Best Nightlight for Toddlers in 2023

Bedtime issues such as separation anxiety and fear of the dark are normal parts of your child’s development. It is important that every day we guide them to be independent and learn things on their own, even during the night. But of course, it is better to ease them slowly out of their comfort zones instead of forcing them rapidly.

A nightlight seems like a simple solution; a light that you can leave on during the night. This device gives your child a sense of security and becomes a soothing visual to help them sleep. Therefore, a nightlight also helps you sleep without interruption.

Because this device illuminates just enough, you can check on your toddler in the middle of the night without waking him/her up. Consequently, since you’re not going to be exposed to a sudden bright light, you can easily fall back asleep afterward.

Nightlights also eliminate the risk of you and your child with accidents such as tripping over toys. And because your child can see his/her way to the bathroom, this can also aid in potty training and inspire him/her to go by himself/herself.

We have reviewed 10 models ranging from traditional plug-ins to nightlights with practical and impressive functions. You can start by looking at our comparison table to see if a particular product grabs your attention. If you need more insight, feel free also to check our buyer’s guide.

Best Nightlight for Toddlers Comparison Table

Best Nightlight for Toddlers Reviews

Hatch Baby Rest – Editor’s Choice

From ride sharing to grocery shopping, nowadays, we have an app for almost everything. That is why it is only bound to happen that manufacturers will take advantage of the technology and make a simple nightlight more advanced.

Our first model, the Hatch Baby Rest, happens to be our top pick for this review. It is a high-tech device with features that benefits both you and your child, yet it is also intuitive enough that even those who aren’t techy will enjoy using.

Aesthetic and Intuitive

The Hatch Baby Rest is powered by a 100-240V adapter and runs at 5 volts. It is made out of an ABS plastic shell and illuminates all around with the speakers on the top. You will see the control panel underneath which we think that some parents might prefer to be situated at the front. However, for us, this placement helps in giving the device a classy look. And most of the time, you’ll be controlling it remotely anyway.

Toddler Lock

The control panel underneath has your typical buttons such as power, forward and backward, play/pause, volume, and brightness. You don’t have to worry if you have a very curious child that might find out about these buttons. Hatch Baby Rest has a solution called the toddler lock so that curious hands can’t control and play with the device.

If you want to operate the device quickly, you can also tap the ring surrounding the speaker at the top. However, the actions that you can do here are limited compared to the bottom controls. The functions include turning the device on, choosing a light and sound combination (6 choices, press in intervals), and turning it off (hold press for about 3 seconds.) As you can see, these are the commands that you use most of the time, so having the top ring control is a nice option.

Control it Whenever, Wherever

However, only one person can use the app at a time. This means if your wife/husband is using it to control the lights, you can’t use it in the meantime to turn off the sounds. Also, do take note that you need IOS 9 or Android Lollipop and higher in your phone to use this app.

Okay to Wake

Another feature that we love about the Hatch Baby Rest is the Okay to Wake. You can take advantage of this option by choosing a light, sound, or a combination of both to act as a signal that your child can wake up and go to your room. For example, you can set that they have to wait for the red light to turn green along with the sounds of birds chirping before they get out of their room and get you for breakfast. Most toddlers will find this amusing and treat it as a game.

The Okay to Wake is a very handy and enjoyable way to get your little one in the proper sleeping pattern. If you think about it, the “okay to wake” is a “more time to sleep” feature for parents. This way, you don’t have to be the “bad guy” to your child when you tell him/her that 4 am isn’t the time to wake up.

Manual controls are a thing of the past because you can also set a different time, sound, color, brightness, and volume of wake-up time per day. You can choose the specific shade from the color wheel, and select from the 11 sounds (including white noise) and 3 lullabies of the Hatch Baby Rest.

However, the device plays a single tone over and over again unless you change it differently. We would’ve liked it better if there is an option to create a playlist from the sounds and lullabies instead. And since Hatch Baby works with an app, getting it synced with your phone’s playlist will be a nice addition.

Lastly, we think that a fading in and fading out effect of the lights are going to be appreciated by children for waking up and sleeping time. Nonetheless, this isn’t a significant drawback.

Cloud b Tranquil Turtle – Cuddly and Immersive

Nightlights can provide comfort to a child who is afraid of the dark or of being alone. But nowadays, manufacturers have stepped up their designs and came up with models that look like stuffed toys. What better way to soothe fears and anxiety than by having their plush friend in their bed for cuddling?

Stuffed Toy, Sound Machine, or Projector? Why Not All

The Cloud b Tranquil Turtle looks like a cuddly stuffed toy with impressive features. It operates using 3 double A batteries, so portability isn’t a problem. The batteries also come with the unit, which is a big plus for us. However, a rechargeable lithium battery would’ve been nice instead of constantly purchasing batteries after they ran out of energy.

Did you know that Cloud b also have white noise machines that look like toys as well? In fact, this company is familiar to us because we reviewed their plush white noise machine. But don’t worry, you don’t have to purchase a separate sound soother because this model gives you 2 melodies to choose from. The music choices aren’t as plenty compared to the other models in this review, but these sounds are more than enough and fit well to the projection; more on this feature later.

You can even adjust them from up to 6 volume levels. The music that you’ll get are both relaxing, and each plays the same melody at a 10-second loop. The repetition isn’t noticeable, especially when it plays along with the light show. However, note that the Tranquil Turtle’s music has to play along with the lights, and there is no option of playing the music only.

Dreamy and Relaxing for All Ages

Speaking of which, this turtle is more than just a cute sound-producing cuddler. Its primary function as a nightlight is to project a relaxing underwater scene that even adults like us will find calming. The projection has adjustable brightness and movements if your child prefers a steady scene. The light show will last for about 20 to 23 minutes before it automatically shuts off to save battery. For us, we would’ve like the scene to last longer knowing some toddlers take longer to doze off.

Skip Hop Moonlight & Melodies – 3 in 1 Without the Cram

Projector, White Noise Machine, and Nightlight in One Compact Device

If you want a nightlight, projector, and sound machine in one compact device, the Skip Hop Moonlight is a nice device to consider. This adorable owl only measures 5.5 x 4.5 x 6 inches so even though it is a plug-in unit, it wouldn’t take a lot of space.

Skip Hop projects a simple stars and moon circular pattern. Nothing too extravagant about it but it’s enough to grab the attention of toddlers. Its projection isn’t going to reach a broad vicinity like the previous model from Cloud b, but you can slide the source up or down to get it in your desired position.

Besides the projector, the owl is also capable of producing sounds. You can select from 4 lullabies such as Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Brahms’ Lullaby, and Rock-a-bye Baby. But if your toddler prefers other noises for sleep, Skip Hop also has a relaxing selection of forest sound, cricket sound, waves, and our favorite, white noise with heartbeat. You can also control their volume, although, for us, the lowest mode is still a tad loud.

If you want to use the device as a light source only, you can have the sound muted by pressing the melody button again. The belly of the owl functions as the main nightlight, and we like that you can also control its brightness. The dimmest illumination is not harsh to the eyes and works well for bedtime. But do take note that there no other light color options as the Hatch Baby Rest.

Skip Hop also has a portable version of this device without the night light function. This sound soother is aimed for babies and is battery operated with a silicone strap for attaching it to a diaper bag or stroller. The portable Skip Hop has a timer feature and plays Brahms’ Lullaby, Sunrise Lullaby, waves, and forest sounds.

Bubzi Soothing Owl – Washable Plush, Mesmerizing Projection

The Tranquil Turtle that we reviewed earlier combines a projector, sound machine, and plush. However, since it has no music-only mode, its usage becomes limited. The Skip Hop Moonlight, on the other hand, is a nightlight, sound machine, and a projector but is not a plush so your toddler can’t put it in his/her bed.

Plush That You Can Handwash

Well, our next unit, the Bubzi Soothing Owl combines a projector and a sound machine in one cuddly plush similar to the Tranquil Turtle. However, your child can use it a music-producing stuffed toy without the lights. You can even remove the battery pack of the Bubzi Soothing Owl and handwash the plush cover. This is particularly useful in case the unit becomes dirty over time since your child is going to cuddle and play with it as a toy.

The unit offers a choice of 10 songs, bird sounds, and white noise with heartbeat. You can customize each of them using 5 volume levels and even play all the songs in a loop. But besides the sounds, Bubzi also works as a star projector.

The projector is somewhat similar to our previous model only that there is an option to put the stars in motion. The projection is also not as compact-looking as Skip Hop’s which we appreciate. The light show has different colors that are relaxing and distracting for a toddler who is afraid of the dark or of being in a room by himself/herself.

The device will shut off automatically after 30 minutes for battery saving, although it still consumes a lot of energy. The 30-minute interval also that means you have to go back and turn it again if your child still needs it. In our previous models, we have mentioned that timers are advantageous. However, we only think of using the timer when the child is close to dozing off. During playtime, it can be a drag to turn the Bubzi on every 30 minutes constantly.

Besides the cordless portability that Bubzi has, you can also make use of the strap at its back if you prefer the owl to be overhanging. We like that the velcro strap is cushioned as well so that your child can’t get scratches when he/she is cuddling with it.

Good Cause

Lastly, the company gives assistance to the Postpartum Support International. We appreciate that every purchase of their products means that it goes to support moms experiencing postpartum depression. Any product that has a good cause is always an excellent purchase.

Ocean Wave Projector – A Favorite from Toddler Years to Teenage Years

The next model we have is the Ocean Wave Projector from Goertek. Among the nightlights in this review, this particular device is probably something that your child can use even up to his/her teenage years. The projection of this model is wide enough that even adults like us will be compelled to use for parties and overnight camping trips.

You can use the 3 touch sensors at the base of the device to do basic functions or use the remote for additional controls. Like with most models that include a remote, you have to purchase its batteries (2 triple As) separately. However, what you will get are buttons for rotate mode, flash mode, and a timer with a choice of either 1, 2, or 4 hours playback time.

Stable with 45-degree Tilt Capacity

Looking at the overall design, the Ocean Wave Projector almost looks like something out of a science museum. It’s shaped like a globe standing on a base, and we like how wide its bottom is for stability. And besides the wide projection coverage of this device, you can also tilt it up to 45 degrees to get a more immersive experience.

Built-in Speaker

The Ocean Wave Projector gives you 8 selection of colorful light shows, including a music-only mode. You can also adjust the lights’ brightness and choose from four sounds and 2 lullabies for your toddler. But what’s unique with this model is you can plug another music source such as your computer, phone, tablet, or even a good old mp3 in its speaker. This is an excellent feature if your toddler already has his/her favorite playlist.

3D Dinosaur Night Light – The Perfect Night Light for the Dino-Obsessed

We could safely assume that most toddlers have an obsession with dinosaurs. And when we saw the 3D Dinosaur Nightlight from GITURKD, we know that this model is going to be a hit for dino-loving kids. What’s unique with this nightlight is that it doesn’t look like a boring dinosaur-shaped shell with a light inside. Instead, the overall built gives off the illusion of a dinosaur hologram. Did we mention that you’ll get 3 acrylic dinosaur plates too?

Affordable 3D Illusion

You don’t need to pay hundreds of dollars to get your toddler a hologram of his/her favorite dino. Kids will not notice that it is a piece of acrylic plate over a bulb, especially with 7 different light colors to choose from. And of course, you can adjust the brightness to your liking using its remote control.

Similar to the previous Ocean Wave Projector, you have to purchase batteries for its remote control. There is also a touch control at the base of the nightlight, but we recommend the remote more because it has additional functions such as color selection and light effects.

Battery or USB? You Choose

Unlike our previous nightlights, the 3D Dinosaur does not emit any sounds. It does, however, gives you the option to power it using 3 double A batteries or via the USB plug. We think the latter is the more practical choice because you can easily connect it to your laptop, computer, or even to a mobile charger.

Miroco Night Lights for Kids – Our Runner-Up Favorite

If we could have another best pick, it would be the Miroco Night Light. This cute egg-looking light is fun to operate, lasts long in a single charge, and is even waterproof and durable!

The Magic Egg

The unique thing about this model is you control its functions by touching the light it. What we mean by this is you simply double tap the “egg” to turn it on or off. You can also adjust its brightness in a similar manner by putting your hand on top of it to get to your desired level of illumination. Because of this feature, we call the Miroco Night Light as the “magic egg.”

We are sure that your little one will enjoy controlling the nightlight and brag about their “superpower.” The device also has the power button at the bottom in case you want to put it in “anti-touch mode” for bedtime. It is worth noting that the device remembers its last setting when you turn it back on using the tapping motion. In contrast, it will lose the recent setting if you turn it off using the power button at the bottom.

Nightlight, Straight to the Point

Now for its function as a light, you can touch and hold the logo to choose the light color. It is obvious that the manufacturers have designed Miroco with a very straightforward purpose. While Miroco is not capable of extravagant light shows like the earlier Ocean Wave Projector, it does its job well, even excellent, as a nightlight.

The model’s white color is bright enough to illuminate an entire room, while the gentle, dimmer yellow light is excellent as a nightlight. If you have read our Buyer’s Guide beforehand, you’ll know that reddish or yellowish colors are the best choices for a nightlight. They do not jolt you awake if you pay a visit in the middle of the night, and they do not encourage your child to remain energetic.

No Constant Charging Necessary

Miroco is a reliable device that lasts for up to 200 hrs when used dimly and up to 6 hours at full brightest. Because it is rechargeable and portable, you don’t need to constantly purchase double A batteries or place it in an awkward place because of the lack of an outlet. Speaking of portability, Miroco has a clip that you can use for hanging it and a handle for carrying it safely.

This indicator eliminates the guesswork and lengthens the device’s lifespan. Charging once a week is enough and will last you for a while. However, if you want for the device to automatically turn off, you can set it to last for an hour by touching the logo twice. It has no other time option, but we think an hour is what most children need in order to fall asleep.

Durable and Waterproof

Besides the charge lifespan, Miroco is also proven durable even if you drop it. It is also worth noting that it is IP65 waterproof, so bringing it outdoors isn’t going to be stressful.

ROYFACC Night Light Touch Sensor – The Modern Candle

No, you’re eyes aren’t playing any tricks on you. The ROYFACC Night Light Touch Sensor really does looks somewhat similar to the Hatch Baby Rest. We think that ROYFACC actually looks like a modern candle without the fire hazard.

Intuitive Control

This night light has a circular metal disk at the top that you can use for controlling including its brightness. You just touch and hold this disk to turn the device on or off or tap it quickly to select through the light colors.

Compared to Miroco’s white to yellowish hues, ROYFACC has additional four colors. There is even a setting where all the colors cycle if your toddler prefers different lights. We like the yellowish and red lights for bedtime best, while the white light is ideal for playtime.

However, ROYFACC doesn’t have built-in sounds nor a timer like our previous models. But still, this nightlight is worthy of being in this list because it does its job well as a light source. The disc is also nicely sensitive, so you don’t have to press down hard.

The device charges via its USB port and a single charge will last you about 8 hours. This time will be lessened to 4 hours only if you put the light at the brightest setting. Nonetheless, this lifespan is still good news for portability or in case of a power outage.

Now, if you want the light to be out of your child’s reach, you can use the model’s hook to hang it in place.

Sunnest Star Projector – Wide Coverage but Affordable

Our next model is a budget-friendly yet impressive 2-in-1 globe, the Sunnest Star Projector. At this price point, you will get a wide-coverage projector and nightlight. To use it as a projector, simply remove the outer white cover and similarly, removing the inner black cover will turn it into a nightlight. We like this switchability feature because it gives you and your toddler the versatility of two devices in one.

The coverage of the moon and star light show is what impresses us the most. You will even get a total of 8 starry night color combinations of projection to keep your toddler distracted during bedtime. It is also a reasonably quiet projector even while it rotates.

The Sunnest Star Projector also offers 4 hues (blue, green, violet, and red) as a nightlight. We like that one of the colors of the nightlight is somewhat reddish to stimulate sleep better. There is also a bright bluish light that your toddler can use while he/she plays or read.

You can charge the Sunnest Star Projector using a USB cable plugged to either a charger, computer, or power bank. It also gives you the option of using 4 triple A batteries if you have them at hand. For us, it would’ve been a nice addition if you can also plug a music/sound source at its port since this device has no built-in sounds and speaker.

What are the comments we have for this model? First, we would’ve liked it better if it has a dedicated power button. Turning the device off is quite a drag considering that you have to turn each function off. To explain it further, the device has 3 buttons at the front labeled as A, B, and C. A is for the warm white light, B is for cycling through the colors, and C is for turning the rotating motion of the globe on or off.

It can be cumbersome to turn each function off because you have to press A and C twice, and nine times for the B button because you have to go through all the colors (or hold for 3 seconds.)

Another comment we have is the device has no timer to conserve the charge, and the overall build of the device does not feel durable.

Safety 1st LED Nightlight – Minimalistic and Does the Job

If you prefer a traditional plug-in nightlight, you can‘t go wrong with the Safety 1st Led Nightlight. Upon purchasing, you will get 2 lights that are energy-efficient and guaranteed to last long. Of course, like all of the models in this review, this product uses a LED bulb.

Safe and Energy-Efficient

For a toddler nightlight, LED bulbs are the best choice because they don’t get dangerously hot and consumes less power compared to other light sources. This particular nightlight, however, consumes as less as about 0.09 watts of electricity. Its electric consumption is so low that it will barely make a difference to your bill.

The device gives off a warm light that is good enough for visibility but not too harsh for your toddler’s bedtime. However, since this model is somewhat basic, you can’t control the colors of the light nor the intensity of its brightness. The light that it emits is also not focused, similar to a light passing through a crystal that creates different rays. Therefore, we recommend Safety 1st as bedtime light for comfort and minor visibility instead of using it for more complicated tasks that require brighter illumination.

Light Sensor

But what sets Safety 1st apart even though it is a straightforward device is the fact that it has a sensor. The nightlight will automatically turn on when it gets dark so you can just leave it in the room to do its thing. You also don’t have to worry about leaving it on since it shuts off once it’s not dark anymore.

Best Nightlight for Toddlers Buyer’s Guide

Types of Nightlights

Tabletops

This type of nightlight is very similar to a traditional lampshade. They usually have a stand, and you just leave them on a flat surface like the bedside table. However, with tabletop nightlights, you have to choose a bulb with low brightness so that it will not interfere with your child’s sleep.

While most tabletop nightlights plug in an outlet, there are some portable models have a wide base, and you can treat them as bedside lamps.

Plug-ins

Perhaps the most common type of nightlight, plug-ins are so-called because you leave them in an electrical outlet. And if you’re thinking of a nightlight, this type is probably the first thing that comes to mind. Some plug-in models even have sensors for motion and daylight.

The former feature means that if someone walked past the nightlight, it would automatically turn on. Typically, homeowners use motion detectors for outdoors to serve as a security alert. But besides detecting movement, there are also models that will light up on its own once it gets dark. If you remember, our favorite plug-in model from Safety 1st has this feature.

Portables

There are different kinds of portable nightlights. You have probably seen the models in our review like the Tranquil Turtle that looks like a stuffed toy. This way, the child can also sleep with the plush or play with it. There are also portable nightlights that are not plush but also run on batteries such as the model from Miroco. The cordless feature of portables gives you the freedom to put them anywhere in the room or if they have clips, hang them on a hook.

Projectors

Some nightlights can also project different shapes, images, or designs on the walls or ceilings. There are even models like the Ocean Wave Projector that can play music to accompany the projections. However, with projectors, you have to put the model in an accurate distance across your target area to get the best effect.

What to Consider When Choosing a Nightlight

Power Source

When deciding for the power source, you should keep the layout of your child’s room in mind. What is the distance of the outlet from your child’s bed? If it is too far, the light might be too dim, but if it is too close, then it might be too bright.

A battery-operated nightlight will provide you versatility in portability, but at the same time, constantly replacing the batteries can be a hassle and frankly, expensive. For us, a portable nightlight that plugs in for charging is the best choice. A rechargeable model doesn’t require you to leave it plugged in, but if its battery is drained, you can simply plug the nightlight into an adapter to reuse it again.

Light Color and Source

Let us discuss the color first. Does the color of the light play a role in your baby’s sleep? The answer is yes. Did you know that according to research, blue and white affect our mood? The blue color is also a stimulator, which is the opposite of what you want for sleep. The best nightlight color for sleeping would be red or orange. The reason for this is because these colors don’t signal that it’s daytime. Ever wonder how sunsets look so calming?

It will be a fantastic feature if the nightlight that you’re getting is capable of multiple colors. This way, you can use the device at any occasion, whether it’s for playtime or bedtime. Our best choice, the Hatch Baby Rest, took advantage of multiple colors in their Okay to Wake feature. You can train your child to get in a proper sleeping schedule by using red as sleep time and blue for a wake-up time, for example.

More than the color, we should also discuss the model’s source of light. LED (Light-Emitting Diode) nightlights are going to be the more expensive light source, but it is also the best choice. The reason for this is because they will not break your electric bill at consuming only about 10 watts.

Design

As you have previously read, there are different types of nightlights. Some look like the traditional lampshades, while some models double as a plush toy. The latter is an excellent choice for younger children because they can cuddle with it as they sleep.

You can also select a nightlight with reference to your child’s room. For example, a star projector fits well in a space-themed room and a dolphin plush will be appreciated by your toddler, who insists that she’s a mermaid. If his/her current interest is dinosaurs, models like the 3D dino nightlight are going to be a hit gift for Christmas.

Other Features

Most of the models in this review are packed with useful features. These ranges from sounds, alarm clocks, sensors, timers, to even color-changing lights. For us, one of the features that we like seeing in nightlights are timers and sensors.

A light sensor means that you don’t have to turn the device on or off manually. Timers, on the other hand, helps you save electricity because the model will automatically turn off after a certain duration.

Sounds and color-changing lights are also nice additions to have because they can keep your toddler entertained. These features can actually help children in minimizing their fear of being alone in the dark during sleeping time. If you noticed, some models in this review have a white noise feature, which is neat because you don’t need to purchase a white noise machine separately.

Conclusion

Your child doesn’t have to dread his/her bedtime. You can make this time relaxing and even enjoyable using nightlights. These devices give a sense of security and familiarity without interrupting your little one’s sleep. For us, the best light color is along with the yellowish and reddish tones because they aren’t stimulating and harsh to the eyes.

Nightlights even come in a vast array of different styles and features to choose from. You can get a traditional plug-in, a bedside lamp, or a plush nightlight. Some units even emit different sounds or project distracting light shows to keep your child calm and looking forward to bedtime.

Our top pick is the Hatch Baby Rest because it works remotely using an app on your phone. You can also choose from different colors and sounds to match your toddler’s current activity. What we like the best about this model is it has an Okay to Wake function that is incredibly useful to keep your child in the proper sleeping pattern. And let’s be honest, our good sleep depends on our child’s good sleep.

Are there things to look out for when choosing a nightlight? You can read back on our Buyer’s Guide to have an idea of what features will be advantageous for you and your child. You can also check other models if you prefer something cuddly, something that can act as a musical projector, or if you rather stick to a traditional yet durable model like the LED nightlight from Safety 1st.

Overall, we enjoyed doing this review. Perhaps you’ll even find a model for yourself, but hey, your child doesn’t need to know.

If you have any comments, feel free to drop them below!