Will a Nightlight Disrupt My Baby's Sleep?

When it comes to a baby's comfort, the average parent will go to great lengths to make sure that things are just right. The bedtime routine is definitely one of those areas where a parent will stress about making things perfect for their little one. And one source of many conversations amongst parents is whether or not to use a nightlight.

There are a lot of theories as to why a nightlight is a bad thing to use in a young child's room. But through a little research and speaking to a few doctors, it's easy to see that some of them are not all they're cracked up to be.

Can an infant's circadian rhythm be disrupted?
The short answer is no, but there are definitely caveats to this point. An infant's circadian rhythm (basically the biochemical process a body follows in 24 hours) usually isn't established until they are at least 3 months old. Using a nightlight will not disturb an infant's sleep cycle; however, it needs to be the right brightness and color. A soft, white or yellow color is perfectly fine and shouldn't disturb any sleep. But beware some of the cute designer nightlights for kids that come in bold colors like red, blue, or green, and are sometimes much brighter than need be. Basically, it can be bright enough that you could change a diaper in the middle of the night, but not bright enough that you could read a book across the room with it.

Does a nightlight encourage night time play?
One question a parent may have is whether or not a nightlight might encourage mid-night wakings and playtime. If the nightlight is dim enough, then no, it won't necessarily encourage playtime in the middle of the night. Whether the room is slightly lit or completely dark, if your child wakes she might play no matter what. It all depends on your child's personality and honestly, babies in particular wake up several times throughout the night, but usually only for a minutes at a time, if that.

Will a nightlight actually make a child's fear of the dark worse?
Some parents may argue that using a nightlight doesn't help a child get over their fear of the dark, if that's a fear they have. According to many child psychologists, we should never try to get someone to 'get over' their fear, no matter how old the child is or how 'silly' the fear may be. Either way, having a nightlight doesn't hinder a child in getting over their fear of the dark. It might actually help them deal with it better, and sleep better, which will make everyone happy.

Nightlights can help with the bedtime routine
Right from infancy, parents can help make the bedtime routine smooth by using things like a nightlight to set the tone and schedule for the night. You could think of the nightlight not as a tool to chase away any darkness fears, but an implement in setting a good bedtime routine. If you turn it on at the same time every night, it signals to your child that it's time for bed and time to settle down.