Red Night Lights - Learning Objectives

• Why red night lights?
  
• Where to find red night lights?
  

Why red night lights?

our bodies are pre-programmed for a dark night sleep. This means that under primitive conditions, we are sleeping in darkness, or starlight and moonlight. When we see bright lights at night, our bodies think it is time to wake up. You can fool your brain to stop the 'wake up' signal,  by using red night lights.

Circadian Brain

Circadian System

Our ancestors evolved under the natural cycles of daylight and dark nights. Light is energy that influences mind and body - many chemicals in our bodies are controlled by light. 

Premature babies thrive under simulated sunrise to sunset, where the light changes color throughout the day, and they have a dark night sleep. Studies have shown them growing at a rate 50% faster than those under constant bright illumination. This makes sense, since we grow and heal while we sleep, naturally in the dark.

Children Are More Sensitive

Studies show that children are more sensitive than adults. This is true for many reasons, the biggest is that they are still growing. Children sunburn more easily than adults because their skin is more sensitive. Children have trouble going back to sleep after exposure to bright light because their circadian entrainment is not fully developed. This means that triggers such as bright light in a hallway, coming to find parents late at night, can re-set their biological clock and wake them up as if it were morning. Consider dim red nightlights for your toddler looking for extra cuddles at night.

Sensitivity of the circadian system to evening bright light in preschool‐age children

Sensitivity of the circadian system to evening bright light in preschool‐age children - this study is the first to quantify the melatonin suppression response to evening light exposure in healthy 3‐ to 5‐year‐old children.
Lameese D. Akacem, Kenneth P. Wright Jr., Monique K. LeBourgeois
First published: 4 March 2018
https://physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.14814/phy2.13617
The New York Times has published an article about this research project.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/05/well/family/children-sleep-light-melatonin.html

Pinterest Board Nightlights

Although ChromaTherapyLight.com does not sell nor endorse any products, we do maintain over 75 Pinterest boards on Lighting & Design to help us remember where to find a variety of fixtures and ideas. This board shows some options for red nightlights.

If you already have a nightlight you like, that does not have a red bulb or light source consider the following options:

1. Change the white or clear bulb to a red one.
2. Line the nightlight with red theatrical gel filters available at camera stores.
3. Paint the lens with red paint or nail polish.
4. Keep it dim, at night your eyes have adjusted to darkness and do not need as much light to navigate.

Brain Signals

Circadian Response Curve, blue light will keep you awake.

Use red night lights.

Footnotes

1. Children need dim nightlights.
   

Photo Credits

• Human Biological Clock - Wiki
• Circadian Response Curve - Wiki
  

Related Topics

Circadian System, Light Therapy, night lighting.