Dimmer switch in the nursery

slwprincess

I don't know why this just now popped into my head but I think its important enough to give it its own post.  Probably my best advice is to install a dimmer switch on the bedroom light fixture in your nursery.  They are like $5-10 at Home Depot and easy enough to install.  That way, when the baby wakes up at night, you don't have to turn on the lights full blast you can just turn it on enough to change a diaper and feed and put the baby back to bed.  Keeps them in that nighttime sleepy state of mind.  If you turn it on all the way, its so much harder to get the baby back to sleep.  Especially in the beginning when they have their days and nights mixed up.  We installed one in our room too since the baby sleeps in there for the first several months.  Now our kids still use it as their nightlight. 

klbowie

Oh, thank you for the suggestion!  I have added it to my list of things. 

PinkLillyLover

Great idea!

slwprincess

klutzygrl26 said:

great idea! We used lamps, but I think that would be much better!

We did too at first but even a tiny lamp just seemed to startle DS awake when it suddenly popped on.  He had a collapsed lung after birth and we were told not to let him cry too hard so we would do ANYTHING to soothe him quickly.  The gradual light from a dimmer switch just seemed to help him settle back down.  Then it was a no brainer with DD.

mdr619

This is genius!  It never even occurred to me, but that would make a huge difference.  I will have to remember to add that to my "honey do" list when I start nesting!

MrsMartin27

Yes, thank you! Great idea!

tenfour

i second this! 

AKAP2010

We did the dimmer switch also but even with the dimmer I felt it was still too much light. Our pediatrician told us to keep the lights off if possible. So instead we turned on the hall light or bathroom light(which is across from the nursery). I found that this was plenty of light in the middle of the night for baby and mommy

Thai527

Works for us!

LibrarianMommy

If you don't want to or can't get to changing the actual switch plate, you can buy lamp dimmers...slide or touch. I think I got my slide one for the nursery at ikea. I have it installed on a small lamp with a night light bulb in it, and I use that more than the dimmer on the light switch!