automatic shut-off night light?

[Robyn Kozierok]

I am looking for a night light that will automatically shut off after about
half an hour. My 2.5 yo always complains that it is "too dark" when we
first put him to bed, but then doesn't mind the dark in the middle of the
night. He shares a room with older brothers who don't share his assessment
of "too dark" so I'd like something that emits only a very small amount of
light. Also, if it faded out instead of just shutting straight off, that
would be perfect. Batteries would actually be more convenient than plug-in,
but either is fine. Anyone know of something like this?

Thanks,
--Robyn (mommy to Ryan 9/93 and Matthew 6/96 and Evan 3/01)

[Peggy Tatyana]

"Robyn Kozierok" > wrote:

> I am looking for a night light that will automatically shut off after
about
> half an hour. My 2.5 yo always complains that it is "too dark" when we
> first put him to bed, but then doesn't mind the dark in the middle of the
> night. He shares a room with older brothers who don't share his
assessment
> of "too dark" so I'd like something that emits only a very small amount of
> light. Also, if it faded out instead of just shutting straight off, that
> would be perfect. Batteries would actually be more convenient than
plug-in,
> but either is fine. Anyone know of something like this?
>
> Thanks,
> --Robyn (mommy to Ryan 9/93 and Matthew 6/96 and Evan 3/01)


Seems to me the simplest thing would be a timer to plug the nightlight into.

Peggy

[dragonlady]

In article >,
(Robyn Kozierok) wrote:

> I am looking for a night light that will automatically shut off after about
> half an hour. My 2.5 yo always complains that it is "too dark" when we
> first put him to bed, but then doesn't mind the dark in the middle of the
> night. He shares a room with older brothers who don't share his assessment
> of "too dark" so I'd like something that emits only a very small amount of
> light. Also, if it faded out instead of just shutting straight off, that
> would be perfect. Batteries would actually be more convenient than plug-in,
> but either is fine. Anyone know of something like this?
>
> Thanks,
> --Robyn (mommy to Ryan 9/93 and Matthew 6/96 and Evan 3/01)
>

I don't know of anything like that designed as a night light, but they
do have timers that you can plug lamps into, so you can have lights
turning on and off while you are away (gives the house that "lived in"
look). Might you be able to plug a night light into one of those?

meh
--
Children won't care how much you know until they know how much you care

[Splanche]

>I am looking for a night light that will automatically shut off after about
>half an hour.

How about getting a timer (like the ones you use for lights when you're on
vacation) and plugging a regular nightlite in to it?
- Blanche

[Kevin Karplus]

In article >, Robyn Kozierok wrote:
> I am looking for a night light that will automatically shut off after about
> half an hour. My 2.5 yo always complains that it is "too dark" when we
> first put him to bed, but then doesn't mind the dark in the middle of the
> night. He shares a room with older brothers who don't share his assessment
> of "too dark" so I'd like something that emits only a very small amount of
> light. Also, if it faded out instead of just shutting straight off, that
> would be perfect. Batteries would actually be more convenient than plug-in,
> but either is fine. Anyone know of something like this?

Lots of people have suggested getting a timer.
Another possibility is to get one of the electro-luminescent nightlights.
They cost a bit more (about $7 instead of $4) but take only about 0.1
watts of power (instead of 4 watts for the incandescent night
lights). They don't put out much light, but may be enough to comfort
a young child without disturbing an older one. They use so little
electricity (about 10 cents a year) that they can be left plugged in
all the time without guilt.

Our 7-year-old son has a 4-watt compact flourescent bulb lamp on his
bedside table, with a switch that he can reach from his bed. He can
turn it on or off as he finds convenient. This may be too bright for
most kids, but he has alwyas prefered going to sleep in a fairly well
lit room. When one of us stays with him to help him fall asleep
(usually me), we turn the light off, but usually when we get him up in
the morning the light is back on, because he turns it on if he wakes
up in the middle of the night.

The light is bright enough for him to read by, so we have to take away
his books at bed time, or he'd never sleep. We tried using a dimmer
night light, but he did not find it easy to go to sleep in the darker
room, and requested continuing to use the brighter light.

--
Kevin Karplus http://www.soe.ucsc.edu/~karplus
life member (LAB, Adventure Cycling, American Youth Hostels)
Effective Cycling Instructor #218-ck (lapsed)
Professor of Computer Engineering, University of California, Santa Cruz
Undergraduate and Graduate Director, Bioinformatics
Affiliations for identification only.

[Sue]

Our plate that is afixed to the wall has a night light in it already. It
isn't very bright, but certainly helps with total darkness. Also, how about
a light that you can turn up or down.
--
Sue
mom to three girls

Robyn Kozierok > wrote in message
...
> I am looking for a night light that will automatically shut off after
about
> half an hour. My 2.5 yo always complains that it is "too dark" when we
> first put him to bed, but then doesn't mind the dark in the middle of the
> night. He shares a room with older brothers who don't share his
assessment
> of "too dark" so I'd like something that emits only a very small amount of
> light. Also, if it faded out instead of just shutting straight off, that
> would be perfect. Batteries would actually be more convenient than
plug-in,
> but either is fine. Anyone know of something like this?
>
> Thanks,
> --Robyn (mommy to Ryan 9/93 and Matthew 6/96 and Evan 3/01)
>

[Robyn Kozierok]

In article >,
Peggy Tatyana > wrote:
>"Robyn Kozierok" > wrote:
>
>> I am looking for a night light that will automatically shut off after
>about
>> half an hour.
>
>Seems to me the simplest thing would be a timer to plug the nightlight into.
>

The ones we've tried all make a humming or ticking sound that the kids
find objectionable.

--Robyn

[Ann Porter]

> >"Robyn Kozierok" > wrote:
> >
> >> I am looking for a night light that will automatically shut off after
> >about
> >> half an hour.

Didn't somebody post here once about a flashlight that you have to hold the
switch down to keep it turned on? Would that help?

Best,
Ann

[Robyn Kozierok]

In article >,
Ann Porter > wrote:
>> >"Robyn Kozierok" > wrote:
>> >
>> >> I am looking for a night light that will automatically shut off after
>> >about
>> >> half an hour.
>
>Didn't somebody post here once about a flashlight that you have to hold the
>switch down to keep it turned on? Would that help?
>

No, not quite. I don't want him to actively be paying attention to it,
or that will distract him from getting to sleep. I just want it to shut
off once he does fall asleep.

He does have a flashlight that has an auto-shut-off after a few minutes, but
a) it's too short a time, and
b) it makes annoying animal sounds!

I did find a cool train toddler bed that has a built in auto-shut-off
night light :) I'm not sure we're really going to spend $200 on a toddler
bed...

--Robyn

[Rosalie B.]

x-no-archive:yes
(Robyn Kozierok) wrote:

>In article >,
>Peggy Tatyana > wrote:
>>"Robyn Kozierok" > wrote:
>>
>>> I am looking for a night light that will automatically shut off after
>>about
>>> half an hour.
>>
>>Seems to me the simplest thing would be a timer to plug the nightlight into.
>>
>
>The ones we've tried all make a humming or ticking sound that the kids
>find objectionable.

Well OK then plug it into an extension cord, and plug that into a
timer outside the room.

Or even simpler - have the older boys who object to the light turn it
out just before they get into bed.

grandma Rosalie

[Robyn Kozierok]

In article >,
Rosalie B. > wrote:
>
>Well OK then plug it into an extension cord, and plug that into a
>timer outside the room.

That's a possibility.

>Or even simpler - have the older boys who object to the light turn it
>out just before they get into bed.

All the boys go to bed at the same time. (The toddler naps.) The 10yo
occasionally stays up later to read, but he really gets tired easily and
usually goes right to sleep when the others do.

I'm still convinced there must be a light out there with an auto-shut-off
and we just need to find it. There seem to be lots of crib toys with an
auto-shut-off light and music feature, and I suppose we could snip the
speaker wire on one of those.

But failing that, I think we'll just wire up a small LED light with a
switch in our room so that we can turn it off when we go to bed (or
earlier if we think of it.) More short-term hassle than plugging
in a timer ouside their bedroom, but avoids leaving wires in the way.

--Robyn

[David desJardins]

Robyn Kozierok writes:
>> Seems to me the simplest thing would be a timer to plug the
>> nightlight into.
>
> The ones we've tried all make a humming or ticking sound that the kids
> find objectionable.

Are these all mechanical devices? I found several digital timers
(search for "digital plug-in timer"). I would expect these would be
silent when operating, although there might be an audible click when
they actually turn the power on or off.

Here's the most suitable-looking example that I found in a quick scan:

http://www.brookstone.com/shop/product.asp?product_code=330225

David desJardins

[Hillary Israeli]

In >,
Robyn Kozierok > wrote:

*In article >,
*Peggy Tatyana > wrote:
*>"Robyn Kozierok" > wrote:
*>
*>> I am looking for a night light that will automatically shut off after
*>about
*>> half an hour.
*>
*>Seems to me the simplest thing would be a timer to plug the nightlight into.
*>
*
*The ones we've tried all make a humming or ticking sound that the kids
*find objectionable.

Get an X10 wall outlet, plug a regular nightlight into it, program it to
be on only during the times you want, and you're all set.

http://www.smarthome.com

--
hillary israeli vmd http://www.hillary.net
"uber vaccae in quattuor partes divisum est."
not-so-newly minted veterinarian-at-large :)

[David desJardins]

Hillary Israeli writes:
> Get an X10 wall outlet, plug a regular nightlight into it, program it to
> be on only during the times you want, and you're all set.
>
> http://www.smarthome.com

I do have some of these, and they make a loud click when turning on or
off (I think there's a mechanical relay in the unit). It might well be
loud enough to wake someone, I think. I'd hope the purpose-built
integrated timers would be quieter.

David desJardins

[Hillary Israeli]

In >,
David desJardins > wrote:

*Hillary Israeli writes:
*> Get an X10 wall outlet, plug a regular nightlight into it, program it to
*> be on only during the times you want, and you're all set.
*>
*> http://www.smarthome.com
*
*I do have some of these, and they make a loud click when turning on or
*off (I think there's a mechanical relay in the unit). It might well be
*loud enough to wake someone, I think. I'd hope the purpose-built
*integrated timers would be quieter.

Really? We use a number of their controllers and don't have any clicking
noises that I've noticed. That's a surprise.

--
hillary israeli vmd http://www.hillary.net
"uber vaccae in quattuor partes divisum est."
not-so-newly minted veterinarian-at-large :)

[Scott Lindstrom]

Robyn Kozierok wrote:
> In article >,
> Rosalie B. > wrote:
>

>
>>Or even simpler - have the older boys who object to the light turn it
>>out just before they get into bed.
>
>
> All the boys go to bed at the same time. (The toddler naps.) The 10yo
> occasionally stays up later to read, but he really gets tired easily and
> usually goes right to sleep when the others do.

Lucky you. DD complains vociferously if she has to
go to bed when DS does (their bedtimes are normally
8 for DS and 8:45 for DD)


Scott DD 10 and DS 7

[Pamiamm]

Hi Robyn,
I don't know if this is too babyish, but I have a baby monitor for my
2 babies (1 & 2) that could work. It has a night-light feature, or a
"picture show" feature (that's what I call it--it shines on the
ceiling with moons, stars, etc.) They turn off after I think it's 10
minutes. With the other end of the monitor you can turn them back on
from anywhere in the house, if needed. They are also sound activated
(by crying.) There is also an intercom so you can even talk to you
sons through the monitor controller you would have! Ny 2 year old
especially loves the "picture show" as it lulls her to sleep watching
it. It's made by Fisher Price and I got it at Target, so if you are
interested it should be easy to find.

Warmly,
Pam Ragland
www.aiminghigher.com

(Robyn Kozierok) wrote in message >...
> I am looking for a night light that will automatically shut off after about
> half an hour. My 2.5 yo always complains that it is "too dark" when we
> first put him to bed, but then doesn't mind the dark in the middle of the
> night. He shares a room with older brothers who don't share his assessment
> of "too dark" so I'd like something that emits only a very small amount of
> light. Also, if it faded out instead of just shutting straight off, that
> would be perfect. Batteries would actually be more convenient than plug-in,
> but either is fine. Anyone know of something like this?
>
> Thanks,
> --Robyn (mommy to Ryan 9/93 and Matthew 6/96 and Evan 3/01)

[[email protected]]

In article >,
Hillary Israeli > wrote:
>In >,
>David desJardins > wrote:
>
>*Hillary Israeli writes:
>*> Get an X10 wall outlet, plug a regular nightlight into it, program it to
>*> be on only during the times you want, and you're all set.
>*>
>*> http://www.smarthome.com
>*
>*I do have some of these, and they make a loud click when turning on or
>*off (I think there's a mechanical relay in the unit). It might well be
>*loud enough to wake someone, I think. I'd hope the purpose-built
>*integrated timers would be quieter.
>
>Really? We use a number of their controllers and don't have any clicking
>noises that I've noticed. That's a surprise.

There are two types of X-10 modules: "appliance" have a relay inside and make
a load click. "Lamp" modules use a TRIAC and are usually silent. They
can only be used for incandescent lighting, but can be used to dim the
lights also. For this application, a lamp module would be perfect. You'll
also need a controller - either manual or timer based. (I've seen a
few defective lamp modules which make a very faint 60Hz hum operated in
dimmer mode)

--
Peter Fales
Peter "at" fales-lorenz.net

--
Peter Fales
Peter "at" fales-lorenz.net