Silicone Tap Control Mushroom Light

A night light for a child has to pass tests that an ordinary lamp never faces. It gets picked up, carried around, dropped, tapped over and over, and switched on and off at odd hours. It also has to be gentle, giving off enough light to settle a worried child without keeping anyone awake. The Silicone Tap Control Mushroom Light is shaped for exactly that life, with a soft body, a cap that works as the switch, and a battery that charges over USB.

The mushroom shape helps too. It is familiar and friendly, and the rounded cap sits comfortably under a small hand. Put together, it is the kind of light a child will actually want to use on their own, which is the whole point of a good night light.

What makes the silicone mushroom light stand out

The material is the first thing that sets it apart. The body is food grade soft silicone around an internal LED module, so there is nothing hard or brittle to crack if it falls off a nightstand or out of a bed. Silicone also feels soft and slightly warm to the touch, which makes it pleasant to hold, and it diffuses the light into a gentle glow rather than a sharp point.

The second thing is the control. Instead of a switch hidden somewhere on the base, the cap itself responds to a tap. One tap turns it on, and another tap changes the color. In the dark, a child does not need to find a button; they simply press the top of the mushroom.

Finally, the power. The internal battery charges over USB, so there are no coin cells or AA batteries to replace at bedtime, and the light can sit anywhere in the room, well away from an outlet. When the glow starts to fade, it simply goes back on its cable for a top up.

Where it looks best, room by room

• Nurseries. A soft glow for late night feeds and changes.
• Children's bedrooms. A light a child can switch on by themselves.
• Bedside tables. A gentle marker in the dark for adults, too.
• Hallways and landings. Set on a shelf to guide the way to the bathroom.
• Play corners. A colorful accent that is soft enough to be handled.

It also works well as a portable light for sleepovers or trips to a grandparent's house, since it needs no outlet once charged. Pack the USB cable and it can be charged from almost any charger.

Choosing the size and placement

The light measures 4.6 inches wide, 4.5 inches deep and 4.9 inches high. That is small enough to sit on a crowded nightstand or a narrow shelf, and small enough for a child to lift and carry with both hands.

Where you put it depends on who uses it:

• For a baby, place it on a dresser or shelf out of reach of the crib, where it lights the room just enough for a parent to see.
• For an older child, set it on the bedside table within easy reach, so they can tap it on without getting up.
• In a hallway, a shelf at about waist height lights the floor without shining into sleepy eyes.
• Always keep the charging cable away from the bed and out of a small child's reach.

Because it is so compact, two lights can share a room without making it bright, one near the bed and one near the door.

Layering it with other lighting

In a child's room, the best lighting plan usually has three levels. A ceiling light gives full brightness for playing and tidying, a lamp handles bedtime stories, and a night light keeps a low, steady glow once the story is over. This mushroom light sits at the gentlest end of that range, so it pairs well with a small table lamp for reading.

For more soft lights that suit bedrooms and nurseries, browse the night lights collection, or see the mushroom lamps collection for other takes on the same friendly shape. When the room has several lights, turn the bright ones off first and let this one be the last light on.

A night light also helps a child feel in charge of the dark. Being able to reach out, tap the cap and choose a color gives a small sense of control at bedtime, and a light that belongs to the child often makes the last few minutes of the evening calmer. Let your child pick a favorite color for sleep, and keep the light in the same spot every night so it is easy to find. Over time it becomes part of the bedtime routine, like a favorite book or blanket, and because it is small and cordless, that routine can come along on trips too.

Is the silicone mushroom light right for your space?

This light is a good fit if you:

• Want a night light that a young child can switch on and change by themselves.
• Prefer a soft body with no glass or bulb in a child's room.
• Need a light that can sit away from an outlet.
• Like a colorful, playful shape rather than a plain plug in night light.

It is not meant to light a whole room or to work as a reading lamp, and it should never be submerged in water, so keep it out of the bath. For a brighter bedside light, a table lamp is the better choice, with this light keeping watch after lights out.

Every order ships free across the US and most arrive in 6 to 9 business days. Unused items in their original packaging can be returned within 30 days of delivery, and questions are answered at info@norafurnish.com.