Just know that if your little one is younger than 3 years old, your main goal is simple: We just want to start showing them that when the light turns green, we start the day. You can start using color-changing clocks at any age. When should a toddler start using a clock? What age? # anchor If your wake-up range is between 6:30 and 7:00 am, then keep the light green for just a touch longer, so it's green when you go in to wake your child if they're not awake by 7:00 am. I love a wake-up range of about 30 minutes or so at this age. How long should the wake-up color stay on in the morning? # anchor
This helps get your toddler excited about using the clock and reinforces the process. The important thing is to acknowledge and praise them for their efforts. When your toddler follows the cues of the clock, praise them for it. Have them practice a few times so they feel comfortable with what the colors mean and understand your expectations. Show your child the different colors and what they should do when the clock changes colors. Don’t forget to show your toddler how the clock works. This will help reinforce what they are hearing from you as well. When your toddler sees the clock light on before bedtime or during their bedtime routine, they receive a visual cue from their clock that it’s time for bed. Consider turning the clock light to your “night” color before entering the room for bedtime. Just know that for a child who regularly wakes at 6:00 am, a clock that doesn’t turn on until 7:00 am is likely to cause frustration for you both. Now, if your little one already sleeps until 7:00 am regularly, it’s perfectly fine to set your clock to turn on at 7:00 am instead. If your child is waking before 6:00 am, my blog about Early Morning Wakings can help. Set the clock to turn on at 6:00 am or just a bit after so your toddler knows it’s “ok to wake” if they make it to this time. # anchorįor most young children, a natural and biologically appropriate wake time is between 6:00 and 7:00 am. Here are some of my best tips for setting up your toddler’s clock: Set the toddler clock to turn on at a realistic time. How do I use an OK-to-wake clock? # anchor Get your toddler involved and give them the opportunity to use their voice to make a decision in the new routine.
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If your color-changing clock allows you to pick the color, feel free to let your little one choose a color that makes sense to them. If the OK-to-wake clock allows it, we want to set the light setting to its dimmest effective brightness.įor wake-up time, green is the most commonly used color. If you do decide to use your color-changing clock as a night light, I recommend using red for nights because it is the least disruptive color for sleep.
If your child doesn’t need a night light, then there is no need to use it for bedtime or during sleep you can leave it turned "off" at night, while using for wake-up in the morning. Some color-changing or OK-to-wake clocks can also act as a night light. I'll hand you the tools you need to navigate sleep with your 2, 3, or 4-year-old so that your whole family can thrive What color should I use for my color-changing clock? # anchor If you need a more holistic, step-by-step plan for your toddler's sleep, check out my Toddler Sleep Training class. It’s also important to maintain a consistent bedtime routine to signal to your toddler that it’s time to get ready to go to bed. This will require you to be consistent in communicating your expectations and holding firm to boundaries for your toddler.
It will act as a visual tool and reminder to communicate expectations to your toddler for when it is or isn’t time to get out of bed. Toddlers thrive on routine and boundaries, so using an OK-to-wake clock can help in both these areas. Toddler clocks are not a standalone solution for early morning wakings, night sleep struggles, or bedtime battles, but they can be helpful! No matter the name, OK-to-wake clocks can be a helpful tool for toddler sleep. Let’s dive in! What is an OK-to-wake clock? # anchorĪn OK-to-wake clock is simply a clock that uses colors to visually cue your child’s brain that it’s time for sleep or it’s “ok to wake.” These clocks for little ones have several names: OK-to-wake clock, color-changing clock, sleep training clock, and toddler alarm clock, just to name a few.
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Toddler parents often wonder if they can use an OK-to-wake clock in their child’s bedroom, how to use it properly, and whether it will affect their toddler’s sleep.
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