A night light is a helpful tool for navigating your home at night, whether you want some illumination to help guide your late night trips to the bathroom or to bring your new baby to the diaper changing table. Many families with younger children use a night light to soothe fears of the dark, but they’re also helpful when you need to quickly find the thermometer or other medical supplies if your kids wake up sick in the middle of the night.

So what type of light is the best night light for you? As far as kids night lights go, there are some unique, enchanting options, including night light projectors that project a color image or a collection of images toward your child’s wall or ceiling, typically beginning at dusk and shutting off at dawn thanks to light-sensing technology. There are also plenty of LED night lights available now, which hold many advantages over the incandescent lights that were once the most conventional option. LED night lights use up to 90% less energy, and they last longer, so it could be years before you have to replace them. LEDs are also sturdier than incandescent lights and less prone to breakage, and they are cool to the touch, making them the safer option. You can choose a plug-in night light, a battery-powered night light or one that is designed to react to power failures by switching automatically to battery-operated emergency mode before lighting up. And for added nighttime lighting measures, keep a flashlight in a spot where you can easily find it by the glow of your night light for more mobile illumination.