This article about night lights for kids was last updated in 2022.
If your child is struggling to settle at night, it may affect the whole family.
For this reason, night lights can be a parents dream. They help your child independently drift to dreamland amid the comfort and safety of their warm glow.
In fact, a good night light can mean a good night’s sleep for everyone in the family.
To make this happen in your household, we hunted down our favourite night lights for kids, as well as answering these questions:
- What is a night light?
- How can a nightlight help your child?
- What to look for when buying night lights for kids
Further reading: How to help your kids sleep well now and for the rest of their lives.
WHAT IS A NIGHT LIGHT?
A night light is an electric or battery-operated lamp that illuminates a space, usually a child’s bedroom or nursery. Parents often use night lights to help children sleep better and soothe anxieties like fear of the dark. Night lights come in endless designs to complement any space. Some do double duty as humidifiers, alarm clocks, and sleep-promoting sound machines.
HOW CAN A NIGHTLIGHT HELP YOUR CHILD?
A night light can be much more than a decorative sleep aid. Night lights:
- Provide enough light for parents to see by when feeding babies and changing diapers without harming sensitive eyes
- Soothe nighttime anxieties, such as fear of the dark and fear of monsters under the bed
- Promote better sleep
- Help kids navigate their rooms without tripping or falling
- Can serve multiple functions. Some night lights can be used as a sound machine, clock, baby monitor, humidifier, and projector.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING NIGHT LIGHTS FOR KIDS?
When buying night lights for kids, here are the top things to consider:
Design
There are many designs and styles to choose from, ranging from traditional to whimsical. For high-traffic areas like hallways, we suggest recessed night lights or lights that lie flat on the wall. For nurseries and kids’ bedrooms, choose a cute design like your child’s favourite animal.
Material
Sustainable materials always get our vote. Look for ‘BPA-free,’ ‘lead-free,’ and ‘recyclable’ on the label.
Type of light
LED night lights are popular due to their energy efficiency and longevity. LED lamps last about 40 times longer than traditional bulbs.
Features
Do you travel a lot? Does your child like to fall asleep to music? Are you a fan of smart devices? Choose a night light that suits your needs.
OUR PICK OF NIGHT LIGHTS FOR KIDS TO BUY IN AUSTRALIA
Glow Dreaming Unit
This 3-in-1 smart night light is all you need to keep kids sleeping soundly. Red light therapy and pink noise promote healthy sleep, while the humidifier cleans the air and helps ease breathing.
We found this at: Glow Dreaming
Koala Touch Sensitive LED Night Light
Here’s a cute koala night light to help kids drift off to dreamland without a fuss. Tap the silicone body to easily turn the light on and off.
We found this at: Yellow Octopus
Playgro Goodnight Bear Night Light & Projector
The Goodnight Bear night light is an adorable lamp with a built-in projector…perfect for kids who like visual stimulation. The colour-changing night sky shapes help develop your baby’s eye coordination.
We found this at: Baby Bunting
Kids Truck Night Light
A night light that looks like a toy truck is just the thing for a little boy’s room or nursery. The punchy colours and timeless design jazz up any space.
We found this at: Adairs
Crest Kids Unicorn Night Light
A magical unicorn night light is always a winner in our book. This one lasts up to 30 hours on one charge and has multiple light colours that change with a tap of the hand.
We found this at: Big W
BEST NIGHTLIGHTS (CONT.)
Playette Star Glow Cube
Light up your child’s room with the soft glow of colourful stars that are calming for smaller children. Also plays various songs.
We found this at: Chemist Warehouse
Rabbit Ears LED Projector Night Light
Fancy a dance party before lights out? This portable rabbit ears LED projector/night light has you covered. Comes with different themes (ocean, planets, holidays) and colours.
We found this at: Light in the Box
This adorable night light doubles as fun decor for your child’s room. Comes in two colours and looks amazing day or night.
We found this at: Adairs
Mushroom Night Light
Let this mushroom night light guide your little ones to a peaceful slumber. The design looks fantastic day or night and makes a cute addition to any room.
We found this at: Adairs
