The 8 Best Baby Night-Lights to Buy

You might need a little light on in your child’s room at night so you can see what you’re doing during diaper changes or middle-of-the-night feedings, or to help soothe your baby to sleep. Why not choose a baby night-light! These products can be so helpful and convenient to use, as they offer a low level of light and are usually portable. We asked Pampers Parents which baby night-lights they thought were the best and why. Check out their favorites here to help you pick the right one.

Why You May Want to Use a Baby Night-Light

If you would like a little light in your baby’s room when you check on your baby at night, a baby night-light could be a good solution. A night-light emits a low level of light — enough so that you can see but not so much light that it would disrupt your child’s sleep or prevent him from learning to associate the dark with nighttime sleep. Some night-lights even come with a light projector to project colors and patterns like stars on the wall or ceiling to entertain your baby before bedtime. Many Pampers Parents said that they even liked a night-light that could double as a sound machine, as they found that white noise or other ambient sounds helped their baby drift off to sleep more easily. A night light is one of those items of baby gear that you may find you can’t live without once you have it.

Features to Look for When Choosing a Baby Night-Light

To help you pick the best baby night-light, check out the features that Pampers Parents said were the most important:

  • A soft light. Pampers Parents emphasized choosing a baby night-light that emits a dim, warm light that won’t affect your baby’s sleep.

  • Adjustable brightness. The right brightness level can vary based on things like placement, room size, and personal preference. Adjustable brightness allows you to have even more flexibility when it comes to your baby night-light.

  • Light color options. Pampers Parents liked having a baby night-light that lets them choose the color of the light.

  • Can play music or soothing sounds. Sometimes babies can be lulled to sleep by a little background noise, which is why some Pampers Parents said they wanted the night-light to be able to play white noise or other soothing sounds.

  • Ease of use. A night-light that's complicated or tricky to use isn't a good choice, especially because the room will often be dark when you try to turn the light on or off. Look for one that you can switch on and off with ease. Some night-lights work by simply tapping the light itself.

  • Price. Pampers Parents said that price was also a deciding factor for purchasing a baby night-light. Some night-lights on our list retail for around 20 dollars, but there are also a few more affordable and a few more expensive models that made the cut. As with any other kind of baby gear, more expensive doesn’t necessarily mean better.

  • Long battery life. Pampers Parents said it was important that the light had a long battery life.

  • Timer. Some Pampers Parents said an auto-shutoff feature is nice to have, so that the light doesn't stay on all night long.

The 8 Best Baby Night-Lights

Our Pampers Parents voted on the best baby night-lights. Read the reviews to find out which one is right for your baby:

1. Night Light Star Projector Twilight Turtle Classic

Why pick this one? Help your little one drift off into a starry dreamland with the Night Light Star Projector Twilight Turtle. Pampers Parents said they loved that this baby night-light projector comes in a plush turtle design in three colors: green, pink, or blue. Some Pampers Parents mentioned how easy this night-light is to use as well as the fact that it’s quite portable. Some Pampers Parents wished it had the option of electric charging (this night light is battery operated), and would have also liked the light to be a little brighter. The manufacturer claims this night-light is best for children aged 3 and up. If your child is any younger, you may wish to ask your child’s healthcare provider before using this product, or consider another product on this list. It has a 45-minute timer that automatically switches off, so you won’t have to remember to turn the light off manually. This feature may be a drawback if you want the light on all night.

Highlights: It can project eight constellations, so parents can also use it to teach their children about the stars. The colors change automatically, cycling through three different colors.

Price*: about $59.99 on Amazon.com

Pampers Parents pros and cons:

2. LumiPets Cute Animal Silicone Baby Night Light with Touch Sensor

Why pick this one? LumiPets is a cute baby night-light with a gentle and calming glow, which the manufacturer says is suitable for children of all ages. It’s made of silicone, making it easy to wipe clean. Pampers Parents loved its animal design — you can choose from a bear, fox, owl, bunny, cat, or unicorn design — and the fact that this night-light is wireless and can be controlled with a remote. They also liked all the light color options, which include blue, red, green, yellow, and white. The item itself is white, so the color of the lights really stands out. You can change the color either by tapping the base of the lamp or with the remote control. The big benefit of the remote control is that you can switch the light off or adjust the brightness from the doorway without entering your little one’s room. There are also timer options and a brightness control so you can really tailor the lamp to your preferences. Although the wireless function of this baby night-light was a popular feature, some Pampers Parents said they found the battery life wasn’t very long and that the cable for recharging was a little on the short side. As a solution, you may need to run an extension cord so the night-light can stay connected to power. (Just make sure all cords are completely out of reach of your little one.)

Highlights: The manufacturer claims this light is one that older children can carry with them at night on the way to the bathroom, as it’s designed to fit in small hands.

Price*: about $21.99 on Amazon.com

Pampers Parents pros and cons:

3. VAVA Home VA-CL006 Night Lights for Kids

Why pick this one? This night-light is great for kids of any age. It’s shaped like an egg and gives off a soft yellow light. The manufacturer claims the anti-blue LED light won’t damage your little one’s sight, and you can set the one-hour timer, which switches the light off once your child has gone to sleep. The light is also customizable, so you can boost the brightness when needed (useful if you want to use this outdoors or want to read your little one a story). There is also a breastfeeding light option. Pampers Parents loved this adjustable light feature and the way you could adjust the brightness with a tap. They also liked the long battery life. This night-light is super easy to charge — just put it on the recharging base or use a USB cable. Many Pampers Parents loved the portability of this baby night-light and its ease of use overall. Keep in mind that some Pampers Parents mentioned that the instructions were hard to follow.

Highlights: Its built-in silicone handle makes it great for hanging in your little one’s room or for taking it with you. And as it's waterproof, it can be used both indoors and outdoors.

Price*: about $20.99 on Amazon.com

Pampers Parents pros and cons:


4. OURREY LED Silicone Whale Night Light

Why pick this one? Pampers Parents loved this night-light, made from BPA-free silicone, for its fun whale-shaped design and soft texture. They also really liked that it had multiple light colors to choose from — tap to change between red, yellow, green, blue, and purple, and tap to go from a dim white light to a bright light. The manufacturer claims that the lamp is easy to carry around and is durable, and that its anti-blue warm LED light won’t hurt the eyes. Although the manufacturer claims you only need to tap and press the switch to change colors, some Pampers Parents said they had trouble with the tap feature and wished it worked more consistently.

Highlights: The manufacturer claims this product is suitable for outdoor use.

Price*: about $20.99 on Amazon.com

Pampers Parents pros and cons:


5. Munchkin Shhh Baby Sound Machine and Night Light

Why pick this one? This portable night-light also functions as a sound machine with shushing, heartbeat, and white noise options. It can glow and pulse with the selected sound, and comes with the auto-shutoff options of 10, 20, and 30 minutes. Pampers Parents loved the affordable price of this baby night-light — it’s one of the more budget-friendly options on our list. However, Pampers Parents also reported a few downsides, such as the battery life being too short and the light being not quite bright enough. Highlights: Comes with 3D icons, which makes it easier to find the button you need in the dark.

Price*: about $19.99 on Amazon.com

Pampers Parents pros and cons:


6. LOHAS Dimmable Plug in LED Night Light

Why pick this one? This baby night-light is different from the other models on this list, as it plugs directly into a power outlet. It allows you to choose the exact degree of brightness you want in the room, from 5 to 8 lumens, by using the slider switch. The manufacturer claims that the product produces a gentle light that helps soothe children without hurting their eyes. Pampers Parents liked the lamp’s convenient design and durability. Some Pampers Parents said that this baby night-light is bright enough for a diaper change but not so bright that it wakes the baby. Pampers Parents noted the large size and the price as downsides for this product. Highlights: Has a special light sensor that will sense the brightness of the surrounding environment and will switch on and off automatically.

Price*: about $11.99 on Amazon.com

Pampers Parents pros and cons:


7. GKCI Touch Lamp, Portable Sensor Control Bedside Lamps

Why pick this one? This night-light operates at a touch or with a remote. Its white light has three brightness levels, and the lamp also offers many other light color options. Pampers Parents liked the portability of this battery-operated night-light and that it gave enough of glow for things like diaper changes without it disturbing their baby’s sleep. They also said it was easy to use and liked the different light options. Some Pampers Parents found the touch control a little too sensitive, though, and noted that it didn’t always work. This night-light is larger than others, measuring 3.54 by 3.54 by 5.91 inches. This may not be the best option for you if you want your night-light to be easily portable. Highlights: The white light mode has three brightness levels, and its multicolor setting offers 256 light combinations.

Price*: about $19.88 on Amazon.com

Pampers Parents pros and cons:


8. Bubzi Co Baby Toys Owl Sound Machine, Night Light

Why pick this one? This adorable owl-shaped night-light may look like a plush toy (the owl plush-toy part can be handwashed), but it also functions as a calming baby night-light and sound machine. Pampers Parents loved that they could choose from a wide range of sounds, including lullabies (there are 10!), bird song, and a heartbeat sound. The light projects stars and dots in red, green, and blue, but some Pampers Parents would have liked it to have it put on more of a show. As a simple night-light, it does the job. Before buying this one, consider this downside: The manufacturer claims that the projector light is not bright enough for changing diapers at night. Highlights: Unlike most of the other products on this list, this product has three functions: it’s a night-light, sound machine, and plush toy all in one.

Price*: about $34.95 on Amazon.com

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The Bottom Line

Finding the right baby night-light is really a matter of what you need. Are you looking for a simple low light that allows you to change diapers at night and not bump into things in your baby’s nursery, or do you want a flashier night-light with music and celestial projections to soothe and entertain your baby? No matter what you’re looking for, you’ll find the perfect one on this list of Pampers Parents favorites.

While you’re stocking up on baby essentials, check out the Smart Sleep Coach app by Pampers. This easy-to-use app has everything you need to help your baby fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. Plus, the Smart Sleep Coach’s sleep-tracking feature customizes sleep-coaching approaches by using a powerful algorithm to suggest the best naptimes and bedtimes for your baby.