Invest in nightlights (Change 107)

My kids have terrific imaginations.  They are bright, creative, intelligent - able to see the most amazing things in the most ordinary places.  It also means there are lots of bogeymen in the dark.

For about a year now, we've been letting them fall asleep with their lights on.  It seems to calm the fear of the dark and allows us to avoid repeated trips upstairs to check for monsters under the bed.  However, we don't always turn the light off once they fall asleep.  Sometimes we're watching TV or on the computer, and lose track of time.  The overhead light burns merrily away, the hydro meter whirling in happy abandon.

I've also wondered about how leaving the lights on is affecting their sleeping habits.  Recent articles in the paper have suggested that any light during sleep is detrimental to melatonin levels.  I can't imagine that leaving overhead lights on are helping them achieve a restful REM sleep.

I recently invested in nightlights for the kids.  They are battery operated with rechargeable batteries.  This means they don't sit plugged in, drawing power, when not in use.  Because they are battery operated, I don't have to plug them in to operate them - just to recharge.  I've also noticed since I've started using these nightlights, that the kids are waking up less grumpy in the morning.  They seem to sleep better, with fewer trips downstairs or to our room in the middle of the night.

I'm using less power, and my kids are getting a better night's sleep.  What more could a mom ask for?