How to choose the best kids’ night light

30 December, 2022

Sleep is essential to every child’s development, yet no one wants to hear, “It’s time for bed!” Instead of saying those dreaded words, you can use light to help your children nod off and sleep soundly. The right night light for your children’s bedroom will not only take away your kids’ fear of those “monsters under the bed,” but also encourage them to sleep in their own room.

Check out our night light tips for kids to help lull your little ones to sleep.

The best color night light for sleeping

The right shade of light can help produce melatonin, a sleep-promoting hormone. Red-toned lights such as orange or amber can help trigger your kids’ bodies to start releasing melatonin and prepare them for sleep. Conversely, cool blue tones can help your children stay energized and awake — ideal for homework time.

Bright idea: Set a Go to sleep automation in the Philips Hue app. This automation slowly dims the lights until they’re off, signaling that it’s time to sleep.

Dim at the right time

Our brains can detect what time of day it is when light enters our eyes. If your kids spend evenings in brightly lit rooms their brains can be tricked into thinking it’s daytime — disrupting their natural sleep cycle. They’ll feel more awake — even when it’s bedtime! So, make sure you dim the level of light around your home in the evening.

Mother kissing daughter good night in a dimly lit bedroom

Make kids’ night lights easily accessible

The lights in your children’s bedroom should be within arm's reach and easy to use so that your kids can find them quickly and turn them on in the dark. Add a bedside lamp close to the bed — it can help encourage your children to read a book before going to sleep.

Bright idea: If the lights in your kids’ bedroom aren’t next to the bed, then use a smart dimmer switch instead. Portable and battery-powered, these dimmer switches can be placed on their nightstand for easy access to lights at any time of the night.

Motion-activated kids’ night lights

If your kid frequently gets up in the middle of the night to get a glass of water or visit the bathroom, install a motion sensor to help guide them through the house with the right light. A motion sensor allows you to program your lights to turn to a specific setting during the evening — in this case, a low, warm glow to keep them in that sleepy state.

Voice-controlled kids’ night lights

Want your kids to feel more in control of their lighting? Use voice-controlled lights.his way, they can just tell their lights what to do, all from the comfort of their bed!

Inviting your children into the decision-making process of their bedroom lighting will foster a sense of responsibility — and hopefully help them get to sleep faster.

*When a bulb displays "Up to" a certain number of lumens in its specifications, it displays the maximum lumen output of the bulb. It shows how bright the bulb can get at 2700 K (White bulbs) or 4000 K (White ambiance or White and color ambiance bulbs). Learn more about brightness