Please tell me about night lights

[zoobaby]

About a month ago, 20mo DS started waking at night. After some soothing he'd happily go back to bed, then cry about 10-15 mins later. This was coinciding with the appearance of canine teeth, so one night I was in the kitchen getting a paracetamol ready. Small flat, so the light from the sitting room was shining a bit into his room as well. He fell asleep so I left him. Also left the light on and door open and he managed to sleep the rest of the night. This was repeated during the month so I actually bought a night light that looks a little like a socket protector, so not big and not shining too brightly (very dim orange glow). It seemed to work for a few nights, then the waking started again.

It's hard to know if this is all teeth related, or age-related. But, I'm starting to wonder if I need to get a better or a different night light. Yes, I live in a small flat, but there are 5 halogen downlights currently burning through my electricity from 3am onwards. The hallway light is terminally broken, and would be too bright anyway. I was considering something in his room, or maybe something in the hallway socket.

SIL also suggested a night light that beams pictures on the roof, but I don't want to encourage the waking and would rather not create some other sleep-association.

In your experience, which is better? Or will it be making the situation worse?

I was very anti night lights. Til DS started being afraid of the dark (just before 2).

On the landing we have this v cheap asda light. Bright enough for DS to find his way and enough for us to get up and down stairs safely.

In his room he has a gro clock on the lowest setting all night and his buddy touch light also. Tbh if I'd got the buddy first we'd only have that.
He also has a tranquil turtle which is a truly lovely projector. It would send me to sleep. But as with most of these items they have a self shut off after 20+ mins so are no use if he wakes afraid after that.

For us, the turtle is for going to sleep and the groclock to tell him when it's ok to get up plus background nightlight and the buddy so he can easily put a bigger light on if he's scared.

Excessive perhaps. But he goes to sleep on his own with no fuss and rarely wakes before mr sun. Personally I'd have happily bought 10 of each to achieve that!

Hth

Thanks sunshine. The turtle looks lovely. Too bad the next generation isn't as good.

Thanks sunshine. The turtle looks lovely. Too bad the next generation isn't as good.

www.argos.co.uk/static/Search/searchTerms/GO+GLOW+LIGHT.htm - my 2 had the go glow lights (ds still has his at age 7)

We have something like sunshine's first link in DS1's bedroom. He is now old enough to have it off most of the time, but switch it on if he wants it at any point.

I don't know exactly what it is, as it was here when we moved in, but in the landing light we have a very very soft glow lamp - its a ceiling lamp. I suspect it is something like this except it has a slight purple glow.