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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To leave a light on all night?

67 replies

Sparrowlegs248 · 16/03/2018 22:54

I think I probably am.......

Since I separated from my husband, I've got into the habit of leaving the bathroom light on. I have a 2.5 yrs old and baby, the baby is in my room. I have nightlights in both bedrooms but both bedrooms are really big and the nightlights not very bright. Leaving the bathroom light on means I don't have to switch any lights on to see what I'm doung/where I'm walking ifwhen I have to get up to the baby or go to the loo etc. I live rurally so there are no outside lights/streetlights at all. It's pitch black .

I thought it was fine but having mentioned it in conversation recently, a couple of people think itso really weird.

Also, the bathroom light pull makes a ridiculously noisy click in the night that has woken the baby up before.

OP posts:

AlrightBabby · 16/03/2018 23:38

I keep a low wattage lamp on all night, the dogs are scared of the dark! 🐕

LizzieSiddal · 16/03/2018 23:39

It’s a normal thing to do. We did it until DDs were around 14😂 incase they needed the loo in the night.

PickAChew · 16/03/2018 23:39

In these days of bright 4W bulbs, I dispute the waste of electric suggestion

Dipitydoda · 16/03/2018 23:40

Landing light on since I was a kid, now in my 40s. There’s monsters in the dark don’t you know

Nocabbageinmyeye · 16/03/2018 23:40

People actually sleep with no lights on? None? I honestly no nobody who doesn't have some light on be it landing/hall/bathroom. I have the hall and landing on every night, I couldn't have the house in total darkness, no way

halfwitpicker · 16/03/2018 23:43

I don't see a problem with this.

EB123 · 16/03/2018 23:46

I leave the landing night on all night. When DH is on nights i also leave one of the kitchen lights on too.

SweetMoon · 16/03/2018 23:47

I always leave the landing light on. So anyone getting up for the loo can see what they are doing basically. So I don't think it's odd at all.

Thistlebelle · 16/03/2018 23:52

It’s your house you can do what you like.

It absolutely doesn’t matter what other people think or do.

For what it’s worth leaving a light on at night is perfectly normal.

Fishcakey · 16/03/2018 23:56

We always leave the bathroom light on. Started when DS was wee so he could go to the loo in the night and it's just stayed on. I like seeing where I'm going!

LeighaJ · 17/03/2018 00:01

I don't see anything wrong with leaving it on.

CiderwithBuda · 17/03/2018 00:02

We leave a lamp on in the hall. Started when DS was younger but just habit now. I do feel it’s a security thing too.

Heifer · 17/03/2018 00:09

I could never cope if I didn't have a light on.. As we leave our bedroom door ajar (open wide enough for dog to come in and out)... I can't have the landing light on as it's too bright - so I leave the spare bedroom light on instead. I would HATE to be totally in the dark. I also have to have the bedroom window open (mouth breather) but also because I like to hear some noise outside.. It's a quiet area but some animal noise, wind, rain, odd car going past suits me. So basically I can't stand the dark or silence :-)

W0rriedMum · 17/03/2018 00:13

I know someone who used to sleep with the radio on!

Nothing wrong with a low energy light at all

AnnieAnoniMouse · 17/03/2018 00:22

As I said earlier, do what suits you. Everyone.

But I am surprised at the number of people saying they leave lights on for themselves (rather that small children or to attend to small children). The only time I prefer to have a small light on is if I feel sick (actually ‘sick’).

They put new street lights in here, for some reason they needed to move them and the lights are bright white (very low crime area so no idea why) and it’s right outside my bedroom window. It’s like a bloody interrigation light. Doubly annoying because I hate having curtains, black out blinds etc as I like to see out and hate not waking naturally.

It’s a shame I can’t pass it on to one of you!

I’m considering a slingshot.

Jazzy11 · 17/03/2018 00:34

Do what you want don't feel bad about it ! Your house your family your situation, anyone who finds it weird, I'm sure they are hiding weirder things

Raven88 · 17/03/2018 00:38

I've slept with the light on since I was a child. I'm scared of the dark and have had some paranormal experiences so I refuse to switch it off. My husband has gotten used to it too. As I say my House my rules.

notangelinajolie · 17/03/2018 00:51

Not weird at all. Whatever works for you. I sleep with the bedroom light on.

Aquamarine1029 · 17/03/2018 00:54

I have several salt lamps around my house and they cast a lovely, warm glow. I would hate to have my home be totally dark at night.

NiceNormalPerson · 17/03/2018 00:59

Loads of people leave a light on overnight.
Ive never slept well and often get up for a drink in the night and find myself peering out into the night.

We have always lived on housing estates and several house's have a bathroom or landing light on all night long. I really don't think it's that unusual tbh

blaaake · 17/03/2018 01:04

I don't do it anymore, but while the kids were little I always left the landing light on it's dimmest setting throughout the night as it was quite large and I was scared of someone getting up in the night and tripping. Perfectly normal.

liz70 · 17/03/2018 01:11

Also, DD3 (8) has her ceiling lights left on the dimmest setting overnight, along with two plug in night lights. I'll leave it up to her to decide when she no longer needs them, same as I did with her older sisters.

GrockleBocs · 17/03/2018 01:23

We have low voltage lights on the landing for the children to get to the toilet. When they were little we had plug in night lights or dimmers.
If it was just me or me & DH then it would be lights off.

Original poster

Sparrowlegs248 · 17/03/2018 09:52

I'm not bothered by what people think, I was just surprised that it was thought to be odd!

Ifor it was just me I'm happy with pitch black, i never used to be able to sleep with any light on at all . The tiredness that comes with 2 small children put paid to that!

OP posts:

applesandpears56 · 17/03/2018 10:01

I suspect it may be your ‘friends’ trying to fish more for info about how you aren’t coping without your husband... that would be my read on it

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