Moving your child into their “big room” is a huge milestone for parents and bub. By creating a comforting sleep space for your child, you can help make the transition a little bit easier for you both. This can include familiar bedding, comforters, regular sleep routines and the right lighting.

An often overlooked and yet crucial part of creating a cosy space is lighting. Lighting can create ambience and depth in a room. Research has also proven that the right lighting can help to improve sleep. 

Sounds too good to be true, right? But let's delve into how choosing the right lighting can contribute to creating a soothing environment for your child and enhance their sleep quality.

• Circadian rhythm regulation: Exposure to natural light plays an important role in regulating baby’s internal body clock. The right lighting can help or hinder baby's circadian rhythm. By choosing soft, warm lighting that promotes melatonin production you can improve your baby’s sleep quality. Try playing with lighting that aligns with baby’s natural sleep/wake cycle.
• Sleep quality: It’s important to avoid exposing your baby to bright or harsh light too close to bedtime. Bright, cool-toned, or harsh light can also interfere with melatonin production, a hormone that plays an essential role in sleep.
• Sleep association: Creating a calming and soothing environment for your baby with soft, comforting lighting can significantly enhance the quality of your child’s sleep. Soft lighting creates a peaceful environment that promotes relaxation. Using lighting routinely in your child’s sleep and wake windows will also help them form an association between soft lighting and sleep time.

What Is the Importance of Lighting in Sleep?

The right balance of light is essential for promoting healthy sleep habits. Consistent exposure to light can help babies develop regular sleeping routines by supporting melatonin production and creating associations in the brain relating to sleep and wake windows. 

Dim lighting before bed can often signal that it is time for rest, putting the baby at ease and promoting restful sleep, while opening curtains in the morning can indicate to the baby that it’s wake-up time. This helps them make sense of when it is time to sleep and when it is time to play. Forming a solid sleep routine will also help during sleep regression periods, which often occur at four, eight, 12 and 18 months of age.

Sleep regressions happen when your baby, who used to sleep well, starts experiencing frequent wake-ups, increased fussing, and difficulty going to bed. These regressions can last for 2 to 6 weeks and are different from just a few rough nights of sleep. Not all babies experience noticeable sleep regressions, but they are quite common and something parents should look out for.

Lighting can create feelings of safety and comfort for your baby, particularly during a big step like moving to their own room. Soft lighting or subtle red lighting has been proven to increase relaxation and improve sleep, while cool, bright light can disturb a baby’s sleep cycle and make it harder for them to fall asleep.

How Can I Tell if Baby Is Afraid of the Dark?

Babies, like adults, can develop fears, including a fear of the dark. Though they don’t yet have the skills to express this verbally, there are signs to look out for, such as:

1. Disturbed sleep patterns: If your baby wakes up crying frequently or seems restless during the night, they may have a fear of the dark. However, there are several factors that can influence this, and it’s important to rule out all other possibilities.
2. Resistance to bedtime: As children go through different phases and stages, they may sometimes develop resistance to bedtime. If this is an ongoing issue with no obvious developmental cause, it may indicate a fear of the dark.
3. Clinginess: Often when children are uneasy, they will seem clingier than usual. If you have ruled out other possibilities for clinginess, such as teething or sickness, and you notice that your baby frequently needs reassurance during bedtime it may indicate discomfort with darkness.
4. Physical reactions: Babies may exhibit signs of distress such as sweating, increased heart rate, or even shaking. Keep an eye out for these signs and take note if they seem to routinely coincide with the arrival of darkness. 

What’s the Best Lighting for Babies To Sleep In?

When looking at lighting for your child’s bedroom, first ensure you have a natural source of sunlight, then opt for warmer-toned lights, preferably with a dimming feature. 

Alternatively, you can invest in a nightlight. When shopping for nightlights, ensure you look for one that is warm-toned. Warm hues are less likely to interfere with melatonin production and sleep patterns.

When preparing for bedtime, keep the main light source off to create a dim, calming environment for sleep. Then, position the nightlight away from the crib to avoid glare, ensuring that it provides just enough illumination to comfort your child without being overpowering. 

It may take some experimentation to find the right balance of light and dark for your baby. Our Pixbee smart lights can be adjusted to suit sleep/wake windows through the app. Best of all, you can set the ambience with creative colour blending to find a mood that appeals to your child’s needs.

With patience and attendance, you can create the perfect, cosy sleep space for your little one and help make the transition to the big room that little bit easier for you both. When designing a comforting space for your child, consider utilising elements like dim lighting, cozy bedding, and calming music to enhance the sleep environment and make it a comforting place for your child to rest. It may take time, but with love and care you’ll find the right balance for your child.