We tested the best toddler and baby night lights — here’s what lulls our kids to sleep

Meet Ewan the Dream Sheep, the cuddly bedtime buddy so many mums swear by. It’s not just a cute plush, it plays a 20-minute soundtrack of soothing white noise, heartbeat, and womb sounds that really help calm babies down. 

Our mum tester, Samantha Walker, who reviewed Ewan for the Mother & Baby Awards 2018, said, “My little one is four months old, and the womb sound is his absolute favourite. He sits smiling and giggling when Ewan comes out with us in the pram, which means I can get on with things while he’s entertained. The soft glowing light also helps him focus for longer than usual. Plus, Ewan really helps him sleep, he actually sleeps through now, which never happened before. It definitely soothes him, making any mum’s life a whole lot easier.”

The deluxe version even has a motion sensor that kicks in when baby stirs, playing the sounds automatically so you don’t have to rush in every time. The only downsides? Ewan isn’t machine washable and runs on batteries, but if your little one struggles with sleep, it’s well worth it for the peaceful nights.

Read our full SweetDreamers Ewan The Dream Sheep review

The Chicco Next2 Stars Projector is a clever little addition to any bedtime routine, especially for babies who need a gentle nudge to drift off. It fits easily onto most cots and cribs, including the Chicco Next2Me, and creates a lovely, calming atmosphere with soft starry lights projected onto the ceiling. The glow isn’t too bright or overstimulating, making it just right for winding down.

One of the standout features is the 30 minutes of soothing sounds it offers, from classical music and nature to more ambient new-age tracks. The volume can be adjusted too, so you can keep things soft and peaceful. Parents often mention how calming the projection is, one mum said, “The stars on the ceiling mesmerise her, and I love that it kicks in when she cries. She even plays with the little teddy in the morning.”

Speaking of which, the removable soft toy is a lovely extra. It’s machine-washable, which is a bonus, and adds that bit of comfort babies seem to love. Another parent shared how her little one stayed engaged longer with this than with a basic nightlight. She said it worked best when he was already sleepy, and that the light-changing effects were really soothing. She also found the cry-activation sensor useful, although she did get a bit of a fright when it turned on while the crib was empty. 

Despite some noting that it does go through batteries fairly quickly if used constantly, the overall experience wins most parents over. It’s a gentle, thoughtful design that doesn’t overwhelm, and it’s incredibly easy to use. For parents looking for something that settles their baby and gives them a bit of extra time to breathe, or maybe even make that long-awaited coffee, this is a solid choice.

Read our full Chicco Next2 Stars Night Light Projector review

Light Tonie is a wonderful choice. This gentle night light combines a soft, warm glow with beautifully composed melodies to create a calm, soothing atmosphere perfect for winding down after an exciting day. It features 4 dimmable brightness levels to suit different sleepy time stages from settling in to helping toddlers fall back asleep if they wake during the night.

Peaceful music before bed includes 75 minutes of soothing original instrumental songs blended with water and nature sounds, helping both kids and parents relax together after a busy day. You can use this night light on its own or connect it with a Toniebox audio player to play personalised bedtime stories and messages recorded via the mytonies app. This way, family members and friends can join your child’s bedtime routine from anywhere in the world.

One parent shared, “We were happy to add this little guy to my son's tonies collection. He's a soft nightlight in addition to playing some really beautiful music. I love to snuggle up with my little guy at the end of the day and put this on to help us wind down. It is priced a bit high for my liking, but if you look at it as more than just a tonie but a nightlight as well? ...then yeah, it's still overpriced. But at least it's cute.”

With an optional 30-minute auto shut-off timer and a rechargeable battery, this night light offers convenience and comfort without the hassle of constant charging or battery replacement. It’s a lovely bedtime companion that supports establishing a peaceful nightly routine.

Please note: The Toniebox audio player is sold separately.

This stylish wooden wall light is perfect for nurseries and children’s rooms. It attaches securely to the wall using a stick-on base and is fully rechargeable with a USB cable, no fiddly batteries needed. With three settings (on, off, and auto sensor), it can be used as a soft nightlight or a motion-sensing guide in the dark. The detachable design makes it easy for children to carry when getting up at night or for parents to use during night-time feeds and checks.

Mother&Baby Senior Digital Writer, Samantha Ball shared how much of a game-changer it was in her home, “My son is always turning all the lights on when he gets up at night. I was forever changing batteries in other night lights. This one is rechargeable, looks great, and has just the right brightness. The sensor setting is brilliant too.”

The Groclock uses simple visual cues—glowing suns and stars—to help toddlers understand when it’s still night and when it’s time to get up, making it easier to establish better routines. With adjustable brightness and a kid-friendly digital display, it’s perfect for little ones starting to learn about time.

One parent shared how it changed their mornings, “My 2-year-old woke at 5am daily. After a week of using the Groclock, she started waiting until the sun icon appeared to call out. It’s made a huge difference in our mornings.”

Our mum tester Hannah loved how easy the Groclock is to use and the built-in music and white noise features. She said, “This product is so easy to use, bright enough to light the room without waking the little one. The ability to play both music and white noise is brilliant.”

Mum tester Shelby found the app control especially handy, saying, “The different colours help my 3-year-old recognise when it’s sleep time, and he settles so much better when his clock is on the sleep setting… Plus, I can control everything from the app without disturbing him.”

Read our full Tommee Tippee Groclock Sleep Trainer review

The Shnuggle Moonlight is a modern portable nightlight designed for both babies and parents. Its soft, warm glow is perfect for night feeds and nappy changes, and it features parent and child modes, a room temperature sensing base, and USB charging. It’s easy to move from bedside to changing table, making night-time routines smoother.

A mum tester, Beth said, “The light is just bright enough for night feeds without waking the baby fully. It creates a calm atmosphere and is easy to carry from the cot to the changing table.”

Read the full Shnuggle Moonlight Nightlight Review

More than a night light, the ClevaPure Salt Lamp also functions as a humidifier and essential oil diffuser. Genuine Himalayan salt crystals emit a gentle, melatonin-friendly glow that promotes a relaxing sleep environment. Add a few drops of lavender oil for extra calming benefits.

Mother&Baby Senior Digital Writer, Hannah Caroll shared, “I put a few drops of lavender in the water, and my sons fall asleep easier. It also makes the room smell amazing. I even bought another one for my own bedroom!”

This adorable, soft sleep aid plays lullabies and soothing sounds while also offering a gentle heart-shaped nightlight. The built-in cry sensor activates the sound when your baby stirs, helping them settle back to sleep. Rechargeable via USB, it’s convenient and reliable.

Mum tester Jennifer said, “It’s a great upgrade from Ewan the Dream Sheep. I love not having to replace batteries, and the sensor feature works well. We leave it on all day and night.”

Read our full Tommee Tippee Rechargeable Light & Sound Sleep Aids review

This owl-themed nightlight is as cute as it is functional. It projects stars on the ceiling, plays white noise and lullabies, and has a dimmable glowing belly light. Ideal for babies and older children alike, the range of sounds and visuals helps them wind down and drift off to sleep.

Mum tester Alina Davies said, "The white noise really works for my newborn, and the star projection gives him something to focus on. As he’s gotten older, he still loves watching the stars at bedtime. It looks lovely in the nursery too."

If you're a fan of baby gear that multitasks, this clever colour-changing thermometer is one to consider. It glows different colours depending on the room temperature, so you’ll know at a glance if your little one’s space is too hot, too cold, or just right.

As our mum tester Rachel said, “This really does a simple job of telling you the room temperature, but there is something satisfying about having the colour glow ‘scale’. I’m comparing that to a thermostat in my hallway, which technically does the same thing but is very boring!”

Alongside giving you quick visual cues, the gentle night light also provides a soft, comforting glow for your baby, whatever colour it’s shining. It’s a small but handy way to feel more in control at bedtime.

Rachel adds, “It gave me peace of mind always being aware of the room temp and therefore how to dress my baby. I would describe it as a nice, but not necessary, gadget.”

That said, it may work better in homes where the temperature fluctuates. “My only criticism is that my flat is very hot, so the Groegg always glowed bright red for ‘danger – your room is too hot’, and there was little I could do. Once I knew it was always red, it became a bit useless,” Rachel added. “But in a cooler house that has more variation, it would be much more useful.”

A smart little buy for parents who want a quick, reassuring way to monitor nursery temperature, especially in homes where the thermostat doesn’t tell the full story.

Read our full Tommee Tippee GroEgg2 Room Thermometer and Nightlight review

Looking for a multitasking product for your toddler? This classic sippy cup does double duty as a softly glowing night light, perfect for little ones around 12 months and up who are discovering their independence (and maybe testing your patience!).

At a bargain price, it’s definitely worth trying to see how your toddler reacts to this flexible, battery-powered cup. It’s easy to clean and portable too, so great for sleepovers or trips away.
One parent shared, “Doesn't leak as much as other similar cups we have had. It took my son a few tries to work out how to drink from it but he loves it now. It only really leaks if it is dropped, which my son loves to do too as it splatters a little. Typical mischievous 18-month-old.”

The night light isn’t very bright but, as this parent said, “that’s not a big problem. It glows enough to see it in the dark. More of a novelty attached to what is otherwise a brilliant cup.”

If your toddler loves to carry their cup everywhere, this fun combo could be just what you need for bedtime hydration and a little extra comfort.

The Gro-Light 2-in-1 Night Light offers two lighting options in one, a main bright light or a soft night light. It easily attaches to bayonet or standard room lights and adapts automatically from a soft glow at night to a brighter light during the day. Our favourite feature? It doesn’t require plugging in, charging, or batteries, it just works with your existing lighting setup! The gentle white LED glow means your nighttime feeds won’t disturb your little one.

One parent shared their experience, “With our newborn, we didn’t want a lot of light at night but needed enough to see and change her with minimal disturbance. This attaches between your bulb holder and bulb, with a control to adjust light levels. Switch once for the low light, switch off and on again for the main bulb, it’s so easy.”

Adding, “There are two connectors available, screw and bayonet, so make sure you get the right one for your fitting! I found the bayonet fitting cheaper and bought a screw-to-bayonet converter for extra flexibility.”

Peppa Pig can keep your child company at bedtime with this fun night light shaped like the beloved cartoon character. This 2-in-1 night light and torch is perfectly safe for little hands, and we love that it automatically turns off after ten minutes, perfect for saving battery and encouraging little ones to settle down.

One parent shared, "Very happy with this night light my Dad bought my two-year-old daughter. I love the 10-minute timer that turns itself off and that it’s also a touch light. We’ve had it for almost a year and haven’t had to change the batteries yet."