My kids are notoriously bad sleepers. From the time they were little it’s been a struggle to get them to stay in their room all night long. We finally resorted to night lights which worked and didn’t work. While they scared away the boogie man they also ended up broken every other week.
We finally resorted to buying a lamp with a colored 25 watt light bulb which saved us from having to buy nightlights twice a month but resulted in the kids staying awake until all hours because they thought they could read or play since they could see. If your little one needs a little extra light at night, there are a few other alternatives to nightlights that may save your sanity and a few bucks.
Alternatives to Nightlights
Glow jewelry: You can grab a pack of six glow-stick bracelets from Wal-Mart for $1. They glow lasts a couple of hours and it’s not very bright so your little ones will get a little extra light but it shouldn’t keep them up either. Opt for the bracelets instead of necklaces just to avoid any possible choking hazards. If you aren’t comfortable with your little ones wearing them to bed you can always hang them nearby or pile a bunch of them into a plastic water bottle for your kids to hold or set nearby.
Glow in the dark animals: When my daughter was little my mom got her this adorable white bear that glowed different colors when you squeezed its hand. You could set the timer for up to 5 or 10 minutes before it needed to be triggered again. There are a ton of different animals and plushes that even project images onto the sealing. They are a little pricier than a nightlight but they’ll hold up a lot better when your kids play with them.
Leave the hallway light on: In a pinch, leaving the door cracked open with a hallway or bathroom light on provides enough light to banish the creepy shadows but not so much that it overwhelms the room. You can also shut it off after the kids are asleep to save energy.
Nightlights are usually dim enough that they aren’t going to disturb sleep, but most of them aren’t very durable. If you are worried about your little ones breaking them, you might want to choose another alternative.
Do you use nightlights for your kids?
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