Why Children Need Nightlights More than Infants Do

Some years back, childcare experts debated the use of baby night lights. They conducted a study and analysed the data. They found that children who used ambient nightlights before the age of two, developed myopia or near-sightedness later in their lives. Naturally, this led to an uproar. Eventually, the experts accepted that their observations stemmed from a correlation of the data. They did not use medical records or examinations for corroborating their observations.

Additionally, they also failed to consider the degree of myopia from which the parents suffered. This aspect would undoubtedly have a greater significance, when it came to the visual development of an infant. In the end, it would be safer to say that there could be a correlation between the use of nightlights for children below two years of age in some cases. However, several other factors could also have a bigger effect on the infant developing myopia over the years. The debate notwithstanding, recent scientific evidence shows how a kid’s night light could actually benefit the child more than harm it. Tests conducted in nurseries with night lights, hall lights, full light and complete darkness showed no linkages between myopia and the use of lights. Moreover, in some cases, doctors have even concluded that kid’s lamps could be beneficial for infant development.

Many adults feel that nightlights are good baby accessories. Therefore, they purchase these lights and present them as kid’s gifts. However, just because you have received a night light, does not mean that you need to use it. Consider this situation. A baby spends nine months in the womb in complete darkness. It has no source of light or matured thought processes. Thus, the feeling of fear will hardly emerge in an infant as it would in a child of three years or above. An infant will not fear anything. Rather, the darkness could provide even more comfort than the presence of any light. Another factor to consider is that babies can sleep at any time they like. Thus, light – or the lack of it – will hardly be a factor on most occasions. For children of the age of three and upwards though, the scenario is quite the opposite.

By the time kids are three years or older, they would have become acquainted with the light. Thus, they can easily distinguish between light and darkness. Moreover, their thought processes and imagination would also be maturing. Thus, they could let their imaginations run away with them. If they like hearing stories, then stories about monsters and ogres could make a deep impression in their minds. These thoughts further fuel the fears and apprehensions of the dark. Additionally, if the child suffers from nightmares, you could use nightlights to allay the child’s fears. Thus, it comes as no surprise that kids need bedside lamps more than infants do. You could claim that ironically, infants are more fearless than children of three years or above are! However, children will eventually grow older and wiser. Their fears will also grow – from impractical ones about ghosts and witches to realistic ones concerning careers and jobs. Thus, they eventually outgrow the need for having nightlights on when they go to sleep.

Younger kids also need nightlights for another reason. As they grow older, they learn to fend for themselves. Thus, they do not depend on their parents to take them to the washroom or to fetch them a glass of water. However, they might be able to walk on their own to the kitchen or the washroom. However, they might not be able to do that in complete darkness. In such cases, nightlights can help the kids to move about comfortably in the night, without disturbing their sleep.

Nightlights, as baby gift ideas, could be useful more for the parents than for the infant. Mothers need to feed the infants at night. Hence, if the mother switches on the tube light or any other bright light, she increases the chances of waking her baby. The dimmer light of a nightlight could help her feed the child, without rousing it to a state of complete wakefulness.

Giimmo has been the world’s leading producer of portable and rechargeable nightlights since 2006. Not all nightlights available in the market are safe for kids. However, Giimmo nightlights are entertaining, soothing and safe for children. Each nightlight has a unique shape with a glowing rainbow heart. Additionally, our nightlights come with glowing bodies that change colours gently. This makes them ideal baby presents and children’s gifts.

If you’re still concerned about how safe nightlights are as gifts for a baby, consider this. Renowned child psychologist of Kids and Co. Clinical Psychology (Sydney), Dr. Anna Cohen, recommends the use of Giimmo nightlights. Dr. Cohen believes that Giimmo nightlights provide therapeutic benefits to children that help them to rest better. Help your children overcome their fear by using our nightlights. In our view, the nightlights are developmental accessories more than merely infant accessories.