While a red night light is a perfect addition to your baby’s wind-down routine, overnight feeds, or nappy changes, allowing them to sleep with one all night can* interfere with the production of their sleepy hormone, melatonin 😩. Melatonin levels typically rise 📈 in the evening in response to darkness, signalling their body to prepare for sleep 😴. However, exposure to light, particularly blue light, can suppress their melatonin production, disrupt their natural sleep-wake cycles, and signal them to wake throughout the night 😩🆘
Exposure to light at night can also INCREASE your baby’s stress hormone, cortisol 🫣. Normally, cortisol levels decrease 📉 in the afternoon to help them prepare for sleep. However, artificial light, like that from a night light, can disrupt this process, potentially making it harder for your baby to fall asleep and stay asleep 😩🫣
While red night lights don’t usually* disrupt melatonin production, exposure to 🔵 OR 🔴 light can still elevate their cortisol levels 😩🆘
Instead:
💡Opt for warm amber lights for your wind-down routine instead of white LED lights.
💡Only use a red night light overnight when necessary, before turning it off once you put your baby back down for sleep
Mum tip!
👻 If nightmares or night terrors emerge, typically closer to the age of 2 years old, it is important to maintain consistency in your approach. Introducing a night light during this period, regardless of its colour, may only reinforce your baby’s fears and elevate their cortisol levels, thereby increasing their susceptibility to additional overnight wakes