XP: Recommend your "light" alarm clock for toddlers

mb314

We've finally sleep trained DS (using the Sleep Lady Shuffle) - he no longer sleeps in our bed 1/2 the night, and doesn't need to be rocked to sleep.  YAY for us.  Anyway, the downside is that DS is waking up between 4:45 and 5:30 am, and does not go back to sleep for more than 10 to 15 minutes at a stretch.  It's killing me (I'm 32 weeks pregnant, and miss that last 1 to 1.5 hours of sleep I'm losing).  I would like to try one of those light alarm clocks - one where the light comes on when it's time to get up, but there's a no sound option so if DS is still sleeping, it doesn't wake him up.   The clocks I've seen on Amazon seem to have mixed reviews - so....recommend one that you've used (if you've used one).

Thanks!

jesstellina

We like ours: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003D7KV0Q/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1535523722&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B00EAHSBV4&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1ARV25FSJ06J52WEZ9W4 Also available at Barnes and Noble.

Smh619

I actually came on here looking for sleep advice. Our 2 year old son first woke up at 5:30, hen 5, now it's 4:30. My husband and I are concerned what will happen when we turn the clocks back..3:30?!?! Does this light alarm clock train them to sleep until it goes on?

mb314

@smh619 I have heard that these light alarm clocks are supposed to help toddlers recognize when it is time to get up.  From what I've read (mainly in the Sleep Lady's book), it doesn't always train them to sleep longer, but it helps them understand that if they wake up and the light's not on, it is not time to get up yet.  Many kids will play quietly in their bed or rest, even if they're not sleeping.  It's supposed to at least help you sleep longer! 

PregoPuma

I tried the Tot Clock I believe it's called.  Great clock while it worked. Problem is it only worked for a couple months (my toddler was carrying it around so maybe it's not that 'toddler proof').  Right out of the return policy with Amazon it broke so I couldn't return it.  And it was 50-60 bucks I think.  Maybe I'll try the one recommended by the other poster above!

aglenn

We use this stop light timer.  We had the bunny clock first but it broke really quickly and was a PITA to set the time on.  The stop light works so well that I bought an extra one for DS.  You can use it in a variety of ways (like for time out, or homework time in the future, etc.).  You set a countdown timer and the red light is on until the time is up, when it switches to green.  Both kids know that "when the light is red you stay in bed."

It does have a sound alarm if you want to use that, but we don't.

https://www.amazon.com/BeeZeeKids-Stoplight-Golight-Timer/dp/B004HSL79O/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1410364285&sr=8-3&keywords=stop+light+timer

JENandJEH

jesstellina said:

We like ours: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003D7KV0Q/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1535523722&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B00EAHSBV4&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1ARV25FSJ06J52WEZ9W4 Also available at Barnes and Noble.

We have this one for DS1 and he's been using it since he turned 3.  When we moved him from the crib to a twin bed, we got this because he's always been an early riser.  It has never helped him to sleep longer but he stays in his room playing quietly until it turns green.  Very happy with the quality and it's still working just like it did out of the box when we bought it.  

We actually found ours at a store called Bargain Hunt (kind of like a Big Lots or Tuesday Morning) for $12.  I would happily pay what Amazon is charging though because it's held up really well and I'm sure we'll be able to use it for DS2 once we move him to a twin bed.

Leap08

Both of my girls have this one: https://www.amazon.com/Wake-With-Night-Light-Music-Timer/dp/B0044D0HA2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410366536&sr=8-1&keywords=owl+wake+up+clock

It's an owl that they carry to bed with them. When you press it's tummy, it plays music and it says one of three phrases - at night it says "go back to sleep now", within an hour of the light going off, it says "it's not time to get up yet" and within 10 or 15 minutes it says "just a little bit longer". It also has a timer you can set for naps.

Both of the girls love their owls. They know they need to stay in bed until the owl turns green and they usually are pretty good about it. Sometimes my 2 year old needs to be reminded to go back to bed until the owl is green, but that doesn't happen often. We also use a sticker chart to reward her for waiting in bed until the owl is green and the two work really well together. 

mb314

Thanks!  I ordered the Onaroo Ok to Wake Alarm, and hope it comes by this weekend so we can start working on it. 

Follow up Question - did you guys use it for naps too?  DS is in daycare Monday - Friday, and I'm not sure if I should use it for naps on the weekend when he's home for consistency. He sometimes only naps an hour and can use more time. 

Leap08

mb314 said:

Thanks!  I ordered the Onaroo Ok to Wake Alarm, and hope it comes by this weekend so we can start working on it. 

Follow up Question - did you guys use it for naps too?  DS is in daycare Monday - Friday, and I'm not sure if I should use it for naps on the weekend when he's home for consistency. He sometimes only naps an hour and can use more time. 

I don't use ours for naps on weekends. I don't really think it would help my daughter get anymore sleep. It would just keep her in her room for awhile longer.

JENandJEH

We don't use it for naps because I didn't want to keep resetting it multiple times a day.  

frasey

we tried a few of them but didn't like anything. I did NOT want something that stayed on all night like a nightlight. We eventually went to Walmart and bought an outlet timer and a basic night light. Boom. Works perfectly!

shakinros

mb314 said:

Thanks!  I ordered the Onaroo Ok to Wake Alarm, and hope it comes by this weekend so we can start working on it. 

Follow up Question - did you guys use it for naps too?  DS is in daycare Monday - Friday, and I'm not sure if I should use it for naps on the weekend when he's home for consistency. He sometimes only naps an hour and can use more time. 

This is the one we have. I love it! My 2yo caught on very quickly. She still wakes up at 530 some mornings but just rolls around and sings to herself until it turns green at 630. I've even heard her say through the monitor "clock geen? No, it's not geen" and then get quiet again. Lol. 630 on the dot and she'll immediately start up with "moooooommyyyyy"

We don't use it for naps. I just don't want to go to the trouble of resetting it. She seems pretty confused though when I go in after nap. Guess she's still waiting for the clock to turn green!