As a new parent, you want your child to be healthy and develop appropriately. One of the best ways to ensure proper growth and development is to improve your baby\u2019s sleep state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your baby benefits from sleep in many ways. Proper sleep is essential to growth and development. Brain development significantly depends on proper sleep patterns. As we sleep, our brains make the new connections more permanent. Lack of sleep weakens cognitive function. Additionally, muscles, bones, and organs depend on sleep to repair and strengthen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, if you are planning your baby\u2019s nursery, consider the following helpful tips for setting the right lighting for your little one’s sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n
Our bodies work on circadian rhythms that are affected by light. When people cannot see, they often have trouble with night\/ day rotations. Likewise, if someone works the night shift, they sometimes have trouble sleeping in the mornings. The key to getting your baby to sleep is minimizing the light. Research shows that children typically don’t develop a fear of the dark until they are around\u00a0eighteen-months-old or older<\/a>.\u00a0Well-rested baby<\/a>\u00a0reminds readers, \u201cIf your child is under 2 years old, any upset overnight is not due to the darkness in their room. Developmentally, they are not yet capable of being afraid of the dark.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Consider dim lights for late feedings as well. While you may need a little light to see for moving around the room, you do not want harsh lights at three in the morning\u2014neither do babies. A dimmer switch or easily accessible soft lights would be best. Many of the new smart bulbs can be dimmed. \u201cAlexa, set lights to 20 percent,\u201d might be easiest at three a.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Room darkening curtains may also be a fantastic choice. Even with the lights out, two in the afternoon is not dim. Curtains that can block the light or thick blinds may make the room darker when there is an abundance of light outside. You do not want to place blankets or coverings over the crib or bassinet unless they are designed especially for your brand or style. Babies can suffocate from coverings that fall inside. It is best just to avoid them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As mentioned above, babies are not generally afraid of the dark, and light can disturb their sleep patterns. If your baby has a large room and you are concerned that you may need to use parts of the room late at night, such as for feedings or diapering, consider putting the nightlight away from your baby\u2019s crib. You want as little light as possible near the sleeping space. Blue tones are more activating. Red tones are less exhilarating and have less potential to disturb sleep. If you must use a nightlight, you should consider using a soft, red-toned light away from the bed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Dimmer switches can help minimize the lighting that comes into the room, but you will want to place the crib or bassinet away from the light. Even dim overhead lights can disturb sleep patterns and bother one\u2019s eyes. Dimmer switches are much better than overhead lights or nightlights. The dimmer can be used only when needed and doesn\u2019t provide constant light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lamps can be fitted with smart lightbulbs as well. Using them reduces the need for a nightlight. You can turn only that lamp on, and as we stated before, you can limit how much light is emitted. A lamp with a Phillips Hue bulb may be turned on at 25 or 40 percent through Google, Alexa, Siri, or an app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Additionally, some of these bulbs can be purchased with warm red lights rather than harsher blue lights. Consider these bulbs when designing room lights. Though they may be more expensive, they are also often an incredible value when considering these tips. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Skip the overhead lights altogether. Enhance the room’s ambiance with strategically placed lamps, and take advantage of natural light during the day by utilizing windows. Closing the curtains at night or in the evening will also become a signal to your little one that it is time to sleep. A few lamps in the room can brighten things up if it isn\u2019t quite time for bed. The Spruce recommends\u00a0three points of light<\/a>\u00a0to create adequate layers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can also place the lamps in non-sleeping areas if you want. Lamps near the changing table, play areas, and entrance can help you in the later hours without creating disturbances around sleep areas. Keep the play light off at bedtime and only use the others as needed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Lamps can also have several settings that allow you to use only the amount of light you need. Some lamps light the base with a dim light and add the upper bulb for brighter light. They can be chosen according to your nursery design as well. The choices you make for bulbs can follow the suggestions from above. As your little one grows and does start to fear the dark, lamps like these can provide just enough light to see if they are scared. <\/p>\n\n\n\n2. Use Nightlights Sparingly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
3. Use Lamps for Layers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
4. Maximize Natural Light During Waking Hours<\/h2>\n\n\n\n