In a small 2012 study, researchers evaluated the effect of red light therapy on 20 female athletes. Participants were randomly assigned to receive 30 minutes of red light therapy every night for 14 days. One small 2019 study on sleep inertia showed that saturated red light delivered through closed eyelids, at levels that don’t suppress melatonin, may help ease sleep inertia upon waking. Red light and night vision

Portability for travel - If you're planning to travel or visit family, how easy is the night light to take with you? Is it portable and small enough to fit in your case? I had a Philips Hue lightbulb in my overhead lamp that I could dim on my phone, which was quite useful too.” (Tried and tested by Mumsnetter edgeware) Our verdict Interestingly, babies typically start producing melatonin from 9-12 weeks (yet premature infants may take longer) . While melatonin supplements are generally well-tolerated for adults, they are not advisable for babies or children. The good news – you can just as easily stimulate your child’s melatonin production by getting them a red light, night light. The Harvard Medical School has a really good article about the dark side of blue light. You can read it here. When compared to a placebo group that didn’t have light therapy, participants had improved sleep quality, melatonin levels, and endurance performance.Our favourite features? Unlike brighter projector lights, Ewan's soft pink night light glow is subtle, cleverly designed to mimic their experience in mum's tummy. This can help to settle your newborn or toddler into a peaceful slumber, thanks to the comfort and familiarity they will feel. They may seem like a necessity geared towards children, but they’re useful for adults as well. Have you ever stubbed your toe on a stray toy in the middle of the night? It hurts, and a nightlight can be handy for avoiding those circumstances. How Safe Is It to Use a Nightlight for Toddlers? Do you know that drowsy feeling you get after dinner? The gradual sleepiness that comes on after the sun goes down? That’s melatonin doing its job. Our favourite features? Changing colour depending on the temperature of the room, the GroEgg is a great visual reminder to ensure your baby is dressed appropriately, turning red if the room is too hot and blue when the room is too cold. Some children struggle with nightmares or a fear of the dark throughout the primary years, and a night light can be a great help. What’s important is that the light is dim to keep any effect on the body’s natural rhythms to a minimum. What’s the best night light for babies?

Our favourite features? Simple to use and providing up to eight hours of relief, the refillable vapour tab slots in before plugging into the mains. The night light then creates a subtle but reassuring glow whilst sending lavender and chamomile vapours and aromatic oils around the room. While the research is promising, more large-scale studies are needed to more fully understand how red light affects sleep. Red light and sleep inertia

The glare from bright white light at night can leave you squinting and straining to see clearly. Red light is non-glaring, so it can help you see better at night. The type of red light that affects your sleep is light that emits red light wavelengths — not simply light bulbs that are tinted red. Some types of light are more likely to disturb your circadian rhythm than others. But keep in mind that any type of light can disturb your sleep if it’s bright enough or shining into your face.

How you light your baby’s room can make or break their sleep habits – setting them up for a good night or ruining their rest. Choosing products suitable for a child’s lifestyle means they need to be safe and durable, as munchkins don’t know what it means to be gentle or protect themselves, so squishy nightlights could be better suited. If you opt for a nightlight made of hard material, they could drop and break it, so placement is worth considering. Safety We have it and I'd be lost without it! We used it as a night light during the newborn night feeds. She's 9 months now and I still rely on it so I know how to dress her for bed."(Recommended by Mumsnetter WhenTwoBecomeThree) Our verdictThere’s no definitive answer to this question, like most parenting conundrums. Your child will likely grow out of any attachment to a night light by the time they are four or five years old, but this largely depends on the child. This fear can add up to frequent night waking or even stop them from falling asleep in the first place, and I think you’ll all agree, this is horrible for the entire family! Most nightlights are small in size; however, some can be on the larger side depending on their functions. Choosing one that fits nicely in the area you’re looking to brighten is crucial, so it doesn’t become an eyesore or inconvenience. If you’re looking to put one on a bedside table or shelf, make sure the dimensions suit the need. Power Source Some active little minds need more help than others to switch off and relax at bedtime. If your child is best soothed by a moving light show, then this is the best projector night light we’ve found.

As children get older and more active, a nightlight could inhibit sleep, causing their minds to keep turning. They may see their toys illuminated after being put to bed and want to play, or the brightness could keep them awake. Either way, keep a close watch on how the light affects them as they age because it could be something they no longer need. Whether you’re after a soft glow to help navigate around your baby’s crib at night, something to assist with the bedtime routine or a tool to help your child who’s scared of the dark, the best night lights will come to the rescue for babies, toddlers and older children alike. Ewan is lovely, I wouldn't hesitate. My 4 yo still uses it every night."(Recommended by Mumsnet user Topjoe19) Our verdictNow a red light doesn’t improve your sleep as such, it just doesn’t interfere with the production of Melatonin. This means that your body can do what its designed to do and get sleepy when it turns dark, not only that but you will sleep longer through the night. There are lots of milestones in a child’s life. For parents, the most important milestone is often the moment their baby or child starts sleeping through the night. Typical types of nightlights include projector, plug-in, portable, and plush. We’ll detail how each works so your munchkin can dream peacefully without scary nightmares. Projector