To think that having some kind of light on in kids room at night dosnt mean your a bad mum?

[superstarheartbreaker]

Both of my recent idiot exes were horrified that dd , 6 does not sleep in the pitch black but instead has a night light and/ or dimmer on its lowest setting. Both of them called me a bad mother over it and both thought I should train her not to be afraid of the dark.

Whilst I think it's great if your kids are not scared of the dark, I also feel that it is human nature to be scared of the dark (historically vulnerable to predators at night) and that kids have vivid imaginations and that there is nothing wrong with a night light.

Also, as a single parent, I have much bigger fish to fry regarding parenting. IMO both were complete controlling knobs for insisting on pitch black and for calling me a bad mum. Uggggrrrr.

ds has a night light still at age 7. DD has hers off now and is age 10. Nothing wrong with a nightlight if they need/want one

YANBU, a nightlight isn't the end of the world. However they aren't ideal either. Do what suits you. At least nightlightgate has shown you what dicks these guys are!

they are idiots. There's nothing wrong with a night light.

Don't bring men into your daughters life who feel they can boss you around about your mothering skills.

My six year old still has her bedside lamp on overnight. Like you said, bigger fish to fry!

My 9 year old likes the hall light on and her door open until she has fallen asleep, but is fine if she gets up during the night.

really? i always leave some kind of light source for my 5 year old how else does he find his way to the loo?

i hate full dark too and i'm 39 x

dont worry about it they are being more damaging calling you a bad parent i hope your child was no where near ;-)

DSD sleeps with her bedside lamp on all night. It's been exceptionally useful in the first few weeks of her staying over at ours, makes her feel safe.

Errrrmmmm, how on earth does this equate to bad parenting? Are the perfect parenting specimens?

It's just cosy to have a night light on and so what if they are scared of the dark. No ones a bloody fan of it!

You're putting your child's needs before the crazy ideas of others. Sounds like too parenting to me

I had no idea!
When dh is away I sleep with a little light on - not scared but i just prefer it

I think it´s pretty normal and certainly not bad parenting.

However, I believe there has been some research to show that use of a night light can cause problems with vision in later life although I expect there is also research to show the opposite and also that the effects of lack of sleep (on all of the family!) would be worse. It´s your child; you know what is best.

StealthPolarBear I also like to leave a light on somewhere if I´m sleeping alone.

Well my 8 year old still sleeps with me (even though his bedroom is much nicer) so I must be massively shit.

sounds like you keep choosing arses for boyfriends
sorry

My DC are 10 and 6 and I leave the hall light on and their bedroom door open. I must be shit too! We're all shit!

we leave the bathroom light on all night for our DT in case they need a wee at night, they also have the bedroom door open and we shut it later when they are asleep

you need to do what works for you

Dd is 10 and has a night light, not an issue, personal choice she prefers some light.

There's nothing wrong with a nightlight, but you really need to look into why you keep going out with asshats.

Oh my goodness - I am a grandmother and I always have some sort of light on all night. I now have a DAB radio which is on all night and that gives me enough light.

It is thought that artificial light can interfere with sleep patterns, but each to their own - rude to criticise your parenting.

I have a 4 year old with night light on. She will scream the place down if it isn't on. She has an extremely vivid imagination and I would hate for her to be frightened.

The study which found that children who used night lights were more likely to have bad eyesight, didn't factor in that parents with bad eyesight were more likely to give their children night lights. Interesting bit of trivia.

My dh sleeps with a night light and he is 45.

DS had a dim bedside light on till he was about 7 when he suddenly decided he wanted to sleep in the dark. As a baby he settled better with a bit of light & we found it easier & less disruptive when we checked on him, rather than switching on a light.

Now 16 & can sleep in the light, the dark & anything in between

I'm 23 and currently keep the light of the ensuite on because last time I was staying where I am at the moment, the blood man nearly came and killed us all.

At home im fine but we do have a dog and a bug muscly man

Being too scared of the dark probably disrupts sleep patterns more than having a low light on. I leave a light on if I can get away with it and I'm 41. Do what works for you.

My almost 8 year old dd2 has a night light on and the bedroom door open with the hall light on. DD1 was ecstatic when they both got their own rooms earlier this year as she can now sleep in the dark.

I can't see how helping her not be too afraid to go asleep is bad parenting? Weird view your ex has.