08.04.2025
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3 min reading Night light for a child: FOR OR AGAINST – the opinion of a somnologist
A nightlight for a child is not only a pleasant element of the interior, but also an object that can affect the baby's sleep. Parents often have many questions and doubts about this issue. Can a nightlight really help a child fall asleep, or, on the contrary, interfere with healthy sleep? To figure this out, we turned to a somnologist, the first CBT sleep therapist in Ukraine, to learn about the benefits and risks of using a nightlight for a child.
Not everyone knows that from birth and the first three months of life, a baby does not distinguish between day and night. Babies are not born with a fear of the dark. Therefore, nightlights are more convenient for parents, because they need to get up at night to see their little angel. But some older children are vulnerable, a dark room can scare them, and, probably, a nightlight will help here. So, the effect of nightlight on a child depends on their age and personal sensitivity to light. While a small nightlight may be suitable for some children, for others it may be too stimulating and interfere with a peaceful sleep.
What type of light is best for a baby's sleep?
Pay attention to the following important point: It has been proven that nightlights with blue or white light worsen children's sleep and contribute to more frequent awakenings.
In general, there is no magic type of light that does not interfere with sleep, but rather promotes it. But when putting a child to bed, it is better to use nightlights with warm shades of light - yellow, orange or red. It has a longer wavelength than white or blue, and is the least likely to suppress the production of the sleep hormone melatonin. Therefore, if you still choose a nightlight, then only with dim warm light.
It should be noted that red light as a source of light for babies has attracted a lot of interest in the scientific community. But this important research has likely not found its way to manufacturers, and unfortunately, blue and white nightlights, which contradict sleep science, are sold in large quantities.
Source: Freepik
Lighting intensity also has a significant impact on babies, especially before bedtime. For example, harsh, bright light in the bathroom can cause problems falling asleep long after the child has left the room.
It is important to know that many electronic devices - TVs, laptops, tablets, smartphones - emit blue light, and their intensive evening use can overly and inappropriately excite children.
So, it is worth:
- do not use gadgets;
- equip restrooms with waterproof red or orange lamps;
- Dim the lights at home before going to bed.
Sometimes parents prevent their own child from sleeping without even realizing it. They put the child to sleep with the help of… a light show. However, these cute lights, especially if they are left on at night, are not only playful, but also insidious. They make the baby’s brain believe that the day continues and there is no need to fall asleep.
Choosing a safe nightlight for your child
When choosing a children's nightlight, also take care of your little one's safety. It is best to buy a lamp without a cord. In addition, when choosing a nightlight, be sure to pay attention to the quality of the device and the material from which it is made. Yes, a metal nightlight is durable, but when heated it can become hot, which poses a risk of burns for a child. A glass nightlight is also a big question mark, because the glass can break and injure the child. The best option is high-quality plastic. Such material does not emit unpleasant odors and practically does not heat up.
Source: Freepik
Place the nightlight at a safe distance from the child's bed. This attractive lighting device, often resembling a toy, can attract the baby's attention, and the further consequences are unpredictable.
However, you can avoid any consequences and unnecessary trouble in general. From the point of view of biology, the best lighting for a child's room at night is its absence. The natural change of day and night, if this process is not disturbed by nighttime artificial lighting, forms the correct biological rhythm of life. Sleeping in the dark is better than a nightlight with red light, it promotes the production of melatonin, which helps the child fall asleep peacefully and sleep all night.
So, ideally, no nightlight! Carefully observe your little one's reactions and behavior - it is possible that over time the child will refuse it on his own.
The editorial opinion may not coincide with the opinion of the author of the article.
Use of photos: Clause 4, Article 21 of the Law of Ukraine "On Copyright and Related Rights" - "Reproduction for the purpose of covering current events by means of photography or cinematography, public communication or communication of works seen or heard during such events, to the extent justified by the informational purpose."
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