How to Make a Nightlight Safe

Updated on January 17, 2012
H.1. asks from Des Moines, IA
11 answers

My 20 month old son will be moving to his new big boy bed this weekend. I've worked hard to do a lot of safety proofing in the bedroom since he will now have the freedom to wander. I'm stumped about a night light - how can I protect him from pulling it out and putting it back in - isn't this a safety concern? What have other moms done for this young age? I wish there were outlets up higher where he couldn't reach...

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So What Happened?

He sleeps with door shut (so not light from hall) and has blackout curtains so worried about him exploring in the dark and hurting himself. Currently does not use a nightlight in his crib, but does have a musical box thing that emits light that he plays for about 20 mins whle falling asleep so he is used to that. I can't think how I can affix that to the bed though.

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K.P.

answers from Seattle on

There are lights that you can stick on the wall. They come in different shapes, sizes and even animal ones too. They stick to the wall, and you just push them like a button, they are really cool.

5 moms found this helpful

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S.B.

answers from Dallas on

My kids never unplugged things or messed with outlets. I never really worried about it. But if it's a concern for you get the outlet covers that you have to slide over. When you unplug something they automatically slide over and cover the outlet. Something like this one...
http://www.amazon.com/Mommys-Helper-Electrical-Outlet-Sta...

If he is used to the music box, don't worry about affixing it to the bed. Put it on the dresser, a shelf or even the floor.

4 moms found this helpful

C.P.

answers from Columbia on

Don't put one in.

I never put nightlights in my kids' rooms and have never understood why people do. I have one in the hallway and one in the bathroom.

Children are not afraid of the dark unless they are taught to be. I guarantee he can find the door in the dark.

3 moms found this helpful

J.W.

answers from St. Louis on

Just because he has the freedom to wander doesn't mean he will think it fun to unplug the nightlight. Does he mess with plugs right now, in other rooms? If he doesn't there is no reason to expect that he will mess with the nightlight, ya know? I have four, pretty much if they get bored they left the room and found me. I am more interesting than anything in their rooms. :)

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A.G.

answers from Norfolk on

I just put my kids music box soother on the floor when they left the crib. They used it until they gave it to thier little brother at 4. As for outlets - I always use sliding outlet covers in thier room so that if anything is plugged in the cover closes itself if the child pulls it out. Here is an example of what it looks like http://www.amazon.com/Mommys-Helper-Electrical-Outlet-Sta.... We never had a nightlight until my kids were suddently afraid of the dark after moving at 4 years old but we did have a clock and a house with no overhead lights.

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☼.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

I also have never encouraged the use of a night light w/ our daughter, especially since our bodies truly need complete dark in order to obtain our best sleep. There have also been some studies done that have suggested that sleeping w/ lights on at night may lead to certain cancers (breast, for one).

When our daughter was an infant, I purchased a nightlight (mainly for myself so that I could check on her) and we used it for a brief period of time. Guess what? It blew up and shorted out our electrical socket and blackened the wall. Could have started a fire. That's probably out of the ordinary, but I haven't used one since and then read about the studies I mentioned above so that made the decision for me. Our daughter has a very small flashlight on her bedside table now, mostly for her peace of mind. But I do think that our never having made an issue of it or suggesting a nightlight to her has made her quite comfortable on her own in her dark bedroom. Good luck!

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J.✰.

answers from San Antonio on

Is there an outlet behind the dresser or bed? If so, plug in a Graco sound machine - it has noise, music, and a blue light.

My son played with the night light a little bit when he was 1 yr. After that, not so much. But they do sell lots of different kinds of night lights - some that do not use a regular hot lightbulb. Go to the hardware store and look at them all. You may just need to buy something new.

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L.M.

answers from Minneapolis on

I too bought my kids the kind from Target (in their kid decor aisle). They're like silicone on the outside and I charge them all day, then they're unplugged at night and still last the night with the charge. That way you're not exposing an outlet and they're fun shapes that stay cool, don't have a bulb and aren't plugged in. Good luck!

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C.S.

answers from Minneapolis on

Have you seen those turtles that shine stars onto the ceiling? My son has one of those and it works great for a nightlight. He can pick it up and move it and it never gets hot. It also turns off on it's own ____@____.com only problem would be if you need one that stays on all night. I was able to show my son how to turn it back on if he needed to, but my son is 3.... :) good luck!

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S.G.

answers from Rapid City on

there are child proof plug in covers that you have to slide the cover over to plug in the light. He may pull out the light but he couldn't put it back in with those. The only problem is if it is part way in and he gets his little finger between the light and the plug in touching one of the metal posts. Another thing you could do is take his crib toy and lay it on the dresser or on a night stand next to his bed. Also glow in the dark stars on his ceiling can give just a glow instead of a light.

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K.C.

answers from Des Moines on

I found some at Target this Fall that were kid-proof (not sure of the brand name). They are sort of rubbery all over, and you push down on the top to turn them off and on. They have a charger that you plug in when need be. Then they go off of that charge until the batteries die down again. My 4 year old and 23 month old love them & like to be able to turn them on all by themselves. Seems to me like the kids could even drop-kick them and they'd be tough enough!! :o)

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