The Best Night Lights

For a very long time, people have associated night lights with something that children need to get a sense of security before they fall asleep. However, night lights describe a product that’s way broader, with products that are suitable for illuminating stairways or mothers that have to nurse their babies at night.

Top Nightlights

Benefits of Nightlights

The more you understand the concept of a nightlight, the easier it is to point out the benefits that buying this product will bring into a person’s life. This particular type of product is designed to be different compared to a normal light fixture, so here is a list of what this product brings to the table:

● As we mentioned before, a nightlight will give you better visibility for whatever it is you may need a little bit of light for during the night. It could be that you have to go to the bathroom, or you have to check up on your child (without tripping over toys left in the middle of the room), or you might have an infant that requires nursing during the night. Whatever the case, a nightlight can help you overcome literal obstacles without switching on a more powerful light source.

● If you want a nightlight for your child’s room, know that this provides minimal sleep disruption and the sense of security that some children crave until they can actually get used to sleeping in a room alone. Nightlights are designed to provide very diffuse light and usually have low-light bulbs (typically LEDs) that are both soothing and not powerful enough to create sleep disturbance. That being said, you basically have two benefits in one: the fact that your children will find it easier to cope with separation anxiety and/or fear of being left alone in the dark and they also have a light source that causes comfort without being too bright as to prevent them from falling asleep.

● Nightlights are a rather inexpensive product compared to an overhead light. Not only do they require a lower initial investment, but they also don’t consume a lot of electricity, which makes them cost-effective in the long run. Since they have low light intensity, the lightbulbs will most likely outlive regular bulbs that require more electricity and produce brighter light. Without getting into too many mathematical details, a nightlight should cost you about $6 per year for each bulb.

The Major Setback

While nightlights are definitely a product with loads of advantages, there is one important downside that we can’t neglect, and that is light exposure. Let’s try and explain this as simply as possible. Whenever the human eye picks up on light, it perceives it in different colors depending on its wavelength. For instance, the shortest wavelength will appear violet to the naked eye, while longer ones are orange, yellow, green, or blue. The longest wavelength will be perceived as red.

Whenever the human eye spots all the wavelengths simultaneously, that’s when it sees the white light that we are all accustomed to. It is, in fact, a combination of all colors together.

As you may have heard time and time again (especially when you read advice on how you should stop using electronics before bedtime), blue and white lights will inhibit melatonin production, which is the hormone responsible for inducing the state of sleep. What triggers the secretion of melatonin is the absence of light. That means that when our body perceives darkness, it will encourage melatonin production and put that into the sleep state and mindset.

However, when we are exposed to blue and white light, our brain is tricked into thinking it’s not time to sleep yet, and therefore does not encourage melatonin production. As a consequence, when we are exposed to this type of light, we might have a more difficult time falling asleep.

Interestingly enough, red light doesn’t influence melatonin secretion, which means that it doesn’t inhibit it either. This means one thing: if you want a nightlight that doesn’t actually disrupt sleep in any way, you want to choose a red one. Unfortunately, blue and white are the ones you’re most likely to find. As far as your children are concerned, you want to opt for red and green lights as much as possible. Otherwise, look for nightlights that allow you to fiddle with wavelengths and color settings.

Common Types of Nightlights

That being said, let’s look over some of the most popular and common types of nightlights currently available on the market:

• Plug-in fixtures are basically nightlights that are connected directly to a power socket in order to get the electrical current needed to power up the light.
• Portable lights use battery power to produce light. The benefit is that they can be placed anywhere in the room. They are great for parents that travel with their children.
• Toy lights are shaped just like toys in order to have a more pleasant aspect for children. They are typically designed to be placed in bed with the child and can be a perfect companion for babies.
• Projectors are nightlights that will display the light on the walls and ceiling of the room instead of concentrating it in one spot. Some models even have soothing music playback or special sounds that can create a more relaxing ambiance for your child’s room.
• Tabletop lights are designed to be used on nightstands or tables that are placed near the bed. They are designed similar to regular nightstand lamps, as they even have lampshades and stands.

Now that we all know more information about the pros and cons of nightlights and know which types of products are theoretically better than others, let’s explore some actual examples so that you can get a better sense of what the market has to offer.

Bottom Line

When it comes to giving your child safety while sleeping, there are few things as efficient as s nightlight. However, you shouldn’t limit yourself to buying a nightlight only if you have kids. They can be useful in a variety of situations, including the occasional midnight glass of milk or for lighting up the way to the bathroom.

Turning on the lights at night can be extremely disruptive and being exposed to bright light will make it more difficult for anyone to fall back to sleep. This is where nightlights kick in. The rest is just a matter of personal preference.