s/o using a nightlight

Liss_37

so the nightlight post got me thinking..

We've never given DS a nightlight. I don't really see the point.. when we need to go into his room at night, we keep the orb thing that came with the PNP on the dresser and touch the button to turn the light on (it dims on and dims off). 

he's never shown any kind of fear within dark. If he did, he'd have a light.. and if he does when he gets older, we would give him a nightlight then as well. 

But I've often wondered.. if you give your LO a nightlight now,  will he/she grow up being accustomed to it and be unable to sleep in the dark? 

if you give a nightlight, why do you? and are you worried about that happening?  

Abinormal

The nightlight that's in Tegan's room has actually been there for a long time. Before we turned the room into her nursery, it was the room where our dogs would sleep at night. The dogs weren't afraid of the dark or anything, but for some reason we had a nightlight in there. So, honestly, we just kept the nightlight in there and now I like having it in there because it gives me just enough light to see if I go in to check on her.

I think most kids go through a phase where they become scared of the dark, regardless if they've slept with a nightlight or not. My friend's son used to sleep in complete darkness, but when he was 5, he went through a phase where he had to have the hall light on and his door open, or else he wouldn't be able to fall asleep. He's 8 now and is getting better, but still wants a light when he is in a new place or sleeping somewhere other than at home (for example, he needs a light at my house).

I personally would much rather Tegan have a nightlight in her room than have to keep a hall light or bathroom light on all night, to help her feel safe. I think I'll keep the nightlight in her room and hope that it will always be enough light for her to feel safe and sleep comfortably.

skyfarm15

We have nightlights in his room so we can check on him without turning on the brights.  We found that the light on the PNP thing sucks the batteries dry - or the two times I started using the light on the PNP thing happened to be when the batteries died and it was just coincidental.

Oh, and I have about 12 nightlights in my house. and a new 2-pack on my desk.  Part fear part I was on a medication for 10years that affected my night vision somewhat.

jessicaclare

We use a nightlight in DD2's room because then she can find her own nuk if it falls out and she wakes up. I'm not too worried about her not being able to sleep in the dark. If that does happen, its not a big deal to throw a $2 nightlght into her bag when she goes overnight somewhere.

DD1 also uses a nightlight, but that's only been recently because she's going throw a scared of the dark phase. 

12bailey18

We have it more as habit, it's just become part of our routine to turn it on. (He has a cute one that matches his nursery.) It also helped daddy and me see when he was getting up in the night. I don't really think DS cares one way or another. Occasionally we'll forget to turn it on and it doesn't seem to affect him at all. I don't see it being an issue in the future.

Liss_37

skyfarm15:

We have nightlights in his room so we can check on him without turning on the brights.  We found that the light on the PNP thing sucks the batteries dry - or the two times I started using the light on the PNP thing happened to be when the batteries died and it was just coincidental.

I haven't had to change the batteries yet in mine  

BrittKav

We've been using a nightlight since day 1 because I just thought it was the "thing to do". A couple nights ago she woke up screaming bloody murder- I run into the room, and the nightlight was out. I plugged it back in and she was fine.

I wouldn't say I regret using a nightlight, since it's not inconvenient and I don't consider it a bad habit, but I don't know if I would use it right away again. 

dragonsmercy

We've never used a "nightlight" as such, but before we moved and Evelyn was in our room, I left the light on my nightstand on all night (it's fairly dim, so it didn't disturb DH or I too much). It was more for our convenience than for her, as I had flourescent lights in the room, and never wanted to turn those on in the middle of the night... and also it helped us to not trip over stuff getting to her crib when she woke up through the night.

Now, though, she sleeps in total darkness, and has absolutely no problem with it. She prefers it, actually.

Mrs.Keith2B

I just started using one, because I was tired of turning on his projector to check on him at night. DS doesn't seem to mind the darkness, so I think it's more of a convenience thing for me.

MomOfTrips

We started using a nightlight because DS seemed to be freaked out by the complete darkness in the nursery. It didn't seem to bother the girls as much though. We opted for an LED one with a dim green light. Now DS sleeps great and if he wakes up in the middle of the night he puts himself back down (instead of screaming bloody murder).

I am not concerned with it being a habit. When he is ready to sleep in the dark he will let us know (although most nightlight kids don't reach that stage until school age which is fine). Right now he needs it for that comfort and I am more then happy to oblige him.