Remember being ten years old, staring up at the glow-in-the-dark stick-on stars on your ceiling? Remember counting them and making imaginary constellations until you fell asleep?

Kids these days are as fascinated as we were with the night sky. They still want to be astronauts, zooming through the Milky Way in a turbo-powered rocket ship. One thing, however, has changed: their galaxy-inspired room decorations have gone through a major upgrade.

Whether your little one is an astronomy enthusiast or a lover of all things shiny and sparkly, galaxy projectors are a great addition to their bedroom.

What are star projectors?

Star projectors are cool lamps that cast images of stars and constellations against your wall and ceiling. Think science fair planetarium projectors—devices used to project images of the galaxy onto the dome of a planetarium.

These star projectors aren’t your regular bedroom decorations, either. They serve additional purposes, too:

• Star projectors can function as nightlights. They help kids who are afraid of the dark by providing a soft glow in the room.
• Star projectors can spark an interest in astronomy and science. They can be a jump-off point for discussing the science behind stars and the universe.
• Star projectors can help babies sleep at night. Their calm and relaxing effect can easily entertain a fussy baby, and since star projectors aren’t distractingly bright, babies won’t have a difficult time falling asleep.

Choosing a star projector

There are dozens of star projectors available online, and deciding which one to buy can be confusing. Here’s what you need to consider before checking out your cart:

1. The star projector should serve your needs.

Some star projectors have more fancy features than others. If you just need a nice nightlight, then you don’t have to get a projector with 360-degree movement or flashing colored lights.

There are also star projectors specifically made with babies in mind. For instance, the Playbees Baby Sound Machine and Star Projector Night Light automatically activate when it detects a crying baby. It projects a star field and plays soothing sounds (e.g., heartbeat, lullabies, etc.) when activated.

2. The star projector should be child safe and kid-friendly

Some star projectors are made as adult decorations and therefore don’t have the necessary features that make an item child safe. That’s well and good if you’re getting a star projector for your own bedroom, but if it’s for the kids, make sure the projector is RoHS compliant.

• Battery-operated star projectors should have special screws in place to prevent kids from getting into the battery compartment.
• As much as possible, buy star projectors from a trusted manufacturer. Knockoff products are often unsafe and unregulated. This is especially dangerous if the star projector is powered by electricity, as they may be more prone to short-circuiting.
• Get a star projector that has a built-in timer. Set the projector to shut down after an hour or two to prevent overheating.

Tips for decorating your room with star projectors

1. Place the star projector strategically.

Depending on the manufacturer, your star projector can be powerful enough to light up the whole room or only a portion of it. To maximize the use of your star projector, place it on a surface that will allow the projector to light up as much of the room as possible.

If your kids are under six years old, you should also place your projector in a place that the kids can’t reach. Younger kids are curious; they like putting things into their mouth—always a bad idea when an item is battery operated or electricity dependent.

2. Choose a color that complements your room.

Star projectors come in different LED colors and designs. Choose one that complements the kids’ room or can switch to different options!

For instance, the Le Petit Prince Twilight Constellation Galaxy Round Projector is a beautifully designed projector that comes with four color options: blue, orange, green, and auto color changing mode. Parent reviews recommend this because it’s designed with kids in mind, making it easy to operate.

3. Get a star projector with different projection options.

Some projectors have changeable projection disks, allowing you to switch up your nightly night sky as you wish. This is great for kids, as they feel like they’re allowed to make decisions regarding their bedtime. Siblings can also learn to compromise by taking turns in choosing the projection disk.

Star projectors are a great way to help kids relax at the end of a long day. With the right star projector, you can also pave the way for your kids to love all things stars and science. Win-win!

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