Soft lighting for peaceful nights
Key takeaways:
- A night light is a small accent light fixture with a very soft glow, left on at night to provide a point of reference in the bedroom without brightly lighting it.
- The choice is made first on the power source (rechargeable, plug-in or battery-powered), then on the brightness setting and the features: projection, music, white noise or automatic switch-on.
- In a child's bedroom, the night light and its cable are placed out of reach of toddlers, away from the bed, and never in the bed or the crib.
A night light is a small accent light fixture, most often LED, whose deliberately low light stays on at night to provide a point of reference in the dark. Placed on a piece of furniture, plugged into an outlet or fixed to the wall, it keeps watch in a baby's bedroom as well as in an older child's.
Why choose a night light for a baby or child?
A night light is much more than a simple light fixture: it is a little companion of the night, which stays on when all the other lights are off. The soft lighting it gives off creates a reassuring environment in the bedroom, where the outlines of the room can still be made out.
A good-quality night light naturally finds its place in the bedtime routine, bringing a subdued light and a quiet atmosphere. Many parents choose a child's night light when their child dislikes complete darkness: it then stays on as a familiar point of reference.
The night lights gathered on Lustria are aimed first and foremost at babies and children. A projection night light, for example, creates a magical effect by drawing stars on the ceiling, turning the bedroom into a real starry sky.
The light is most often adjusted to your child's preferences, whether they like a brighter glow or a softer one. Some models add musical features, such as the musical baby night light, which plays lullabies at bedtime.
The different types of night lights and their features
Night lights come in several families, to suit your needs and those of your family. Rechargeable night lights, the most numerous in our selection, do away with batteries and simply recharge with a USB cable; the battery life and charging time are listed on each product page.
If you are looking for a model that follows your child's tastes, animal shapes remain very popular for their playful look: the rabbit night light first of all, but also the bear or the turtle depending on the model. Little dreamers will prefer a unicorn night light.
Another very popular option is the dusk-sensing night light, which switches on by itself when the ambient light drops. It provides discreet lighting without any intervention, which is welcome on nights when the baby wakes up at a movement or a small noise. It often takes the form of a plug-in night light, to be plugged in out of the child's reach.
There are also night lights with a motion sensor, which switch on as soon as movement is detected and avoid turning on a light that is too bright in the middle of the night. The presence of this feature should be checked on the product page, as not all models are equipped with it.
| Type of night light | How it works | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Rechargeable | Built-in battery, recharges via USB cable | To move around or take on trips |
| Plug-in | Plugs into a wall outlet | Bedroom, hallway or landing |
| Projection | Draws stars or patterns on the ceiling | Bedtime routine |
| Musical or white noise | Plays songs or a continuous sound | Bedtime, away from the bed |
How to choose the right night light for your child?
Choosing a night light comes down to a few essential criteria, starting with its design. Prefer a model that blends harmoniously into the bedroom, whether it is a decorative light fixture with clean lines or an original night light that reflects your child's ideas and tastes, such as a whale night light in a marine decor.
A 3D night light is a good example: its luminous relief amuses children, leaves plenty of room for imagination and adds a modern touch to the bedroom decor.
The second criterion is the subdued light it produces. The brightness must remain soft enough not to cause glare, while being sufficient for the child to find their bearings in the dark; a warm tone, such as warm white (2700 to 3000 K), suits the night better than a cool white.
If you want an adjustable night light, choose a model with several brightness levels, which you can adjust according to the time of night and the child's needs. Most of our models are LED night lights, whose source uses little energy and gives off little heat.
Finally, think about safety. Read the power source, the materials and the age recommended by the manufacturer on the product page, and choose a stable model, with no small detachable parts, which you will place with its cable out of reach of toddlers.
A night light to accompany bedtime
A baby night light or one for an older child accompanies the bedtime routine, giving it a calm atmosphere. Many children ask to keep a light source on when the lights go out, and the night light answers with a soft glow, far less present than that of a lamp.
Musical night lights and plush-shaped night lights are among the new products that make this moment more pleasant. One rule, however, admits no exception: a night light, even a plush one, is never placed in the bed or the crib.
These models play songs, nature sounds or a continuous sound, as a white noise night light does. Music and light then combine to create a soft atmosphere before the night, and each family judges through use whether it suits them.
For models with sound, always set a low volume and place the device away from the child's head. The night light is also a ready-made gift for a birth, or to complete the basket of essentials for the baby's arrival.
How to maintain and use your night light to get the most from it?
For your night light to keep offering a pleasant light for a long time, regular maintenance is useful. Switch it off or unplug it, then occasionally wipe the diffuser with a dry, soft cloth, because the dust that builds up on it eventually dulls the light.
On battery-powered models, keep the batteries out of children's reach, check that the compartment stays properly closed and replace the batteries as soon as they are flat. Rechargeable night lights need only minimal maintenance: put them back on charge as soon as the light dims, with the included cable, away from the bed and under your supervision.
To get the most out of it, choose its location with care. The night light goes in a strategic spot, away from the bed and out of the child's reach, with the cable tucked away, so as to provide enough light to find one's bearings without causing glare. A wall night light is well suited to this; if it has to be connected to the electrical circuit, have it installed by a qualified electrician.
Some models find other uses around the home: on an older child's desk, in the living room or in a hallway, as accent lighting. Our selection of night lights for adults also brings together models that find their place on a bedside table.
Finally, if you buy your night light online, read the product page: power source, dimensions, features and recommended age are listed there, and the price appears on each product page. The general terms and conditions of sale specify everything concerning the order.
Trends and innovations: The night lights of the future
The world of night lights is evolving fast, with the arrival of new technologies. More and more models are turned on with a simple touch, and some smart night lights on the market can be controlled from a mobile app, which lets parents customize the lighting remotely.
These night lights also offer to play white noise, change the color of the light or schedule the automatic shut-off of the device, depending on the features specified on each product page. Themes are also being renewed: the astronaut night light has joined the animals in children's bedrooms.
Solar night lights are another interesting novelty: they recharge during the day in sunlight, then give off a soft light in the evening, with no connection needed. They remain rarer, however, than models rechargeable by cable.
Where to buy a night light for your child?
A night light can be bought in a store or online. If you are looking for a specific model, for example a musical projection night light or a star night light for the baby's bedroom, Lustria offers a wide range of products, suited to every need.
Online, each night light is presented with a detailed description, to help you make the right choice. Always check the product's features and the safety instructions given by the manufacturer before confirming your purchase; our customer service will answer your questions.
Give your child a calm and peaceful night
A night light is much more than a simple decorative object: it is a luminous point of reference that the child becomes attached to, and a gesture that becomes part of the bedtime habits evening after evening. Classic or connected model, choosing it well changes the atmosphere of the bedroom at nightfall.
Properly used and well maintained, it can accompany your child for many years. If you are looking for a practical night light, easy to live with and innovative, browse the Lustria catalog and compare the product pages.
Frequently asked questions about night lights
Your most common questions:
Why are night lights essential in a child's bedroom?
Because they offer soft, reassuring lighting, which leaves a point of reference in the bedroom at bedtime and during the night. Their brightness remains low enough not to cause glare, which is what parents of a child who dislikes the dark are looking for.
Giving a night light to your baby means setting up an evening ritual and a peaceful atmosphere; with built-in music or a star projection, it also makes a lovely birth gift. Some models with a motion sensor switch on by themselves.
What are the different types of night lights for babies and children?
The main ones are simple LED night lights, projection models, musical night lights and rechargeable ones. LEDs are valued for their low consumption and low heat output; night lights with star projection turn the ceiling into a starry sky, and musical ones play songs or white noise.
For a portable night light, choose a rechargeable model. Playful shapes (rabbit, bear or comfort toy) also decorate the bedroom.
How to choose a good night light for a baby?
First choose a soft light whose brightness is adjustable, to adapt it to the time of night. Rechargeable models do away with batteries, and a musical night light with star projection creates a calm atmosphere in the bedroom.
Then look at the materials and the recommended age on the product page, then the shape, rabbit or bear for example, which matters to the child. Finally, check that the model fits your budget: the price appears on each product page.
What features should you consider when buying a night light?
Brightness comes first: it must be soft, but sufficient to find one's bearings without causing glare. A night light with subdued light that is adjustable adapts to the time.
Next come the features: a projection model draws patterns on the ceiling, and musical or rechargeable night lights are appreciated for their simplicity. Finally, look at the quality of the materials and the safety instructions on the product page, and keep the cable out of reach.
Which night light to choose for a child under 3?
For a toddler, choose a night light with a soft, adjustable light, checking on the product page the age from which the manufacturer recommends it. LED models give off little heat and use little energy, and rechargeable ones do away with batteries.
A star projection or a musical model, in the shape of a rabbit or a bear, adds a touch of magic. Always place the night light and its cable out of reach, never in the bed or the crib.
How to install and use a plug-in night light?
Simply plug it directly into a wall outlet, without tools. Choose an outlet out of the child's reach and away from the bed, so that the plug-in night light lights the room discreetly.
Some models have a motion sensor and switch on by themselves in the middle of the night; others project a starry sky on the ceiling. It also serves as an accent lamp, when a strong light would be too much. The availability of each model is shown on its product page.
Which night lights offer star projection and soft lighting?
These are projection night lights, which draw stars or patterns on the ceiling and create a soft, magical atmosphere before bedtime. Their LED source uses little energy and gives off little heat.
Some musical projection night lights combine the starry sky with lullabies. They come in several colors and in playful shapes, such as a rabbit or a bear, and are often rechargeable, so they can be used anywhere.
How to maintain an LED night light?
Dust it regularly with a soft, dry cloth, after switching it off or unplugging it: dust eventually dims its light. An LED night light uses very little energy, gives off little heat and lasts much longer than a standard bulb.
If your night light runs on batteries, replace them as soon as they are worn out and keep them out of children's reach. Rechargeable models spare you this worry.
Why opt for a rechargeable night light?
Because it avoids buying and handling batteries, which makes it economical to use. It recharges with the included cable, away from the bed and under supervision, and is easy to take on trips.
Lustria offers rechargeable night lights with a modern design and adjustable brightness, for a soothing atmosphere in your baby's bedroom. The battery life of each model is shown on its product page.
How can the musical night light accompany my child's bedtime routine?
It accompanies it by playing lullabies or white noise while the bedroom dims. These sounds are chosen according to the child's tastes and played at low volume, with the device placed away from the bed.
Some night lights add a star projection or luminous patterns, which makes the moment even more magical. Several colors and several shapes exist, such as the rabbit or the bear, to match the bedroom.
Where to place a night light in a child's bedroom?
On a stable piece of furniture or on the wall, away from the bed and out of the child's reach, with the cable tucked behind the furniture. The night light is never put in the bed or the crib, even when it is shaped like a plush toy.
Orient it so that the light source is not in the line of sight of the child lying down: an indirect light, turned toward a wall, is enough to find one's bearings.