As any parent knows, caring for a newborn or young child can be a round-the-clock job, and a good night light can be a lifesaver for both you and your little one. Not only can it help soothe and comfort your child, but it can also make late-night feedings and diaper changes a little bit easier for you.
In this article, we’ll review some of the best nursery night lights available, taking into account factors such as brightness, safety, and special features. Whether you’re looking for a traditional plug-in night light or something a bit more innovative, we’ve got you covered. So let’s get started!
Our Top Picks
- Best Overall: Hatch Rest+ Baby & Kids Sound Machine
- Best Budget: Lumipets Bear Night Light
- Best Dimmable Night Light: Skip Hop Baby Soother
- Best Night Light For Newborns: RTSU Bedside Lamp
- Best Night Light For Toddlers: Asani Baby Nursery Lamp
- Best Plush Night Light: Bubzi Co Baby Soothing Sleep Owl
- Best Animal Night Light: Cloud b Twilight Turtle Classic Night Light
- Most Soothing Night Light: VTech Baby Lil’ Critters Soothing Starlight Hippo
- Best Mobile & Night Light: Tiny Love Meadow Days Soothe ‘n Groove Baby Mobile
In This Article
HappyBabyHub’s Best Nursery Night Lights Picks
Hatch Rest+ Baby & Kids Sound Machine – Best Overall
- It can be recharged and has a fairly long battery life
- Many colors to choose from
- Portable
- Can be easily controlled through the app
- Might be too bright for some
This versatile night light is among the best baby night lights that also includes a sound machine. The sound settings can be adjusted and customized as your child grows. Designed specifically for sleep, the light colors have been scientifically proven to promote the production of melatonin and establish healthy circadian rhythms, which are important for uninterrupted sleep.
One of the best features of this baby night light is its ability to be fully personalized or controlled through your smartphone. As your child’s needs change, this night light can adapt. Use the soothing glow to feed or change your infant during the night, and then later use the time-to-rise feature to signal when it’s time for your older child to get out of bed in the morning.
Lumipets Bear Night Light – Best Budget
- Lots of different color choices
- You can cycle through the colors or stop on a particular one
- Doesn’t take long to charge
- Doesn’t heat up
- Takes a bit of getting used if you don’t have a remote
These friendly bedside companions can emit one of nine gentle tones, creating a soothing atmosphere for your kids. The included battery can power for approximately 12 hours, providing ample time for kids to play and fall asleep under its soft glow.
Made from high-grade silicone, these nightlights do not heat up during use and are built to withstand rough handling. You can choose from a variety of colors using the included remote control or cycle through them by pressing on the squishy light. Additionally, there are three options for the timer’s auto-shutoff: 15, 30, or 60 minutes, ensuring a peaceful night’s sleep.
Skip Hop Baby Soother – Best Dimmable Night Light
- The music melodies are pretty
- Easily adjustable volume and brightness
- Optional ceiling lights, which are also moveable/adjustable to get the ideal ceiling placement over the bed
- Plugs into the wall, no batteries
- The ceiling stars do not have movement. They are simply static white stars/moon
This plug-in nightlight provides various ways to soothe a baby, such as music, lights, and projections. With eight gentle melodies and calming nature sounds, it can relax your baby, and it also features a dimmable nightlight that emits a soft and comforting glow.
The adjustable pivot lens enables your little one to enjoy a starry nightscape projection on any surface from their favorite sleeping position. Choose the suitable combination of light and sound to soothe your child, and this caring companion will handle the rest.
RTSU Bedside Lamp – Best Night Light For Newborns
- The light is easily dimmable simply by touching the top
- Portable
- The brightness varies a lot
- Holds a charge for a long time
- The charging port is on the bottom
Newborns may benefit from some light to feel more comfortable in their new environment. This nursery night light is a great solution for parents because it uses safe LED lights that won’t harm even the tiniest eyes.
You will appreciate that this light can guide you during late-night feedings and diaper changes. It’s also great that the brightness of this baby night light can be adjusted as needed. This baby night light is also durable enough to withstand rough handling from a young child, making it useful beyond the newborn stage.
Asani Baby Nursery Lamp – Best Night Light For Toddlers
- Simple to use
- May be moved easily
- No batteries required, just plug to recharge
- The brightest setting gives ample light
- The battery does not last 24 hours
The controls for this baby nightlight are not only easy to use, but they’re also entertaining for your little one. With just a tap on the head, you or your toddler can turn the lamp on or off, and adjust the brightness.
They’ve designed this rechargeable nightlight with a soft silicone top, rounded corners, and a toy-grade ABS bottom. Additionally, the anti-blue light LED never gets too hot, ensuring that your toddler is always safe.
This adorable chick night light not only looks beautiful, but it also wobbles and swings gently when touched, making it a favorite toy for your child. Forget about dealing with battery-powered night lights that quickly run out of power. It has a large 1200mAh battery that will last for hours.
Bubzi Co Baby Soothing Sleep Owl – Best Plush Night Light
- Removable battery pack
- Multiple gentle songs and soothing sounds
- Beautiful rotating colored stars
- Washable owl when the battery pack is removed
- The lights are a bit bright
You can soothe and comfort your baby by choosing from a variety of 10 classic lullabies, a heartbeat sound, or real bird songs. You can also press and hold the button for three seconds to play all the songs continuously.
This Bubzi Co Soothing Sleep Owl can project beautiful and calming night lights onto your baby’s wall. To turn the star projection on and off, you simply press the lightbulb button. The constellation in the night sky is stunning and will help tired eyes fall asleep faster.
Plus, there are five different volume levels available to adjust the sound in any setting.
Cloud b Twilight Turtle Classic Night Light – Best Animal Night Light
- Panorama view of the beautiful starry night
- Automatic shut off
- You can search for the constellation
- 3 different light settings
- If you need to change the battery, you will need a screwdriver to unscrew
This charming turtle, powered by batteries, helps restless toddlers relax by projecting bright stars on the ceiling for them to gaze at. The luminous shell can be set to a single color or rotated among three soothing shades.
The 45-minute timer ensures the room stays dark once your child is asleep, promoting restful sleep. However, leaving the turtle on all night is also an option. Keep in mind that this soft nightlight should only be spot cleaned.
VTech Baby Lil’ Critters Soothing Starlight Hippo – Most Soothing Night Light
- Really cute starlights that cycle through different colors
- Different timer settings
- Some of the songs are really nice
- Cute design
- Sucks up batteries fast
This adorable hippo can play lullabies, nursery rhymes, and soothing music, as well as project four different starry night sky images on the ceiling.
The calming sounds and colorful lights help soothe babies to sleep and promote visual awareness. In addition, the hippo can play soothing sounds in response to your baby’s cries, and you can easily adjust the volume and timer settings. This night light requires two AA batteries.
Tiny Love Meadow Days Soothe ‘n Groove Baby Mobile – Best Mobile & Night Light
- It plays for a long time
- Easy to attach, set up and operate
- Animals turn to track the baby no matter where the baby is in the crib
- Multi-use so it grows with baby
- To play music the light must be on
The Tiny Love Meadow Days Soothe ‘n Groove Mobile is perfect for nurturing your child’s musical interest. Its versatile design allows it to grow with your child, starting as a crib mobile and transitioning into a music box that your toddler can independently enjoy.
With the mobile’s movement and bright, colorful buttons, you can engage and entertain your little one while controlling the music. Equipped with two high-quality speakers and volume controls, the mobile plays 18 different songs in six genres for up to 40 minutes.
How To Choose The Best Nursery Night Light?
- Safety: Make sure the night light you choose is safe for your baby, with no small parts that could be choking hazards and no bulbs that get too hot to the touch.
- Brightness: You’ll want a night light that provides just enough light to see without being too bright and keeping your baby awake.
- Sound: Some night lights come with built-in sound machines that can play lullabies or white noise to help soothe your baby to sleep.
- Style: There are many different styles of night lights available, from traditional plug-ins to portable options that can be taken on the go. Decide what’s important for you before purchasing one.
- Power source: Consider whether you want a night light that runs on batteries or one that can be plugged in.
Types Of Nursery Night Lights
- Plug-in Night Lights: These are the most popular type of night lights. They are easy to use and provide a continuous source of light. They plug directly into the electrical outlet, and you can turn them on or off using a switch.
- Portable Night Lights: These night lights are battery-powered and can be placed anywhere in the room. They are easy to move around and can be taken with you when you travel.
- Ceiling Projectors: These night lights project images or patterns onto the ceiling, creating a soothing environment for your baby. They are usually more expensive than other types of night lights, but they can also serve as a source of entertainment for your child.
- Stuffed Animal Night Lights: These night lights are designed to look like stuffed animals and often include a soft, cuddly exterior. They can provide a sense of comfort to your baby and can be placed directly in the crib. Though you shouldn’t place stuffed animals in a baby’s crib due to safety reasons (1). This is not until they are 12 months old (2).
- Sound Machines: These night lights produce soothing sounds, such as white noise or lullabies, to help your baby fall asleep. They can also include a night light feature to provide a gentle glow in the room.
What Is The Best Color Night Light For Babies?
A red or amber-toned light is the best for babies (3). These warm colors have been shown to have a calming effect on babies, promoting relaxation and sleepiness. Blue and white lights, on the other hand, can disrupt a baby’s circadian rhythm and inhibit the production of the sleep-inducing hormone, melatonin. Therefore, it is best to avoid blue and white lights in the nursery at night.
Are Night Lights Good For Newborns?
Night lights can be helpful for newborns, as they are still learning to navigate and adjust to their new environment. A night light can provide a sense of comfort and security for a baby, as well as make it easier for parents to see and attend to their needs during nighttime feedings or diaper changes (4).
Should Babies Sleep In Complete Darkness?
It is recommended that babies sleep in a room with low to moderate ambient light to help regulate their circadian rhythm and promote healthy sleep. However, complete darkness is not necessary and some parents choose to use a night light to provide a gentle and comforting source of light during the night. It is important to note that the light should be dim and not too bright as bright lights can interfere with the baby’s ability to fall and stay asleep.
Do Night Lights Help Babies And Toddlers Sleep?
Not all nightlights are created equal, and some can actually have the opposite effect of aiding your child’s ability to fall and stay asleep. However, a nightlight can be helpful in promoting better sleep for your child if it is dim and emits a warm, amber, or red light. The color and brightness of the light can affect melatonin production, so it’s important to choose a nightlight that will actually benefit your child’s sleep rather than hinder it (5).
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