Quick answer

For most toddlers, the Little Lights Mini Rainbow Lamp is the safest first pick: its compact size and gentle colorful glow suit small rooms and low shelves. Choose the Whale Lamp if you want a larger statement piece for a big kid's room, and the Hot Air Balloon Lamp if you want a hanging nursery centerpiece. All three are handmade from 100% natural pinewood and include a remote, so the real decision is size and shape, not quality.

Why pinewood and a remote matter more than the animal shape

Every lamp in the Little Lights line is handmade from 100% natural pinewood, which means the body is solid wood rather than plastic or resin. That matters for two reasons: it holds up to the occasional bump off a nightstand, and it looks intentional in a room that will grow with your child. The included remote is the feature parents use most, because you can dim or switch off the light without crossing a creaky floor after bedtime.

The shape is the fun part, but it should not drive the purchase. A whale, a rainbow, and a hot air balloon all do the same job. What changes is where the lamp sits, how much visual weight it adds, and whether your child can reach it safely.

How to choose between the Rainbow, Whale, and Balloon

Start with the surface the lamp will live on. A dresser or bedside table with limited depth favors the Mini Rainbow Lamp, which is described as a fun-sized version of the larger rainbow light. A wide dresser or a floor corner in an older child's room can take the Whale Lamp without feeling crowded. The Hot Air Balloon Lamp is the only one explicitly described as working hung on the wall, so it suits rooms where shelf space is already full.

Then match the light to the sleep stage. For a baby or young toddler who needs a low, warm glow during night feeds, the Mini Rainbow's smaller footprint keeps the light source close to the floor or a low shelf. For a preschooler who wants a night light they can point at, the Whale or Balloon gives a bigger, more readable shape across the room.

Placement and safety checks before you buy

All three lamps can sit bedside, on a dresser, or be hung on the wall, according to the catalog descriptions. If you plan to hang one, confirm you have a stud or a suitable wall anchor, because pinewood has real weight. If you plan to sit it on a dresser, check the depth: the Whale and Balloon are statement pieces, while the Mini Rainbow is the easiest to tuck into a narrow spot.

Keep the remote somewhere your child cannot reach at naptime. A remote that disappears under the crib defeats the purpose. A small basket or a hook on the wall near the door works well.

Decision rules for picking a Little Lights lamp

  • Small room or low shelf: Choose the Mini Rainbow Lamp. Its fun-sized body fits narrow dressers and low shelves without dominating the room. Default pick for most toddlers and nurseries.
  • Big kid's room or shared space: Choose the Whale Lamp. The larger shape reads clearly from across the room and suits a bed or wide dresser. Pick this when the lamp is also decor.
  • No shelf or floor space left: Choose the Hot Air Balloon Lamp and hang it on the wall. Confirm you have a stud or anchor first. Best for rooms where surfaces are already full.

Little Lights lamps at a glance

  • Little Lights Mini Rainbow Lamp: A fun-sized version of the popular rainbow light, handmade from 100% natural pinewood, with a remote. Best first lamp for small rooms, low shelves, and toddlers who need a gentle glow without a large footprint.
  • Little Lights Whale Lamp: Handmade from 100% natural pinewood, with a remote, and designed to sit bedside, on a dresser, or hang on the wall. A larger statement piece for a big kid's room or a shared space where the lamp needs to read clearly from across the room.
  • Little Lights Hot Air Balloon Lamp: Handmade from 100% natural pinewood, with a remote, and designed to sit bedside, on a dresser, or hang on the wall. The best choice when you want a hanging centerpiece and floor or shelf space is limited.

Who these lamps fit

Best for

  • Parents who want a wooden night light that can move from nursery to big kid room
  • Toddlers and preschoolers who need a dimmable, remote-controlled light at bedtime
  • Rooms where the lamp needs to sit on a dresser or hang on a wall

Not for

  • Families who need a portable, battery-only night light for travel
  • Rooms with no safe surface or wall anchor for a solid pinewood lamp
  • Children who need a light they can safely handle and turn on themselves without supervision