Some kid alarm clocks have a countdown timer for naps and time-outs, while others have animated faces that open their eyes when it’s time to rise and shine and shut their eyes when it’s time to sleep. Look for any extras that one model may have over another. Some models have a nine-minute snooze that gives kids a little more time to wipe the sleep out of their eyes and mentally prepare to start a new day. Keep your eye out for an alarm clock model that has a snooze button for older children and teens. Little ones can pick from the rain, white noise or ocean settings, which will run softly in the background. The LittleHippo Mella Ready to Rise Children’s Alarm Clock has a built-in sound machine with three different settings to choose from. Use an alarm clock that provides a little noise for children who can’t fall asleep in total quiet. This helps deter children from waking mom and dad up in the middle of the night. Some kid alarm clocks turn green just like a traffic light to let kids know it’s okay to get up and start the day. “Bonus points if that light has multiple color options and a color indicator that tells them when it is time to sleep and when it is time to get up.” “The best alarm clocks for toddlers have features like a built-in sound machine and nightlight,” Desmond says. Some clocks even come with a choice of night light colors, which is nice if your child has developed a favorite color. This will give the child a sense of security so that they are able to stay in bed until it’s time to start a new day. Select an alarm clock that has a built-in night light if your child is still a little afraid of the dark. There are models that remain simple and have a traditional look, units that are created in the shape of a friendly creature and clocks that come in the shape of a highly recognizable children’s toy, such as a Lego brick. Look for an alarm clock design that appeals to your child. When shopping for a child’s alarm clock, you’ll want to keep your child’s habits and age in mind.

Finally, you graduate to the other side of the sleep rainbow in which you are begging them to get up with threats of ‘you’re going to be late’ and bribes of ‘Captain Crunch is downstairs.'” “You then spend the next several years trying to get them to stay in their bed until it is an appropriate time (read: actual daytime) to get up. “You spend the first several years of your child’s life trying to get them to go to sleep,” she says. Alarm clocks are an excellent tool for teaching kids when they need to go to bed and when they need to wake up.Īlarm clocks are just one part of the often-humorous sleep timeline when it comes to kids, says our parenting and safe-sleep expert Kate Desmond. Sleep is so important for a child’s growth and development, but curious little ones don’t always want to go to sleep for fear of missing out on something older siblings or adults are doing.

Little red alarm clock