Family,  Kids & Children

How a Red Light Can Help Your Child Sleep?

Children can start being afraid of the dark as early as 1.5 years old, although for a few they won’t become scared until they’re much older. Every child is exclusive in their own perfect way. This fear can add up to frequent night waking or even stop them from drifting off to sleep in the first place, and I think you’ll all agree, this is horrible for the entire family! A proven way in reducing this fear is to add a night light to your child’s room and generate a calm, safe space to allow them to sleep during the night. Nonetheless it doesn’t stop there, your child’s night light will need a red led source of light. Lot of nursery and children’s night lights are blue and purple because these are regarded as calming colours, however in reality, it’s quite the opposite.

Well we thought we’d look a little deeper into light colours during the night and the effect they have got on our kids because let’s face it, no-one wants a grumpy, sleep-deprived child (or even worse, a grumpy parent!)

Why is Melatonin so important?

Our anatomies have an internal clock or circadian rhythm which exists from birth and tells us when it’s time and energy to sleep. When it starts to get dark outside our anatomies begin to create Melatonin which really helps to control sleep-wake cycles. Additionally, it may lower torso temperatures and help relax your muscles, which help you to sleep.

Why must i need a Red light source?

Now a red light doesn’t better your sleep as such, it just doesn’t hinder the production of Melatonin. Which means that your body can do what its made to do and get sleepy when it turns dark, not only that but you will sleep longer during the night. Visit this website to get more insight, http://www.hexi.com.au/collections/night-lights

It’s worth noting that red lights aren’t just used to benefit sleep, there were a large number of medical studies published about red light therapy. Click here to learn more about it.

You will want to a Blue light?

White and blue lights, including lights that are emitted from TV screens, fluorescent lights and lightweight devices can delay the release of Melatonin and reset your body’s circadian rhythm. This implies it will require longer to drift off, you’ll have less REM (dreaming) sleep and ultimately, you’ll awaken feeling sleepier.

The Harvard Medical School has a really good article about the dark side of blue light. You can read it here.

It is critical to note that green light and white light sources also emit the same kind of light waves which even though your eyes are closed you can still recognise the color of the light.

Babies, sleep and red light

Now when you bring your beautiful newborn home from a healthcare facility, you may opt to have a totally pitch black room, that’s totally up to you. It’s a good idea, however, to introduce a red night light immediately after bubs turns 4 months. As of this age, they can commence to develop a fear of the dark when they wake in the night time.

A red night light won’t hinder their circadian rhythm and melatonin production and they will see it as a calming, soothing, familiar environment. The added bonus is, it’ll make those night time feeds and nappy changes just a little easier.

So, the end result is, getting a night light is ideal for night time feeds and also to help scare away the monsters that sometimes raise their pesky little heads in the night time, but be sure to chose one which gets the option of a red light, so that bubs can fall asleep and sleep well.

After all, no-one enjoys the morning after a disturbed night!