But not all night-lights are conducive to good sleep. “The most important thing in choosing a night-light is the color; the light should offer a warm, red/amber/orange hue option,” explains Allison Panesar, founder and certified sleep consultant at the Sleep Collaborative. “The night-light also should be quite dim or have a dimmer, as using a night-light that is too bright can make sleep more difficult. You also do not want to place the night-light too close to the child’s crib or bed whenever possible.” Other things to consider when choosing a night-light are extra features like music and sounds, battery options, projected images, and alarm capabilities. In order to find the best light-lights for kids, we consulted with a certified sleep consultant. We also researched reviews from customers and competitors, and studied the features of dozens of products. When selecting on our picks, we considered design, ease of use, age recommendations, special features, and price. From wall night-lights to options that cloak the entire room in a satisfying glow, these are the best night-lights for kids.
For a night-light that’s as cute as it is functional, the Lumipets Jumbo Bear is our top pick thanks to its kid-friendly design and ease of use. The soft silicone LED light with a smiling face remains cool when in use, so it’s safe for kids to handle. You can choose the light’s hue from nine colors with the included remote control, or by pressing on the unit itself. The night-light also has an adjustable dimmer and a timer you can set to automatically turn the light off after 15, 30, or 60 minutes. This portable night-light operates on a rechargeable battery via USB making it useful for traveling or navigating hallways in the middle of the night. In addition to the bear design, Lumipets come in other animal shapes, including cats, puppies, elephants, rabbits, and hippos. Price at time of publication: $25 Sleep consultant Panesar calls this her “personal favorite,” and one reason is because having multiple devices in one means your kids’ room is less cluttered with electronics. “The main benefit is that it includes 10 preset, dimmable colors (including warm red and yellow), as well as the option to choose your own colors in the app," she adds. “Having this night-light connected to your phone also allows you to remotely dim it further for kids who need a little extra light as they’re initially falling asleep.” You can also program it to let kids know when it’s time to wind down and start their bedtime routine. It basically does everything but rock your kids to sleep. It also includes a “time-to-rise” clock for toddlers and older kids, which is when the color changes in the morning to signal that it’s wakeup time and OK to leave their rooms. Price at time of publication: $70 Parents give this night-light high marks all around, saying it helps kids face their fear of the dark, and they love the automatic shut-off feature. Price at time of publication: $29 While it doesn’t come with a remote, the night-light has three dimmable options and six different sounds to choose from. It rechargeable via USB, so parents and caregivers don’t have to worry about buying batteries. Plus, its small design is perfect for tossing in your luggage before you head out the door. Price at time of publication: $26 Not only is it useful for navigating and providing a source of comfort at night, but it adds a pop of personality to the room’s decor as well. It requires one 5-watt C battery, which is included. Price at time of publication: $39 Since it runs on three AA batteries (not included), you can move it anywhere in your child’s room, but it can also be powered via a USB cord. Parents say this night-light is easy to use, and kids go crazy for it. If they’re not into dinosaurs, it also is available in other shapes, including a butterfly and an ice cream cone. Price at time of publication: $23 Parents say this is a high-quality machine that’s easy to use and provides lots of fun options. The light it emits is bright enough to provide comfort to those who may be afraid of the dark, but not so bright as to interfere with their sleep. Price at time of publication: $58 You can control the volume and set a timer to have the machine automatically turn off after a certain amount of time. It measures 5.51 x 4.5 x 6 inches, and it plugs into any standard electrical outlet. Price at time of publication: $45 Parents and caregivers will appreciate the night-light’s sleek design to help match home decor. Plus, thanks to the energy efficient LED light, you never have to worry about replacing bulbs or the light becoming hot to the touch. Price at time of publication: $10
What to Look for in a Night-Light for Kids
Color and Brightness
While the purpose of any night-light is to emit enough light to provide comfort without disturbing your little one’s sleep, the color and brightness can greatly vary. Your child may want a night-light that glows in their favorite color, but it’s important to remember that different colors can have different effects. Too much light and colors like blue can actually disrupt melatonin production, which affects sleep. Instead, opt for a red or amber light, which have both been shown to have almost no effect on melatonin production. You should also try to find a dim, warm light rather than something bright to avoid waking your child. “Warm-hued color lights such as orange and yellow also do not interfere much with sleep. You want to stay away from blue lights or other cool colors (white, green, etc.), which are proven to disrupt sleep patterns and boost alertness,” Panesar, tells Verywell Family. “It’s equally important to note that children should also be kept away from screens and other blue light sources for at least an hour prior to bedtime, as well.”
Design
Since many kids look to night-lights for comfort and to alleviate their fear of the dark, it’s a good idea to find a design they will love. Night-lights come in every form you can imagine, including plain shapes, animals, and your child’s favorite characters. Choosing a fun design is a great way to make your little one’s bedtime ritual more pleasant, so be sure to involve them in the process.
Added Features
Long gone are the days when night-lights were just night-lights. Now, almost every option seems to offer a little something extra, be it a dual function as a white noise machine or music player, an alarm or timer, or a projector to illuminate the ceiling or walls with light and images. Many of these extras can eliminate the need for other machines, but remember, at the end of the day, a night-light’s job is to provide light, so don’t be so caught up in the bonus features that it takes away from the principal goal.
Why Trust Verywell Family
Katrina Cossey has been a digital content producer and news and feature writer for more than six years. She has covered topics ranging from local and national news as well as writing and researching for parenting content. “The best color for kids’ sleep is red light. Red light does not interfere with sleep or melatonin production the way that blue light does, and some studies have shown that certain types of red light (lights that actually emit red wavelengths instead of lightbulbs simply tinted red) may even improve sleep,” says Panesar. Panesar tells Verywell Family night-lights are helpful in the majority of children she works with “as long as they are the correct color and are kept dim.” She continues, “In younger babies, having a night-light prevents parents from needing to turn on a light (or using their phone flashlight, which is very common these days and is incredibly disruptive!) during overnight feedings or check-ins.” Panesar recommends a dim, warm night-light so babies don’t become too alert during overnight feedings. “Toddlers and older children often develop nighttime fears, and a dim night-light provides extra comfort and security in their rooms, often translating to better overall sleep and reduced overnight wakeups," Panesar says. “A night-light is also extremely beneficial for potty-trained children who may need to get up in the middle of the night.”
“A red LED is certainly better than a blue/white colored one and will have far less negative impacts on sleep. There are also red light options that emit red wavelengths and are non-LED, as well as long wavelength red LED lights which are shown to not impact sleep or melatonin production negatively,” Panesar explains. “Keeping the light dim and the correct color appears to improve sleep the most, and I see tremendous improvements in children’s sleep who are using dim, red light.”
