Sleep. It's the holy grail for many parents and at the moment Master C is certainly putting us through sleep deprivation training of the sort that I think the SAS must go through before missions. It's tough going and I therefore jumped at the chance to talk to a sleep expert in a recent BritMums Google Hangout on solving children's sleep problems. Baby sleep expert Chireal Shallow was on hand to answer our questions and she certainly gave us some good tips to help Master C.
This hangout was sponsored by the new Philips SoftPal
The lights are quite different from any night light I've seen before in that they're very soft and squidgy (almost asking children to pick them up and play with them) and they sit on a base which charges them up – sort of similar to the way in which an electric toothbrush charges. The lights are also shaped like characters from the Disney film Monsters University – and we were sent two Sulley characters to review.
The first thing which stuck me after unpacking the lights was just how confusing the instructions were!
Philips had decided to include word free instructions – presumably so that they could sell the light anywhere without having to change the instructions sheet into other languages. The only problem with this is that they were damn confusing. Here therefore is my attempt to explain what they really mean!
When it comes to using the lights there were some things about them that I and the children really liked, and a few other things that just didn't seem all that practical.
Firstly the good bits. The lights are very tactile and both children really loved playing with them – both when they were on and off. They're easy to switch on and off (you just tilt Sulley each time) so there's no messing about with little switches and even the youngest children are able to do this on their own. The light they emit is not too bright, but enough to be a comfort to a child without lighting up their room so much that it encourages them to get out of bed and play with their toys.
Little Miss C really loved her light, but does still insist on having her existing nightlight on too – which is a bit brighter – so she can get up on her own in the morning and see to play with her toys (she can't yet reach her own light switch). We struggled to put a light in Master C's existing bedroom as the cable on it is so short that it wouldn't reach from a plug socket to somewhere with enough space to sit the (rather wide) base.
When it comes to the light's practicalities there were a few issues. I've already mentioned the short power cable (probably on health and safety grounds) which is not all that useful. The other thing is the fact that the light only charges on the base if the switch is pressed. When it's finished charging it stops until you press the button again. Added to this the fact that the charge only lasts for about 6 hours and it means that a child can go to bed with the light on and fully charged, but the light will then run down its charge, but unless someone presses the button on the base it won't recharge. So, if a child wakes up after 6 hours the room will be in darkness again. Not ideal. I don't understand why they didn't just design it so that it constantly trickle charges (like a toothbrush does) so that you don't have that problem. This is partly why we've had to keep a second nightlight in LMC's room.
So overall, I think these Philips SoftPal lights are a good idea, especially since they can be operated by young children and are so play friendly, but it just seems to me like they need a little more work on their practical design.
Disclaimer: I was invited by BritMums to take part in the #notsoscary Google Hangout and we were then sent two Philips SoftPal lights to review. This post contains affiliate links.
These look brilliant – my two used to have something similar and without them, they would never have slept through the night as easily as they did. I remember the trauma when one broke!
These do look so cute, but a pain that they charge that way.
We have a battery operated nightlight but it doesn’t half drain the batteries!
I love the design of the lights but as you mentioned it doesn’t really work in practical terms. Tigger’s room only has one plug in it so we would need to add an extension cable, and only 6hrs? I want my children to sleep longer than that
Yes I guess it would. Weve moved over to rechargable batteries in everything at home to get round that sort of problem. Might be worth a look as they work out cheaper and greener.
I know – Im guessing its a technology limiting thing, but it doesnt really fit with childrens usual sleep duration at all.
Yes – we already had the trauma of her other night light breaking the other night – that was pretty bad.
Night lights are currently under discussion in our house as the little one wants to keep her light on, so this has been a great read / watch x
Nightlights are a good idea but unfortunately we have a fear of Monsters Inc. so these character night lights wouldn’t work for us! I’m glad you got some great tips to help Master C sleep better, fingers crossed you can get some more sleep soon
I do like that v cute!
We found that having one in her room made LMC more likely to want to go to bed.
yes – I did worry a bit that kids scared by monsters in general may not find these so helpful!
They look cute but perhaps not terribly well thought out?
Oh god, I just had to turn my laptop so Rocky couldn’t see this. He is Monsters Inc mad and Sully is his fave. His night light is currently blinking as it is Kyd’s old one and OLD. We really could do with a new one… you may have just made my decision for me!
They do look cute and sound a good idea for those who have trouble sleeping – touch wood mine don’t want lights on.
Thats certainly my conclusion…
Perfect! 🙂
Its strange but LMC was happy in a completely pitch black room up until just 4 months ago.
The do look cute – we have a battery run ‘Lego Man’ that we use as a nightlight – the Cheetah Keeper still has big issues with the dark after his stays in hospital. The important thing for him is that it’s on all night so I’m not sure the 6 hour thing would work for us
These look great. It’s a real shame that they only get a 6-hour charge though. Like you, I’d be worried my kids would go to bed at 8pm – and wake up at 3am/4am and get frightened in the dark. We’ve never found a suitable night light. So I resort to a lamp with a very dim bulb, on the floor in the corner of the room.
So ironic that they’re monsters! My kids love a light in the room. I would really be concerned with the six hour stretch too – kind of misses the point. I hope they get that sorted and thank you for such an honest review 🙂
Youre very welcome.
How do I change the battery of the Philips soft pal light.mike
Sorry to say that I don’t think it’s possible. Sorry!
Hi, I just bought one of these, the Minnie. Out of the box there’s no light whatsoever. Did you have to first fully charge it to get it to work? I’m waiting till morning to see. It’s on the stand and the stand has it’s little light on but no the Minnie.
It’s hard to remember as it was a while ago now, but I think I did have to charge it first.