To Glow or Not to Glow: The Debate on Night Lights

So, should we use night lights in the bedroom?

My answer is straightforward: keep your sleep environment as dark as possible, aiming for pitch black.

Using light during the night interferes with melatonin levels and confuses the brain, leading to increased waking, difficulty resettling between sleep cycles, and restless sleep.

Light plays a crucial role in setting our natural sleep patterns. Cortisol, a stress hormone that keeps us awake, is released in bright environments, mainly when exposed to sunlight. Conversely, melatonin is released as darkness falls in the evening. In the past, before electricity, people would naturally become sleepy as the sun set around 6 pm. Today, our modern lifestyle and artificial lighting disrupt these natural rhythms.

Artificial lighting, while extending our days, also affects our natural sleep cycles. So, my advice is simple: the darker the sleep environment, the stronger the melatonin levels, promoting deeper and more restorative sleep.

Now, if you're considering using a light in your baby's nursery for safety or peace of mind, I suggest using a dim, warm light positioned low on the floor or below your baby's headspace. You can turn it on during feeds and nappy changes. Alternatively, try a red light globe throughout the night. Red light not only aids visibility but also has been shown to boost melatonin and offers health benefits. Products like the Glow Dreaming, which incorporates red light therapy along with white noise, aromatherapy, and a humidifier, have gained popularity as effective sleep aids for both children and adults.

Avoid cool-toned lights or bulbs in blue, green, or white colors during sleep, as they trick the brain into staying awake. This is why using electronic devices before bedtime is strongly discouraged.