Kids' Night Lights

How to choose a kids night light

Start with where it will sit. A bedside table, a shelf or the top of a chest of drawers will do, and a spot to one side of the bed keeps the glow out of their eyes while still lighting the way to the door. Measure the space first, so the light has room beside a bedtime book.

Then think about the child. A light they have helped to pick is one they are glad to have by the bed, so give them a say in the look. Older children often like a light they can turn on and off themselves, while a younger child may want it left on until morning. A few of ours suit teens as well.

What a night light does, and why batteries help

A night light does one simple job: it keeps a little light in the room once the main light is off, so everything still looks familiar. Most of ours run on batteries, which means no plug socket to plan around: the light can glow on the landing, sit on a bookshelf or go along to a sleepover.

Battery lights take different kinds of battery, so check which yours uses and keep a few spares in a drawer. When the glow starts to fade, it is usually time for fresh ones.

What our night lights are made from

Plastic, a lightweight material that wipes clean easily, goes into every light in our range. Alongside it, some use metal and a few use silicone, a flexible material with a softer feel than hard plastic. Knowing the materials helps with care: where a light uses metal, dry it straight after wiping, and where it uses silicone, expect a little dust and fluff to cling, so wipe it more often.

Using a night light at bedtime

A children's night light works best as part of the bedtime routine: bath, story, main light off, night light on. Turning it on at the same moment night after night becomes a cue that it is time to sleep, and many children settle more easily with a soft glow nearby, especially if the dark worries them.

A baby night light and a kids night light do slightly different jobs. In a nursery the glow is largely there for the parent, giving enough light for a night feed or a nappy change without switching on the main light. In a child's room the light is theirs, something to settle by and to find the door by. Ours are made with children in mind.

Giving a night light as a present

A night light makes a thoughtful present, and one a child will use long after the wrapping is gone. Among ours, a few suit a birthday and a few suit Christmas. It also fits the moments around a big change, such as moving into their own room, moving house or becoming a big brother or sister.

To make more of it, pair the light with a favourite bedtime story or a soft toy, so the present becomes part of the routine. Grandparents often keep one at their house too, ready for the nights a child comes to stay.

Looking after your child's night light

Switch the light off before cleaning, then wipe it with a soft cloth wrung out in warm, soapy water and dry it straight away. Keep water away from any switch or battery compartment, never submerge the light, and skip bleach, solvents and scouring pads, which can cloud or scratch plastic. A dry cloth once a week stops dust dulling the glow.

If the light is going to be put away for a while, take the batteries out first, as batteries left in a light that is not in use can leak and corrode the contacts. Change the whole set at once rather than mixing old and fresh, and take spent batteries to a recycling point instead of the household bin; many supermarkets have one.