Lots of parents assume that a night light is one of those baby essentials that every nursery requires. After all, a well-placed night light can reduce the fumbling usually associated with middle-of-the-night diaper changes and feedings. But is a night light distracting to your baby? Do you really need one? What kind of night light should you buy? Keep reading for our baby night light do’s and don’ts, as well as a list of our top 5 favorite baby night lights!

Baby Night Light Do’s and Don’ts

1. DO place the light close the areas of the room that you’ll need to use at night, but DON’T place the light too close to your child’s sleeping area.
2. DO ensure that the light is low-wattage and dim enough that it won’t disturb your child’s sleep.
3. DON’T use a night light that casts cool, blue-toned light, but DO use one that casts warm, red- or yellow-toned light.
4. DON’T assume you or your baby will need a night light; you might not!
5. DO try a night light as your baby grows, if he suddenly develops nighttime fears or separation anxiety.

1. DO place the light near areas you’ll use, but DON’T place it too close to your child’s sleeping area.

When your baby is young, the night light is really more for you than for him; it can really help facilitate middle-of-the-night diaper changes and night feedings. So place the night light near the areas of your baby’s nursery that YOU will use, like the changing table or the glider. But be sure not to place it too close to your baby’s sleeping area, as even dim, soft light can be distracting for some babies and can interfere with sleep.

2. DO ensure the light is low-wattage and dim.

This probably goes without saying, but you don’t want your night light to be too bright! 4-7 watts is typical for most night lights. You’ll also want to be sure that the light itself is shaded and diffuse, so that your baby isn’t disturbed by any harsh glare.

3. DON’T use a light that has blue tones, but DO use one that casts warm red or yellow tones.

Fun fact: did you know that blue light is bad for sleep? It’s true! Blue light interferes with the body’s production of melatonin, a natural, sleep-inducing hormone. This is one huge reason why we never recommend keeping a TV in your child’s room, and why many experts advise that children should stop all screen time a few hours before bed. So avoid blue-toned night lights; instead, opt for night lights that give off warm, red- or yellow-toned light.

4. DON’T assume you and your baby need a night light.

It’s interesting – a lot of parents assume that a night light is necessary, but this isn’t always the case. For one thing, some babies really are distracted by night lights and have trouble falling asleep in a room that has any light at all (baby temperament has a lot to do with this). And if the light turns on and off by itself (when it senses daylight, for example, or when it senses motion), that might be doubly-distracting for your child. And don’t assume you need one, either; lots of parents have told us that leaving the nursery door cracked open and using the light from the hallway for diaper changes and feedings works just fine.

5. DO try a night light as your baby grows, especially if he develops nighttime fears.

You may find you can do without a night light at first, but as your baby grows, a night light might become useful. Some parents find, for instance, their children get anxious about being left alone in the dark as they grow older; this is probably natural nighttime fears mixed with some separation anxiety. A night light can really help in instances like this; it can provide a little reassurance and comfort in the middle of the night. Nighttime fears can become a real problem during the toddler years, too, so even if you manage without a nightlight for a while, don’t hesitate to try one out if your two-year old is suddenly afraid of the dark.

Our Top 5 Night Light Recommendations

Greenic Dusk-to-Dawn LED Nightlight (in Amber)

This night light is super basic, but also super effective! It casts just enough diffuse light to help you find your way around for diaper changes and feedings, but not so much that it’ll make it hard for your baby to sleep. Just be sure to buy one in a warm color; we like the amber-colored one best.

Albrillo Baby Night Light

  The Albrillo Night Light is a customizable light with a rechargeable battery that lasts 200 or 6 hours in dimmest or brightest settings, respectively. And, the bottom button disables touch control and boosts brightness by 30% for outdoor visibility, if you like to go camping and the like. What we really love is that you can touch the top for half a second to enter night light mode for breastfeeding at night, for example, or you can tap the logo twice to set a 1-hour timer to comfort your toddler to sleep. This way, your toddler has a night light as he goes to sleep, but it won’t wake him in the middle of the night.

Bubzi Co. Penguin Plush & Projector

This adorable little elephant doubles as a night light and a lullaby player; it plays 10 different lullabies and projects a beautiful, soft starlight scene for a total of 30 minutes before automatically shutting off. This could work as a great bedtime routine tool; to signal to your baby that your routine is over and that it’s time to go to sleep, simply turn on this little plush owl. Note that some babies might find the starlight scene distracting; however, the projected image doesn’t move, so it should work for most babies. The added benefit here is that this little plush owl is portable; it runs on batteries, meaning you can easily move it around your home (from pack-n-play to crib, perhaps), or take it on the go. Best of all – by purchasing this Bubzi Co. product, you’re giving back! A percentage of every Bubzi Co. purchase is donated to Postpartum Support International, an organization that helps new moms look after their perinatal mental health.

Space / Animal Projector Night Light

This may or may not make a good baby night light; the moving stars or animals and multi-colored lights might prove too distracting. However, your toddler might really love it! This projector offers soft light that’ll keep your toddler feeling comfortable and secure, and it also projects a rotating scene that could be just the thing to keep an antsy toddler interested (and in bed!). If you have a jack-in-the-box toddler who is constantly popping out of bed or who finds bedtime boring, this nightlight might be a great choice. In addition, this could be another great bedtime routine ender – if you consistently end your routine by turning on the projector, it could send a strong signal to your toddler that it’s time to settle in and go to sleep.

Munchkin Light My Way Nightlight

Oh my GOSH, is this thing adorable! This portable little nightlight (another owl!) could work well for babies and for toddlers. It casts a nice warm glow, and it’s also small and portable, meaning it’ll travel well. What’s more, this light automatically shuts off after 15 minutes – but if your toddler wakes in the night and wants her night light on, she can simply press a button for another 15 minutes of light. Extra bonus – your toddler can carry this with her for middle-of-the-night trips to the potty! And you can easily move it around your baby’s room as needed.

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We knew shopping was big around the holidays, but app-buying? We gotta admit, that one caught us by surprise! Still, it’s true – the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas are some of the biggest “download” weeks of the year! I guess you can count a new app as a holiday gift to yourself, right? 😉

Because we never want to leave you in the dark, we thought this would be the perfect time to jump on the holiday app-downloading bandwagon and share with you some of our favorite baby apps. We’ve written a post like this before (check out 7 of our favorite baby sleep apps in this past post), but we thought it was high time we did another. The apps featured below are designed to help busy parents with everything from sleep, to tracking feeds, to organizing health information (like vaccinations), to managing your grocery lists…and more!

10 Awesome Apps For Parents: Baby Sleep, Baby Tracking, and More!

Baby Shusher – $4.99 (Apple and Android)

Ever “shushed” a baby to sleep? I have. And I’ll bet those of you who read even a little bit of The Happiest Baby on the Block have tried it, too! Contrary to appearances, shushing isn’t a desperate attempt by parents to get a baby to stop crying; the rhythmic shushing noise actually re-creates a womb sound that young babies find comforting (and sleep-inducing).

Here’s the catch, though — you may have to shush for quite a while before it begins to affect your baby. And you have to shush LOUDLY, over the sound of your baby’s crying. And that can make for some painful, hoarse shushing after awhile.

Thank goodness for the Baby Shusher app (available for use on both Android and iPhones). Not only does the app create the rhythmic shushing noise your newborn needs to relax; it also comes with a timer feature (you can shush for hours) and a sound equalizer (when your baby gets louder, so does the shush). Fancy!

Don’t believe shushing can work? Watch this video of an actual mom using the Baby Shusher app with her crying baby. Let’s just say that the results are pretty amazing.

Total Baby – $4.99

Okay, full disclosure – there are about a million baby tracking apps out there, and we couldn’t possibly test them all. So instead, we just compared the top 5 on iTunes. Our winner? Total Baby! This is the Mac Daddy of baby tracking apps. Track feedings, diaper changes, medication, sleep cycles, growth and development, and more! And this isn’t just a simple logging app — you can sync with your spouse or partner’s phone (meaning you both ALWAYS have current info), you can export this info into spreadsheets, graphs, charts…you name it! If you are a data-loving mom, you will positively swoon over this app. And even if you’re not, we’ll bet that you’ll find this app super-helpful and an easy way to track your pertinent baby care details.

Don’t want to pay $4.99? (Not that that’s an unfair price – that $4.99 buys you an incredible app!) We get it. In that case, why not try Eat Sleep? (For Apple devices only.) This is a very simple and easy-to-use tracking app that lets you track the important info: eating, sleeping, and pooping.

Baby Monitor 3G – $3.99 (Apple and Android)

It’s the next generation of baby monitoring – turn your smartphone or tablet into a full-fledged baby monitor! With Baby Monitor 3G, you can turn one device into a video camera and then watch (and listen to) your baby from another device. The Baby Monitor 3G lets you talk to your baby, meaning you can soothe with your voice, even if you’re not present in the room. And the vibration feature is especially genius – if your baby cries, your phone will vibrate, ensuring that you can “hear” your baby cry even if you’re in a noisy setting.

While this one doesn’t necessarily have to replace a traditional at-home monitor, it would make a genius on-the-go baby monitor for those times you’re traveling.

Cozi Family Organizer – FREE (for Apple and Android)

Having this app on your phone is basically like having a personal assistant you can carry around in your purse all day. You can use the Cozi Family Organizer to keep track of ALL your kids’ schedules (perfect for you moms with multiple little ones at home), to manage your grocery and to-do lists, and to jot down sweet memories or milestones when you’re out and about. What’s great about Cozi is that your whole family has one account, so your partner (and your big kids, if applicable) all share the same information – and you can access your family account from a huge range of devices, including your desktop computer!

Here’s what sold me on it, though…have you heard of the Fly Lady? You know, the internet’s Goddess of Home Organization? This is the only app she’s ever endorsed. Enough said, in my opinion!

Nicole’s Note:

“Emily’s right on with this recommendation – I use this app myself, and I LOVE it!! Don’t think I could live without it, actually.” 😉

Sleep Genius Baby – $1.99 (for Apple)

When a group of super-smart doctors and researchers get together and design a lullaby baby sleep app, you know it’s gotta be good! And that’s just what Sleep Genius Baby provides – music selected by experts that is scientifically proven to help your baby sleep. This is not your average lullaby list! It’s been clinically tested in hospital settings and comes with an impressive host of credentials.

But something I think you’re especially going to love? It comes with a continuous play option, AND it has separate bedtime and nap time settings. Impressive!

WebMD Baby – FREE (Apple and Android)

We’re pretty big WebMD fans around here – and we really love the app version! It’s baby-focused, for one thing (no more hunting around WebMD for baby-specific info – that’s all the app provides), and it beautifully organizes a ton of pertinent, useful baby care information. Use it to search basic baby info, or use the ‘Ask a Pediatrician’ feature to get more expert answers to your medical questions.

There’s even a really cute Baby Book feature that allows you to easily keep track of all those baby and toddler ‘firsts’. I love that feature – nice to have something handy to track the sweet moments in the midst of all of the technical info. 🙂
 

Pump Log – FREE (Apple only)

If you’re a pumping mom, you know first-hand how tough it can be to juggle regular pumping with all the other zillion things you have to do in a day. Enter Pump Log – the app that helps you manage all your pumping info! Track your breastmilk production, set automatic reminders so that you don’t forget to pump, track what times of day your milk production is at its highest, make notes about pumping sessions – and more!

The app also helps you count down when you can stop pumping, based on when you plan to stop nursing and what kind of supply you have stashed in your freezer. That’s such a great feature for you moms who are committed to pumping but are still eager to know when you can stop with the constant pumping!

Long story short, we think this app is destined to become the EP (Exclusively Pumping) mom’s best friend.
 

LactMed – FREE (Apple and Android)

Full disclosure – there is nothing (repeat: nothing) fancy about this app. It’s super basic. But the info it provides is so helpful, if you’re a breastfeeding mom. So what does LactMed do, exactly? Simple – it contains an index of just about every medication known to man, as well as information about exactly how each medication affects your breastmilk (and, by extension, your child). Not sure if a medication you’re taking is safe to use while breastfeeding? Consult LactMed! About to buy an OTC medication? Look it up in LactMed first, to see up-to-date recommendations about whether or not it’s safe for nursing moms.

Of course, this is absolutely no substitute for care from a healthcare provider, but it makes a great supplemental tool for breastfeeding moms.
 

Day One – $4.99 (Apple only)

We’ll admit, this has nothing at all to do with baby care or baby sleep – but it has everything to do with capturing precious moments with your little one! Day One is a clean, elegant, and downright beautiful app that serves as a digital journal. Quickly make a note of a funny moment, a cute little thing your toddler says, or a major milestone. Capture pictures alongside your entries, and access old entries easily (since everything’s organized by date). Choose what you want to keep private, and what you want to share with family and friends.

We all know that in the hustle and bustle of caring for a little one, it can be so easy to forget about capturing precious, lovely moments with your family. The Day One app is designed to make it easy not only to capture those moments but also to save and share them.

Complete Our List!

Is this an exhaustive list of baby sleep and baby care apps? By no means – there are so many apps out there designed to help parents, and this isn’t even a fraction of them. That’s why we’d like you to help us complete this list! Please link us to your favorite apps that deal with baby and toddler care in the comments section, below the article. We love hearing from you, so share away!

Download These Baby Apps – And Then Get Personalized Baby Sleep Help!

These apps are fantastic, and will no doubt make a tired mama’s life easier. But they probably won’t solve all your sleep problems. Know what can help you solve your sleep problems? Us! Our team of expert consultants is so ready to help you get the sleep you deserve. Connect with a consultant today, and she’ll craft a Personalized Sleep Plan™ just for your family!

Browse our list of consultation package options here.

Once you make your choice and purchase, you will immediately receive an e-mail with your Helpdesk login information. You’ll be able to log in and get started immediately!

Want more information about how personalized help works? Check out our FAQ page here, and get answers.

Don’t forget to weigh in and share your favorite baby and toddler apps below!

 
Our VIP Members Area is packed with exclusive content and resources: e-Books, assessments, detailed case studies, expert advice, peer support, and more. It actually costs less to join than buying products separately! As a VIP member, you’ll also enjoy a weekly chat with an expert sleep consultant.
 
If you’re looking for ways to get your baby or toddler into a healthy sleeping routine during the day, I encourage you to explore Mastering Naps and Schedules, a comprehensive guide to napping routines, nap transitions, and all the other important “how-tos” of good baby sleep. With over 45 sample sleep schedules and planning worksheets, Mastering Naps and Schedules is a hands-on tool ideal for any parenting style.
 
For those persistent nighttime struggles, check out The 3 Step System to Help Your Baby Sleep. Using the same unique approach and practical tools for success, this e-book helps you and your baby sleep through the night.
 
 
For those persistent toddler sleep struggles, check out The 5 Step System to Better Toddler Sleep. Using the same unique approach and practical tools for success, this e-book helps you and your toddler sleep through the night and enjoy a better daytime schedule.
 

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