Gear + gadgets: nighty night light

Never mind that the Smile Switch Battery Powered LED Portable Night Light is designed for children. The kid in me was totally enchanted with these happy faces that cast a friendly glow when the “nose” is flipped up.

Best of all, smile Switch Night Lights can be placed virtually anywhere, since the 6 LED lights behind the translucent white face are powered by 3 AAA batteries (not included). With no electrical cords, and no outlets needed, they attach to any smooth flat surface via an included reusable peel-and-stick Velcro-like tape that won’t mar walls.

The rectangular 4.5-inch-high by 3-inch-wide by about 1-inch-deep light looks pretty much like an old-fashioned electrical wall switch — albeit with a fun-loving countenance and inner glow that may very well be contagious — as well as useful for navigating dark motel rooms, or providing helpful, but not glaring, light in a bathroom. Or stick one on junior’s headboard as a benevolent companion she can switch on and off herself with the flick of a finger.

The Smile Switch Night Light comes in five colors, each with its own personality. The black model has a handlebar mustache, the red one a wink-like arrow-shaped right eye. The pink, green and yellow models have slight variations in eye shapes. They all have a white translucent face, happy smile, and user-friendly color-coordinated “nose” switch. When batteries need changing, just slide open the unobtrusive compartments on the back of the lights.

Smile Switch Battery Powered LED Portable Night Light is $12 from www.mysweetmuffin.com.

This story was originally published July 31, 2015 at 10:00 AM with the headline "Gear + gadgets: nighty night light."