps horribly.

C., no do not put a light in his room. The brain needs darknsss to restore itself - the night is no accident. Although you are asleep, even the smallest amount of light is internally disruptive. Why start something unnecessarily? Be careful about visiting your habits onto your children. That you like a light does not mean that you need to teach your children to want light. It is all habit. Your daughter is fine. Your son will be fine. Let their brains repair/restore as needed. J. Gordon

We have one in our daughter's room. I think it would be scary for a small child or baby to wake up in complete darkness.

Hi, C.!
I'm not sure how true it is, but I have heard that nightlights can cause vision problems when used over an extended period of time. You might want to check with your eye doctor before you use one. (I have also heard the same thing about watching t.v. in the dark. Of course, we still go to sleep watching t.v. And, I blame staring at a computer all day on my failing eyesight! LOL)

Good luck with your choice!

I use a night light so I can see better when I have to go in and check on the baby or see why he is crying. (He's 14 months). I have heard that they are not ideal for the eyes, but I have not investigated that further. My older kids sleep with a closet or hall light on. That makes them feel better.

Hi C., I use a night light in both of my children's rooms (ages now 5 and 14 years). I loved the night light as babies for night time feedings, diaper changes etc... it also helps as they get older for keeping the night time creepies away! I do unplug them every morning to do my small part on "going green" and to save on electricity! There are so many beautiful ones out there, I have ones called "Switchables" that have interchangeable faces made from stained glass for all seasons, themes etc... Hope this helps.

J. H.

We had a night ligth in our daughter's room until she started sleeping through the night. The bulb burned out one night just after she fell asleep and it dodn't seem to bother her, So for the next few nights I didn't use the night light. She has been sleeping just fine (18 months now). We also have black out curtains on her windows so she'll be able to sleep later in mornings if she wants. She averages an 8pm bedtime and between 8-9am wake up. We recently had an overnight hotel stay and put her in the "living room" in her pack and play. My husband left a small light on in case she got scared being in a different place. She didn't sleep until I went and turned the light off. All kids are different. Some need the light and others don't. My daughter may decide she needs on later on but for now she's just great without it.

Both my kids have night lights (the kind that go out during the day). But what started it was that it made it easier for me to check on them at night. I also have one in the hall way and one in the bathroom so my daughter could find her way at night.

So it has became a habit for them to use one. My son (he's 2) also has a very small table lamp that I turn on at night when he goes to bed. After we read a few books together he likes to sit in his bed and leaf through them for a few minutes. So I turn that one on so he can see. He is normally asleep about 5 mins later.

S.