Looking for the best Okay to Wake Clock to encourage your child to sleep a little later? Check out our list of the top 5 Okay to Wake Clocks on the market.
If your toddler is waking up too early in the morning or struggling with middle-of-the-night wakings, then an okay to wake clock can do wonders for their sleep.
I’m a huge fan of okay to wake clocks for young children because it helps them understand when it’s time for sleep and when it’s time to start the day.
Keep reading to learn more about why you may want to use an okay to wake clock for your child and see some of my favorite toddler alarm clocks on the market.
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In A Nutshell
I have tested multiple okay to wake clocks and my favorite one continues to be the Hatch Rest. It is the most customizable and the easiest one to use. The app feature makes it the best option when your toddler is waking up too early and you need to create new habits.
It is on the pricier end, but I think it’s so worth it for its functionality and ease of use.
What is An Okay to Wake Clock?
An okay to wake clock or a toddler alarm clock is a clock that has a color-changing light or sound feature that turns on at a designated time to let young kids know when it’s time to wake up for the day.
Young children have no concept of time, so a concrete visual of when it’s time to sleep and when it’s okay to wake up can be extremely helpful for them.
What Age Should You Start Using An Okay to Wake Clock?
You can introduce a toddler alarm clock around 2 to 3 years old, or right before you prepare to make the crib to toddler bed transition.
It can be helpful to introduce the toddler alarm clock while your baby is still sleeping in a crib so they get used to seeing the light move from red to green while waiting for you to get them in the morning.
If you try to introduce it much younger, your baby may not quite grasp the concept.
Do Okay to Wake Clocks Work?
Okay to wake clocks absolutely work. Young kids have no concept of time, so giving them a concrete way to know when it’s time to wake up can be extremely helpful.
I have helped lots of toddler and preschooler parents introduce an okay to wake clock and establish healthy sleep boundaries with their children.
How to Choose the Best Okay to Wake Clock
When picking out a toddler alarm clock, there are a few factors to consider.
First is the age of your child. Some clocks are designed specifically for young children, while others are more appropriate for older children.
You’ll also want to consider the features of the clock. Some clocks offer additional functions, such as night lights or white noise, which can be helpful in creating a calm and relaxing sleep environment.
Features to Look for in a Toddler Alarm Clock
Here are some of the features included in various okay to wake clocks. Note that not all of the okay to wake clocks have all of these features:
- Okay to rise light
- Sound machine
- Digital clock
- Nightlight
- Play period
- Additional alarm sound
- App to program and customize
Okay to Wake Clock Colors
One mistake I see parents making frequently is letting their kids choose the color that the light will be at night time.
The best color for sleeping is red or amber tones. When using an okay to rise clock, make sure to set it for warm colors such as red or orange at night.
Blue or cool-toned colors can actually inhibit the production of Melatonin and interfere with sleep.
I recommend letting your child choose the color for their wake up time instead. You can also do green for go for when it’s time to wakeup for the day.
Best Okay to Wake Clocks
Here is our breakdown of the 5 best okay to wake clocks.
Hatch Rest
We have had the Hatch Rest for more than 3 years now in our daughter’s room and I love this thing so much! It pulls triple duty as an okay to rise clock, sound machine, and night light all in one.
There are multiple color and sound options available. Make sure to stick with red or orange colors during sleep time, as those are the best for sleep.
Now that our daughter is older, we let her choose her wakeup color (purple), which also gives her some autonomy.
I love that I can control everything via the app on my phone. If we have a late night, I can adjust her light to turn on a little later the next morning in hopes that she’ll sleep in.
The Hatch also has a toddler lock on it, so older kids can’t adjust the light or color on their own. Once your program is “locked” there’s no changing it unless you’re using the app.
You can also pre-program favorite color and light combos in advance and easily turn those on by gently tapping the top of the Hatch.
We had an issue with the Hatch at one point and their support team replaced it no questions asked.
The only qualm I have and have heard with the Hatch is the quality of some of the sounds. Their white noise isn’t nearly as soothing as other sound machines I’ve tested. But my daughter doesn’t seem too mind, so neither do I.
They have the Hatch Rest and the Rest Plus, and while the Rest Plus has a few additional features, I think the Hatch Rest does the trick!
YogaSleep Light to Rise
You guys know I am a huge fan of all the YogaSleep sound machines.
I have loved and used their classic Dohm sound machine for years. So I was beyond excited to see that they had an okay to wake clock at a much lower price point than the Hatch.
This okay to wake clock includes 30 different sounds, including the signature Dohm sound, adjustable night light color, sleep timer, and okay to rise function that can be setup in advance.
My biggest complaint with the Hatch are the sounds, so I’m beyond excited that this has the classic Dohm sound and all the similar features of the popular toddler alarm clock.
The YogaSleep Light to Rise did just launch in Feb 2023, so there aren’t many reviews online for it yet. I did get one to test and can tell you that it works very similarly to the Hatch, but without the app or WiFi connection.
I know some parents prefer a toddler alarm clock without WiFi connection, so this is a great choice.
It has a digital clock on it, multiple white-noise sound options that are so soothing, a red night light, and the okay to wake light feature.
While I didn’t find it as easy-to-use as the Hatch, it still offers similar features and is a great option for those looking for a toddler alarm clock without a WiFi connection.
Mella Toddler Alarm Clock
The Mella is the cutest little okay to wake clock there is, while being packed with plenty of features.
It has a digital clock on the front as well as a little face that goes to sleep and wakes up when it’s time for your child to wake up.
It also has a red nightlight feature for sleep time, a yellow light color that turns on 30 minutes before the designated wake up time so your child knows morning time is soon, and a green light indicating that it’s time for your child to start their day.
It also has an alarm clock sound, three sound machine options, and additional light options.
The main difference in the Mella than some of the other options on this list is the “play” feature. Thirty minutes before your designated wakeup time, the clock turns yellow indicating to your child that they can wake up and quietly play.
Some parents love this, including parents with special needs kids who are working on independence, while other parents wish this feature was adjustable.
I was gifted a Mella and personally found this light simple enough to use, but still prefer the ease and customization of the Hatch.
Okay to Wake! Alarm Clock and Night Light
This okay to wake clock is one of the more budget-friendly options there is and it gets the job done.
This adorable clock is in a cute green design that kids will love. It includes a digital clock, light to show that it’s wakeup time, and nightlight function.
The biggest selling point for this clock is the lower price point and the fact that it operates on batteries. This makes traveling with your toddler much easier.
You can bring this okay to wake clock with you and not have to worry about plugging it in, or even use it when you might not have outlets around. (Perfect for camping!).
If you’re looking for a simple, no-frills okay to wake clock that does the trick, this may be the perfect one for you.
Remi
The Remi okay to wake clock by UrbanHello has a similar design and features to the Hatch Rest with a few additional upgrades that make this okay to wake clock particularly cool.
“Remi” is the clock’s name and while Remi is sleeping, your child should be sleeping. Remi goes to sleep and wakes up based on the predetermined time you setup. The simple sleep and awake faces make this clock super simple for even young kids to understand.
What sets this toddler alarm clock apart from others on this list is that it also doubles as a two-way audio baby monitor. You can listen to your child and also talk directly to them via the app on your phone.
If you hear your child trying to get out of their bed, you can gently remind them to stay in bed without having to get out of bed yourself.
It also has an unlimited range. So if you’re on a date night, you can still pop in and tell your baby or toddler goodnight.
The Remi is a little on the pricier end, but it has so many features that I think it’s well worth it!
Tips for Using an Okay to Wake Clock
Once you’ve chosen which okay to wake clock is best for your family, make sure to involve your toddler in setting up the clock and talking to them about how it works and how it will help them know when it’s time for sleep and when it’s time for them to start their day.
Set up the Clock
Set up the clock well in advance of bedtime. Get familiar with it before you plan on using it as part of your child’s bedtime routine. You can introduce your child to the clock as you set it up during the day.
Introduce the Clock to Your Toddler
Make sure to get your child involved in this process. If your toddler alarm clock is coming in the mail, let them open the package and get excited about it.
If you’re going to purchase one at a store, take them with you and let them hold onto it in the cart. Kids love to have autonomy over things, so give it to them!
Unbox the okay to wake clock at home and explain to your child how it will be used. Then you can go into role playing with them using the clock.
Role Play Using the Clock
After you’ve introduced your child to the clock, it’s time to role play!
Have your child pretend to be asleep, see the clock and that it’s not time to wakeup yet, and have them pretend to go back to sleep. Then, switch roles and you do the same.
Start Small
If your toddler has been struggling with waking up too early, start small.
Say your child has been waking up at 5:30 a.m. every morning, set the clock for 5:35 a.m. that first day as the wakeup time. You want your child to get quick wins so they can really stick with it.
Each day you can move the time up 5 to 10 minutes until you reach your new desired wakeup time.
Be extremely consistent with the clock, even on the weekends. If you let your child come out one time when the clock is still “sleeping,” you better believe they’ll never forget it.
With time and consistency, your child will learn to look at the clock upon waking up to see if it’s time to start their day.
Finally, make sure to offer lots of positive reinforcement when your child follows the clock and stays in their room until it’s time to wake up!
Solve your Toddler Sleep Troubles
Grab my Toddler Sleep Training Guide to help you with your toddler’s sleep. Get your toddler out of your bed and into their own using the most effective sleep training techniques for toddlers and big kids. This guide also includes tips and tricks for tackling toddler’s sleep. Get it here.
My goal is to help tired parents get sleep, so the whole family can thrive!
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