When you're up in the middle of the night feeding your baby, the last thing you want is the main room light disturbing the whole house and hurting you and your little one's eyes - that's why a gentle light projector for babies or one of the best breastfeeding light for your home.
Not only will it create a relaxing environment for your baby to feed in, similar to a sensory light, reducing stimulation and helping to promote sleep, but it'll also help you find your way in the dark room, preventing you from stubbing a toe or knocking something over.
You might be wondering why you need a night light if you already have a lamp in your room. Lamps often only have just one light setting, and it can still make a room incredibly bright. Most breastfeeding night lights have either an adjustable dimmer or feature a soft light. They can often be controlled with either touch or via a mobile app. This makes the nighttime feeds a little bit easier than trying to reach for a button or trying to navigate in the dark. Night lights are also useful for those nighttime nappy changes or simply just to check on your baby without waking them up. Most can grow with your child, too and be helpful to use as a toilet light as they get older.
The best breastfeeding lights at a glance:
• Best modern breastfeeding light: Maxi-Cosi Connected Home Soothe Light + Sound - Buy now on Mamas & Papas
• Best portable breastfeeding light: Shnuggle Moonlight - Buy now on Amazon UK
When looking for a breastfeeding light, you'll want to think about aspects such as the power source, if it has a touch sensor to easily turn on in the dark and the colour options. To help you choose and narrow down the options, we've picked six of the best breastfeeding lights.
The best breastfeeding lights for 2023
Best modern breastfeeding light
www.mamasandpapas.com
Description
This long-lasting night light from Maxi-Cosi will not only be perfect for the midnight feeds, but
Pros
- Timer for delayed start
- 20 different pre-programmed lullabies & white noises
- Modern design
- Can be controlled via app
- 'Time-to-rise' option for toddlers
Cons
- Can be tricky to set up
Best portable breastfeeding light
Description
With a parent and child mode to choose between, the dual mode Shnuggle Moonlight will grow with
Pros
- Doesn't use batteries
- Temperature feature
- Parent and child mode
Cons
- Sensitive touch feature
Best breastfeeding light set
Description
Available in a set of two, this light from Gritin is plugged into the mains and has a dawn light
Pros
- Automatically turns on and off
- Soft warm light
- Adjustable brightness
Cons
- No timer function
Best child-friendly breastfeeding light
Description
Not only does this light make the perfect addition to any nursery, but the touch top to turn the
Pros
- Sweet, child-friendly design
- Adjustable brightness
- Press the top to power on/off
Cons
- Very sensitive to touch
Best lightweight breastfeeding light
www.mamasandpapas.com
Description
Lasting up to 10 hours, this Tommee Tippee penguin night light gives off a gentle glow and can be
Pros
- Cute design
- Portable and lightweight
- No batteries needed
- Dimmable light
Cons
- Only one light colour
Best 2-in-1 breastfeeding light
Description
With different functions, including a sound machine, night light and time-to-rise alert, this
Pros
- Customise colour
- Grows with your child
- Multi-functional
- Control remotely via the easy-to-use Hatch Baby Rest app
Cons
- App only works with wifi
- Only one phone can connect
How to choose a breastfeeding light
It can feel overwhelming choosing a breastfeeding light with so many options out there, so here are a few things to consider before you make your decision.
Colour: While some lights come in just one colour (usually a cool white light), others will have the option of a variety of colours to choose from, which you may prefer.
Power source: A lot of lights are now USB rechargeable while others require batteries which can end up as a pricier choice as it means you'll have to ensure you have a stash of batteries available. Alternative options need to be plugged into the wall and will need to be close to a plug, limiting where you can place it in your baby's nursery.
Touch sensor: We're big fans of breastfeeding lights that can be activated just by touching them with a finger, as this saves you from fiddling with the switch and possibly making noise.
Timer: Having a built-in timer in your night light means that you can arrange for it to shut off after a certain amount of time, something that will be especially helpful if your child continues to use the light when they're a toddler.
Do babies need light to breastfeed?
Right from birth, a lot of babies use their natural instincts to find their mother's nipple to latch on for breastfeeding, but others can struggle, and it's a skill you learn together. While light won't be necessary for every infant, it can prove helpful for guiding your nipple into their mouth.
Where is the best place to have a night light?
It's worth having the night light as close to where you store your baby's nappies and wipes as possible or within reach of your nursing chair. This way, you have a little bit of light in the room for feeding and checking on your baby, but it will also be easier for getting a nappy rather than rummaging around.
What colour light is best?
While cool white lights are bright and will light up the room more, during the night, you might want to opt for a warmer light. This way, the light will be softer to your eyes when you're nursing in the night.
Emily Gilbert is the Features & Reviews Editor for Mother&Baby and has written for the website and previously the magazine for six years. Specialising in product reviews, Emily is the first to know about all the exciting new releases in the parenting industry.