No matter the age of your little one, a night light can be a beneficial gadget for the perfect nursery. As your child ages, multiple trips to the nursery each night will be a given. While these trips are usually unavoidable, having a night light in their room can make the process easier for both parent and child.

If you have a toddler who is afraid of the dark or is having nightmares, the light projected by a night light can illuminate the room and help calm your child down once they see that there is nothing to fear. If you have an infant who wakes up throughout the night, having the soft glow of a night light can aid in more ways than one.

Pros of Having a Night Light

While there are pros and cons to having a night light, the pros can outweigh the cons if the added light doesn't affect your child's sleep. Keep these benefits in mind when considering purchasing a night light:

• While babies are not afraid of the dark (they just spent many months in complete darkness in the womb), toddlers have this fear very often. The soft night of a night light can provide just enough illumination for your toddler to know that he's safe and that there's no monsters lurking in his room.
• When you're breastfeeding or nursing throughout the night, it can be difficult for both mom and baby to go back to sleep after being exposed to brighter lights. The night light will give off enough brightness to see what you're doing, but not enough to really wake up you or your baby. Minimal arousal is key for easily going back to sleep.
• A subtle, dim light can provide a soothing ambiance that will help lull your baby back to sleep when she wakes up.
• The night light makes it easier to check on your child without turning on a harsh overhead light or lamp. Plus, just imagine being able to find where you're going without stubbing your toes.
• The reassuring light can be helpful during separation anxiety phases.
• Your little one can easily locate their comfort object in the dark.

Tips

If you are going to purchase a night light, take these top tips into consideration:

• Position the light downwards towards the ground so that it doesn't shine in anyone's face.
• The light emitted should be dim enough that it doesn't wake up your baby, but is bright enough to see. Pick a night light with a low wattage bulb and test it out. If you can see the light through your closed eyelids, it's too bright.
• Choose a light bulb that is blue light free. Science has shown that blue light negatively interferes with the production of melatonin, the sleep hormone. Instead, opt for a good quality red or amber light - think sunset colors.
• If you find your child sleeps better without the nightlight, move it into the hallway or get rid of it. You don't want to use it if it's going to affect your little one's sleep.
• Before buying, consider the layout of your nursery and where you plan on putting the night light. If it plugs directly into an outlet, is there one available that's not too close to the crib? If it's going to plug in and use a cord to sit on a dresser or shelf, how long does the cord need to be and where will the light be shining? Planning is important when it comes to the successful location of a night light.
• Depending on the proximity to the crib and door, you might pick a softer or brighter light.

See Why You Need a Night Light?

While having a nightlight in the nursery is not required, it can definitely be beneficial. The decision to use a nightlight is based on the individual situation and the sleep patterns of your child; if the night light negatively affects sleep patterns, don't use it. Using a night light has pros for both mom and baby, and can ultimately been extremely useful when used properly. It can make those midnight trips to the nursery that much easier for all those involved. If you are interested in learning more about nightlights BestBabyInc has some great reviews on the best nightlights on the market.