The 9 Best Night-Lights to Help Your Kids Drift Off to Sleep...

Soothing sounds, soft lighting, and intuitive controls come together to make bedtime easier.

Parents / Alexander Huang

Finding the right nighttime routine to help my little one fall asleep wasn’t easy. I’ve worked my way through countless night-lights and bedtime routines, and it wasn’t until my daughter was 5 years old that I finally found the right combination that ensured she not only fell asleep in her room but also remained there instead of sneaking into mine. I ultimately chose the Hatch Rest+ 2nd Gen, which integrates a sound machine and a night-light. My daughter likes the bird sounds, and I like the uninterrupted sleep. Night-lights that emit a small amount of light can be helpful for both you and your children. According to Michelle Caraballo, MD, a pediatric pulmonologist and sleep medicine specialist, “darkness at bedtime triggers the body’s natural release of melatonin, helping to regulate the body’s circadian rhythm and allowing your child to keep a regular sleep schedule.”When picking the best night-light for your child’s room, consider the power source, smart connectivity options, whether the brightness or colors are adjustable, and whether it boasts any additional features like a sound machine, music, or projectors. To create our list of recommendations, we asked pediatricians and sleep experts to provide input that not only guided our initial selection of products but aided in narrowing the field to the best night-lights to help your little one fall asleep. Our Favorite Night-LightsBest Overall: VTech V-Hush Mini Sleep Trainer Soother SpeakerBest Budget: JandCase Night LightsBest With Remote: Lumipets Silicone Night Light for KidsBest Portable: Munchkin Light My Way Night LightBest With Amazon Alexa: Echo GlowBest Customizable: Hatch Rest+ 2nd GenBest Plug-In: Eufy Lumi Plug-In Night LightBest With Sound Machine: YogaSleep Travel Mini Sound Machine With Night LightBest Projector: SkipHop Moonlight & Melodies Night Light Soother Best Overall: vTech V-Hush BC8213 Mini Sleep Trainer Soother Speaker

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Why We Like ItThe VTech V-Hush Soother is an all-in-one nighttime solution that’s packed with functions that make it a great long-term investment. It incorporates adjustable lights, a projector, a sound machine, and app-supported controls. It also offers dual power options through a plug-in cord or rechargeable battery. The compact design makes it a portable solution that our tester felt made it stand out compared to the Hatch Rest they normally use with their 3.5-month-old child. Our tester especially enjoyed using the sound machine function and the warm white light on a dimmer setting for late-night check-ins. They appreciated the shusher noise and wide range of sounds and colors: There are 10 stories, 10 classical tunes, 10 lullabies, 10 natural sounds, and over 250 color options. You can adjust the brightness and use the breath/pulse function to shift between colors automatically. The night-light also has a timer that shuts it off automatically. The proprietary companion app supports connecting other devices for playback through the speakers.
What Parents Say“I would definitely bring this soother on weekend trips or even longer because it is much smaller than our Hatch, but has more functions than our smaller hand-held sound machine.” —Marco, dad of a 3.5-month-old.
But Take NoteOverall, our tester loved the V-Hush but noted that the one area where it underperforms is with the app. When trying to manage the Bluetooth control panel, the app can glitch. However, it has on-device control buttons, which our tester felt were more intuitive to use than the Hatch’s. The Details:Dimensions: 6.38 x 5.16 x 5 inchesPower source: Electric plug, rechargeable batteryApps and connectivity: Bluetooth connection, proprietary appBest Budget: JandCase Night Light

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Why We Like ItIf you simply need a plug-in night-light that offers sufficient ambient light to give little ones peace of mind and helps them fall asleep quicker, this two-pack set from JandCase is modestly priced and exactly what you need. It’s a literal plug-and-play device that requires no Bluetooth connectivity or instruction manual to operate it.It relies on light sensors to automatically power on once the surrounding area grows dark. But as soon as you turn on a light, the night-light shuts off. A soft yellow light provides a low glow without being overbearing.
What Parents Say“Honestly, I want more of these just to illuminate the hallways and dark areas of the house at night.” —Brittany, aunt to a 3-year-old niece.
But Take NoteThe no-frills functionality may not appeal to shoppers seeking more enhanced options like noise machines, color options, or app control. The Details:Dimensions: 1.85 x 2.05 x 1.61 inchesPower source: Plug-inApps and connectivity: N/A Best With Remote: Lumipets Silicone Puppy Night Light

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Why We Like ItLumipets pairs the soft, tactile experience of a toy with the soft warm glow of a night-light to make bedtime something kids will look forward to. Our tester used this night-light with their 6-year-old son who is “confident in the existence of monsters and their desire to visit him at night.” What sets this device apart from the competition is that it’s a squishable silicone night-light that allows kids to control the color choice simply by squeezing it. Our tester’s son loved the cute dog design and soft texture. Parents can opt for the included wireless remote to scroll between nine colors or set it to color-change mode. The rechargeable USB battery can run for 12 hours. There’s a timer you can set for 15, 30, or 60 minutes. Also, you can adjust through 12 brightness levels to create a more ambient light setting. Choose from 16 adorable creatures.
What Parents Say“The night-light was the perfect amount of soft brightness. It gave my son a sense of security, but wasn’t so bright that it kept him awake.” —Lauren, mom of a 6-year-old.
But Take NoteThe adorable faces and squishy softness may delay bedtime because little ones want to play. As our tester shared, “my son and his brothers would play with the night-light and sometimes it would get mixed up with their other toys. Come night time, it was a rush to figure out where the night-light had been left.” The Details:Dimensions: 5 x 5 x 6 inchesPower source: USB rechargeableApps and connectivity: Touch, wireless remote Best Portable: Munchkin Light My Way Nightlight

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Why We Like ItKids will appreciate that this portable owl night-light from Munchkin is designed with their needs in mind. The small format is perfect for smaller hands and features simple controls that are ideal for preschoolers who are still building dexterity and fine motor skills. Our tester loved that this was a simple, straightforward night-light with just a single control button to turn the light on and off. Plus, it has an automatic 20-minute timer that shuts off automatically, so caregivers don’t have to sneak into bedrooms to turn it off—and risk waking up tiny snoozers. The smaller size will make some kids want to cuddle with this little device, and parents can rest easy knowing that there are no cords that pose a safety risk.
What Parents Say“I knew he would love that he can hold it and turn it on and off himself and love the owl design, but he loves it more than I thought.” —Holly, mom of a 3-year-old.
But Take NoteThis is purely a night-light with a soft, warm white LED output. Also, even though our tester felt the battery life was long, it relies on three AAA batteries. The Details:Dimensions: 2.4 x 4.1 x 6.1 inchesPower source: 3 AAA batteriesApps and connectivity: N/ABest With Amazon Alexa: Amazon Echo Glow

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Why We Like ItSpeaking from personal experience, there’s nothing more annoying than switching between apps to manage all of the connected devices in my home. For those that rely on Alexa for IoT (Internet of Things) management, the Echo Glow from Amazon is a simple smart light that integrates into Alexa so you can use one smart assistant to manage all (or most) of your devices. The Echo Glow’s portable size of less than 4 inches in width, height, and depth makes it a compact solution that doesn’t take up much space on bedside tables or dressers. You can use either the Amazon Echo app or simply speak to Alexa to control the colors or play music or soothing sounds through the integrated speaker.
What Parents Say“We are already an Alexa home and it’s a great addition to the Echo if you have small kids.” —Jessica Mahgerefteh, mom of 3.5-year-old.
But Take NoteThe Echo Glow lacks a built-in microphone. So, if you don’t have an Alexa-compatible device to link it to, the Alexa functionality is unusable. Our tester also experienced connectivity issues: “We have gotten some error messages where Alexa says she is having trouble responding,” which makes the Wi-Fi-enabled function unreliable. The Details:Dimensions: 3.9 x 3.9 x 3.2 inchesPower source: Plug-inApps and connectivity: Alexa-enabled, WiFiBest Customizable: Hatch Rest+ 2nd Gen Portable Dream Machine

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Why We Like ItThe Hatch brand has garnered a loyal fanbase (myself included) thanks to its multitude of sleep and soothing products that just work. I use the Hatch Rest+ 2nd Gen and the Hatch Rest Go with my daughter and can attest to them being portable, effective at helping my daughter stay asleep (in her own bed!), and easy to use. The Rest+ 2nd Gen is the latest rollout from the brand and is packed with features, including night-light, alarm clock, time to rise, white noise, and bedtime stories. It’s truly portable thanks to the wireless charging base. You’ll get up to eight hours of use on a single charge. Our tester loved that operation is fairly easy when you use the app—although there are on-device buttons to turn it on or off and toggle between modes, volume levels, and light adjustments. As is standard with Hatch devices, the Rest+ Gen 2 has a companion app that must be paired with the device when you first set it up. This offers enhanced functionality rather than relying solely on the device's control panel.
What Parents Say“I like how multi-functional it is. I like how its capacity changes as your kid grows.” —Cecily, mom of a 2.5-year-old.
But Take NoteSome of the Hatch’s functionality requires a paid annual subscription to access. If you want to play music or stories, these features can’t be fully enjoyed without being a subscriber—although you can test drive a sample selection in the app before committing. Additionally, it’s almost essential that everyone has the app since the on-device control panel can be clunky. The Details:Dimensions: 5.04 x 5.04 x 6.82 inchesPower source: Wireless chargingApps and connectivity: Bluetooth appBest Plug-In: eufy Lumi Plug-In Night Light

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Why We Like ItIf you have multiple areas in your home that need goof-proof illumination at night, this six-pack of automatic sensor-based plug-in night-lights is an affordable and obvious solution. There’s virtually nothing to figure out except which plug you want to use it in. Each plug-in night-light offers dusk-to-dawn warm white LED motion-activated output. Because it’s unobtrusive and simple, it can serve as a companion option for parents who already have a standalone white noise machine and don’t want to purchase a night-light with duplicate functionality. But if you don’t want to dedicate critical outlet space to these night-lights, Eufy also makes a multipack stick-on version that gives you more placement flexibility. However, that one requires three AAA batteries.
What Parents Say“We’ve been long-time fans of Eufy products, and this product is no exception with this brand.” —Kimberly, mom of a 22-month-old.
But Take NoteBecause these are motion-activated, location really matters. Our tester found that when placed in areas that had natural blind spots, the lights were less effective than in areas where the motion sensor was unobstructed. The Details:Dimensions: N/APower source: Plug-in Apps and connectivity: N/ABest With Sound Machine: YogaSleep Travel Mini Sound Machine with Night Light

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Why We Like ItA truly portable design makes the YogaSleep Travel Mini ideal for helping light the way for little ones at home or when the family travels. The sound machine function is great for creating the right amount of white noise or muffling distracting outside sounds in cities. The small size makes this ideal for kids to manage independently, and the included carrying strap supports the travel-friendly angle. The YogaSleep Mini features a simple design, is easy for kids to master, and includes six sounds and a dimmable light. It relies on a USB-rechargeable battery, which makes operation easy. You’ll get up to eight hours of use on a single charge. This is a fairly affordable option that can either serve to complement a more robust device at home or be a stand-in option when traveling.
What Parents Say“Favorite thing per my children was the smallness of it and easy to use.” —Sabrina, mom of an 8- and 10-year-old.
But Take NoteAlthough there is a warm white LED, the output isn’t as bright as competitors. Even though there are three dimmer settings, our tester felt that the overall brightness was significantly lower than with competitors like Hatch. The Details:Dimensions: 2.5 x 2.5 x 1.77 inchesPower source: USB-rechargeableApps and connectivity: N/ABest Projector: Skip Hop Moonlight & Melodies Baby Soother

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Why We Like ItA soothing starry night projector display combines with music to make the dark less scary. This simple tabletop night-light features a control panel that’s easy to navigate, even for little fingers. Along with brightness adjustment, you can also set a timer for 15, 30, and 60-minute increments. There’s a music and white noise function with four songs or four soothing sounds to choose from. Our tester liked that this owl design was fairly compact—not taking up too much space but still sturdy enough to be durable. While we’re highlighting the owl, this night-light is available in other designs, like an elephant.
What Parents Say“The night-light was very helpful at night since the music is soothing for kids.” —Irianna, mom to a 1-year-old and 7-year-old.
But Take NoteThis isn’t a dealbreaker, but the projector may create a blurry output given the small footprint on this device. Additionally, there is no companion app for remote or wireless connectivity. The Details:Dimensions: 4.5 x 6 x 5.5 inchesPower source: Plug-inApps and connectivity: N/AOther Notable Night-LightsPillowfort Starry Globe Kids’ Nightlight: 360-degree pattern projection creates a soothing lighting effect for any nursery or children’s bedroom. However, this simple lamp relies on a basic on/off switch and the ceramic globe may be risky for younger kids who might be tempted to touch it. G Keni Nursery Night Light: This affordable night-light has an impressive battery that can last up to 65 hours (on the lowest light setting) and a simple touch-top interface. Unfortunately, there are no other features or light colors, and the brightest setting is still dimmer than competitors. Wiz Mobile Portable Light: A simple portable night-light that supports beautiful color gradients has a long battery life, and features Bluetooth connectivity is an alluring prospect. However, it's expensive considering it lacks any other functionality.

Parents / Alexander Huang

Our Testing Process To create our list of recommendations, we worked with experts to determine the key considerations that are most important when using a night-light. We then scoured the market to find the best options to send home with testers and their kids. We asked our testers to review the following criteria: Design: Night-lights can range from huggable, portable options that find their way into your child’s bed, to more traditional tabletop models. We asked our testers to consider whether the design enhanced or hindered functionality and if it appealed to younger audiences. Functionality: Some night-lights are 360-degree solutions that incorporate white noise, music, projectors, timers, and even okay-to-wake functions. We asked our testers to consider how intuitive the functionality was and whether it was easy to switch between modes, adjust colors and brightness levels, or even set timers. Brightness/Color: Some night-lights only offer a white color output, while others support multiple RGB hues. We also asked our testers to rate the brightness. And, if applicable, were they able to control the brightness or was it preset to a static level.Controls: Night-lights can either have a built-in control panel or include a companion app for caregivers to manage remotely. We asked our testers to consider how easily they could access and manage the controls. Likewise, if an app was available, was it easier to operate the night-light through the app or directly through the device?Power Source: Some of the night-lights we asked our testers to rate supported wireless charging or were portable. If USB charging or traditional batteries were the main power source, we asked testers to rate the battery life. Our ExpertsWe consulted pediatricians and sleep experts to find out more about kids' sleep patterns and the best practices when using night-lights for kids: David Suhrbier, DO, a neurologist and sleep medicine expert with Valley Children’s Healthcare in Madera, California. He earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Midwestern University—Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his fellowship in child neurology at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.Michelle Caraballo, MD, a pediatric pulmonologist and sleep medicine specialist at Children’s Health and an associate professor at the University of Texas Southwestern.Natalie Nevares, mother of two and founder of Mommywise, a national in-home sleep training support service for parents of babies and children. Factors to Consider When Buying a Night-LightBrightness and color: Some night-lights only offer a warm yellow output, while others can toggle between various RGB colors. Dimmable lights are ideal to prevent a too-bright output from delaying sleep. Color choices can be nice, but caregivers should be mindful that some colors are proven to interrupt or delay sleep. Dr. Suhrbier advises that “white or blue light will negatively impact the child’s circadian rhythm, which is the timing of when the body is awake and when it should be asleep.” Instead, he recommends a “night-light utilizing red light at 50 [lumens] or less” placed farther from the child’s bed to minimize disruption. Power source: Night-lights can rely on traditional batteries, USB-rechargeable batteries, or a plug-in connection. There are pros and cons to each option. USB-rechargeable models tend to be more portable. A traditional battery eliminates cords that can pose a strangulation hazard for smaller kids. A traditional plug-in option eliminates having to remember to recharge a device but can limit portability. App controls and smart connectivity: A companion app or smart integration like Alexa compatibility is nice since it lets caregivers remotely manage settings or timers without risking waking a sleeping child. However, connectivity issues like dropped Bluetooth signals or crash-prone apps can be frustrating. If you’re interested in an app-based night-light, be sure there’s a control panel on the device that provides access to all the core functions. Sound machine and other extras: Some kids require more than ambient lighting to fall asleep. In my daughter’s case, she needs chirping birds along with soft light. So, features like sound machines, music, or even audiobooks and projectors can all be value-added features that take the stress out of bedtime. However, these functions sometimes come at a premium. This is the case with Hatch’s Rest+ 2nd Gen, which requires an annual subscription to gain full access to music and story options.

Parents / Alexander Huang

Should Kids Sleep With Night-Lights?Within the expert community, there’s a nearly unanimous agreement that a dark, cool, and quiet room is the optimal sleeping condition for babies, children, and adults. However, even experts understand that this may not be realistic when dealing with late-night feedings and diaper changes, transitioning a toddler to a big kid bed, or simply trying to convince a worried child to sleep in their own bed because they’re confident that monsters might be under it. According to Dr. Caraballo, “a dim night-light is a perfectly reasonable way to comfort a child who is afraid of the dark and to prevent accidental trips or falls if a child needs to get up during the night for any reason.” Nevares agrees but also adds a practical consideration: “As a parent, your baby or child might wake up in the middle of the night and cry for you. If the room is pitch black, how can you see your baby or child to help them with no night-light?”Dr. Suhrbier cautions that controlling night-light brightness is critical to avoid interrupting the circadian rhythm. He notes that “the lowest level of lumens (the amount of visible light to the human eye) should be used. A lumen count of 50L or less is recommended.” Dr. Caraballo also supports dimmable features but recommends keeping the light low to the ground and away from the bed or crib to further minimize the chances of sleep cycle disruption. A Note on Sound Machine Night-LightsOfficially, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) only fully endorses the use of night-lights for children who struggle with night terrors. But with the rise of multifunctional night-lights, the advice can get a bit murkier. The AAP is less supportive of sound machines and recommends stricter guidelines, such as limiting audio output to 50 decibels or lower for babies and setting it on a timer rather than letting it play all night. Still, research points to the benefits of white noise, which is especially helpful for people who live in noisier areas. Even in testing, many of our participants lived in large cities where everything from neighbors to routine street traffic and even blaring sirens can delay falling asleep or disrupt sleep patterns. A 2021 study published in the journal Sleep Medicine supports implementing white noise as a way to drown out those distracting sounds (the study was performed on adult respondents).

Parents / Alexander Huang

Who We AreDorian Smith-Garcia is a commerce, health, and parenting writer at Parents, and a mom of one 6-year-old daughter. She is a big fan of the Hatch Rest+ 2nd Gen, and the Happiest Baby Snoobie for helping her daughter sleep through the night and stay in her bed. For more Parents news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Parents.We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

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