The Effects of Sleeping With a Night Light

Night lights can have an affect on your sleeping patterns.

If your child is scared of the dark, or you prefer to sleep with dim lighting in the bedroom, you may have installed a night light. While this makes a decorative addition to the space, there are effects of sleeping with a night light that you should be aware of.

Effects

Sleeping with a night light could affect a person's sleeping patterns, since the light can throw off the body's natural sleeping clock, according to Soundsleeping.org. The body is designed to sleep when the sun goes down, and light in a room will mimic the sun and "trick" the body into thinking that it's still time to be awake.

Expert Insight

Sleeping with a night light alters the brain's structure, and can lead to depression, according to Daily Mail Reporter. The report also revealed that a night light in close proximity while sleeping could result in weight gain, and that individuals who work shifts that change their traditional sleep patterns could be at risk for breast cancer.

Considerations

If your child is having trouble sleeping without having a night light in the room, it may be a good idea to remove or turn the light off when the child falls asleep so that light is not in the room the entire time your little one is sleeping. If you sleep with a night light, a timed light is an effective idea so that your body and brain are not exposed to light throughout the entire night.

References

• Impact Lab: Sleeping With a Nightlight Could Lead to Depression
• Sound Sleeping: How Light Affects Sleep
• Daily Mail: A light on at night can put you in a dark mood