Night lights for children and grown-ups

Who it is for

For babies, a night light makes night feeds and nappy changes easier without waking everyone fully. For toddlers and young children, it softens the dark and can make bedtime calmer. For older adults, a low light on the landing or in the bathroom reduces the risk of a fall at night. And in any home, a small light on the stairs or in a hallway saves stubbed toes on the way to the kitchen. Shift workers and anyone who gets up early benefit too, because a low glow lets you move around without fully waking yourself or the rest of the household.

The colour of the light

This is the most important choice. Our bodies release melatonin, the hormone that makes us sleepy, as it gets dark, and blue-rich white light is the most effective at suppressing it. Warm amber, orange and red light have much less effect. That is why most sleep advice suggests a warm, dim night light rather than a bright white or blue one. If you choose a colour-changing model, set it to amber or red at night and keep the blues and greens for play.

How bright it should be

Dimmer than you might think. A night light only needs to let you see shapes and edges, not read. A few lumens is often enough in a bedroom, and a dimmable model lets you find the lowest level that still feels reassuring. If you can read a book easily by your night light, it is too bright for sleep. Position matters too. Placed low, near the floor, it lights the way without shining into anyone's eyes. In a large bedroom, two very dim points of light often work better than one brighter one, because they soften the shadows in the corners that can worry a small child.

Types of night light

A plug-in sensor model is the easiest to live with in a hallway, because nobody has to remember to switch it on. A rechargeable night light is ideal for parents, as you can pick it up and carry it to the cot, then set it down on the floor so the glow stays out of the baby's eyes during a feed. Some models include a timer that switches the light off after 30 or 60 minutes, which suits children who only need it to fall asleep.

Safety in children's rooms

Choose a night light with a UKCA or CE mark and buy from a seller you trust. LED models stay cool to the touch, which matters if a child can reach them. Battery compartments on lights for young children should be secured with a screw, because button cells in particular are dangerous if swallowed. Avoid small detachable parts for children under three. With plug-in lights, place them in a socket away from the cot and out of reach of small hands, and never cover a night light with fabric.

Running costs

An LED night light uses very little power. A typical model drawing half a watt, left on for ten hours every night, uses less than 2 kWh in a whole year, which costs well under £1 at typical UK electricity prices. Sensor models cost even less, because they only switch on when needed. Rechargeable models need charging every day or two, depending on brightness, so choose one that charges by USB-C and can be used while plugged in.

Where to put one

• In a nursery, low on the wall on the far side of the room from the cot.
• In a child's room, near the door or the route to the bathroom.
• On a landing or staircase, at the top and bottom of the stairs.
• In a bathroom, a sensor model near the floor, out of the splash zone.
• In a guest room, so visitors can find their way in an unfamiliar house.

As children grow

Many children use a night light until six or seven, some for longer, and that is perfectly normal. Turning it down gradually, or switching to a timer, helps when you want to stop. A night light shaped like an animal or a moon is often easier to love at two than at ten, so a simple, softly glowing design can last through several years and several rooms. When it finally leaves the bedroom, it often finds a second life on the landing.