The Best Sleep Training Clocks: Do They Work?

The Sleepy Cub Blog
6 min readOct 15, 2021

Keep your child asleep at bedtime with soothing sounds or lullabies with the help of these 5 sleep training clocks.

Is your toddler waking up earlier than usual asking for you? You have tried using blackout curtains and white noise sound machines, but nothing seems to work for your little early riser.

These problems are common for parents, and it can be hard to know what to do.

Here’s an idea:

Try using a sleep training clock.

This article will explore sleep training clocks and their effectiveness. Stay tuned until the end, where we’ll look at the top five sleep training clocks that you should try.

What is a sleep training clock?

Sleep training clocks, also called okay-to-wake clocks, are little devices that usually feature an audio player or white noise machine, nightlight, as well as a physical clock. The calming nightlight can help keep toddlers in bed and fall asleep faster. What’s more, they also help toddlers stay in bed the following day until a reasonable hour.

How do they work? Just pair the sleep training clock with your smartphone or tablet, and you are ready to go!

Thanks to the sleep training clock, babies will eventually learn to soothe themselves to sleep and will therefore not have to cry for their parents at night. For babies who have problems sleeping through the night, a sleep training clock can be a life-saver.

Why do children wake up early?

Many parents wonder why their child wakes up early and if they are to blame.

Some believe that their child is sleepwalking or a ‘bad sleeper.’

Others believe that their child is suffering from a real sleep disorder, such as sleep apnea.

It’s important to remember that, for many children, waking up early is a common issue that can be traced back to their poor bedtime habits.

Despite the variety of sleep issues that might arise, the best overall practice is to have your child sleep between 7.30 pm and 8.30 am; following a consistent bedtime routine can also help with your child’s sleeping issues.

Many parents have found that sleep training can do wonders in teaching your little one how to self-soothe and develop healthy sleep habits.

Do sleep training clocks work?

According to experts, sleep training clocks are really effective at teaching your baby healthy sleep habits. These clocks are so effective because they set expectations, and toddlers thrive with rules and clarity.

However, don’t expect that the clocks can perform a miracle. For instance, let’s say your little one is waking up at 5 am. Setting the clock at 7 am won’t help your toddler wake up at a much later time. But if your child usually wakes up at 5:30, setting the clock for 6 am can do the trick.

Another thing to keep in mind is that there’s no point in using the clock if your child is not ready for it. The ideal age for a sleep training clock is somewhere between the age of two and three. Your child has to understand the concept of time in order for him to follow the rules.

What is the best sleep training clock: 5 clocks to try

Some parents don’t consider sleep training clocks a must-have, but they’re a good way to help teach children how to stay in bed. They are also a good tool for parents who like to avoid sleep deprivation.

A few sleep training clocks that we recommend for toddlers and young children include:

Hatch Rest+ Time-To-Rise Clock

My favorite feature about this product is that I can control everything through my phone. If I’m in a different room in the house, but I want the nursery to play birds chirping for the baby, I can do that through my phone.

Amazon review

That’s how one parent describes the sleep training clock.

The Hatch Rest+ clock works as an alarm clock, a night light, sound machine, and audio baby monitor. The best thing is that you can control all these functions by Alexa using the app on your smartphone.

My Tot Clock

Parents, you MUST buy this clock! What sets the tot clock apart? It is the only product I could find that has a separate customizable setting for nap time. People, this is worth ten times the price!

Amazon review

One of the best features of the My Tot Clock is that it comes with five different colors. For example, blue signifies bedtime, yellow wake-up time, and green is for fun. It also plays bedtime stories, lullabies, wake-up music, and white noise. If you want to teach your toddler how to tell the time, you’ll be glad to hear the clock comes with dual analog and digital displays.

Mirari OK to Wake! Alarm Clock & Night Light

This product has saved my life. My daughter (22 months) has been a terrible sleeper since birth. Even when she started sleeping more steadily, she would wake up at 4AM. I looked up ideas online to get her to stay in her crib for longer, and I found this! I’m not even joking, it took her about a week to understand what the light meant, and now she stays asleep until 5:30 when I have the light set for.

Amazon review

If you’re looking for a simpler sleep training clock, this might be the one for you. It lights up green when it’s time to go to sleep and yellow to help your child fall asleep. It can also be used as a nap timer, an alarm clock, a digital clock, and a nightlight. Heck, it even displays animations when you press on the monster’s shoes.

LittleHippo Mella Children’s Sleep Trainer, Nightlight and Sound Machine

Bought it for our 2.5-year-old who would wake [us] up with “MOMMY! DAAADDDY!” “ I WANT SOME MILK!” and then climb over the baby gate and come poke me in the face. This doesn’t happen any longer!

Amazon review

This sleep training clock is probably one of the best-looking clocks on our list. And it’s also the one that comes PACKED with functions. The clock uses colors and facial expressions to show your child when it’s time to go to sleep and when to get out of bed. There’s also a nightlight that shines in six different colors, as well as soothing sounds like white noise and lullabies.

Skip Hop Dream & Shine Sleep Trainer

Listen to me…..my son has been an awful sleeper since the time he was born. I was at my wit’s end. My last nerve. The end of my rope. I can’t believe I can finally get a full night’s sleep. Before bed, we get into PJs, read a couple of books and I lay next to him for about 10–15 minutes, talk about our day and look at the stars on the projector and he’s out!!!!! And doesn’t wake up until 6 -7am.

Amazon review

Here’s another sleep training clock that works as a multifunctional device. It acts as a sleep trainer, nightlight, soother, and alarm clock. It lights up in red to tell your child it’s bedtime and green when it’s time to wake up. There are several sound options, such as white noise, rain, and lullaby.

Final word

This article aims to create more knowledge on these important issues, especially for parents who are new to the parenting scene and are looking for a different way of approaching these challenging tasks. Hopefully, you now know a great deal more about these sleep training clocks that parents seem to love. Choose the one that fits your budget and needs, and start training your little ones to stay in bed longer.

Good luck!

If you feel like you’re not making some good progress with sleep training your baby, consider hiring a sleep consultant to take an in-depth look at your baby’s sleep history and help you with this. An experienced sleep trainer can make the process easier for both the parent and the child. Connect with us today and get a personalized plan for your baby. We’ll be there to guide you every step of the way.

Originally published at https://thesleepycub.us.

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The Sleepy Cub Blog

Getting your child on a healthy sleep schedule. Personalized sleep training for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers.