Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Has anyone got a good alarm clock for heavy sleepers?

30 replies

StefanosHill · 22/09/2023 08:22

Particularly someone in university halls, I’m not sure how loud is acceptable so might need shaking part

OP posts:
BitOutOfPractice · 22/09/2023 08:27

What about a fit bit / Apple Watch / something similar that vibrates on the wrist.

OnAFrolicOfMyOwn · 22/09/2023 08:59

My Pure Siesta Rise DAB has three alarms and you can set the volume differently for each - a heavy sleeper could set them in succession to give a fail-safe.

saltnsaucey · 22/09/2023 09:09

Those wind up alarm clocks with the two bells on top would wake the dead ime

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Home improvement
BodegaSushi · 22/09/2023 10:01

I have 3 phone alarms go off in 15 minute intervals, the final one being the most dramatic (like a siren).

Then have my Alexa alarm set simultaneously with the final phone alarm, which switches on the lights (smart bulbs) and plays a news briefing at a decent volume 😬

It works the majority of the time

BlackCatsAreBrilliant · 22/09/2023 10:11

I was going to suggest a cat, but then saw it's for university halls.

I go for multiple alarms at intervals, positioned so I need to get out of bed to switch them off.

Although the DC can sleep through even those.

BlowDryRat · 22/09/2023 10:16

I have a sunrise alarm clock that gradually brightens the room, then turns on the radio when it's time to get up. I could also have an alarm sound but find that I don't need it.

I've slept through earthquakes, an explosion and two sets of burglars so consider myself quite a heavy sleeper!

Tessisme · 22/09/2023 10:31

I'm following here for ideas too. DS1 is terrible at getting to sleep and even worse at waking up. I do realise there's a connection here! But he sets the alarm on his phone and it wakens ME - on a different floor at the other side of the house - but not him. I realise this makes our house sound enormous, but it's just a converted bungalow😄 I am considering battering him over the head with said phone, but I don't think he'd notice. If he misses his bus in the morning, I have to drive him to school as there's no public bus service between our house and the school.

OnAFrolicOfMyOwn · 22/09/2023 10:33

BlowDryRat · 22/09/2023 10:16

I have a sunrise alarm clock that gradually brightens the room, then turns on the radio when it's time to get up. I could also have an alarm sound but find that I don't need it.

I've slept through earthquakes, an explosion and two sets of burglars so consider myself quite a heavy sleeper!

I have a sunrise clock too, but it's only effective for the part of the year where it isn't naturally light an hour or so before I need to get up.

GangOfNineteenWuds · 22/09/2023 10:34

Sunrise alarm clock here too, our room is almost completely blackout so summer or winter the light from the clock gently warms from a sunrise to a bright interrogation light right in my face. I also have an alarm on my phone.

Original poster
StefanosHill · 22/09/2023 16:24

Thanks for recommendations

Ds says ‘he’ll be fine’

But has rarely been woken by his iPhone alarm. I want to get him something but he’s got to use it or it’s a waste

OP posts:
GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 22/09/2023 17:00

An old-fashioned mechanical one, that you wind up, is much louder than any electronic device. Best to put it on the other side of the room, not beside the bed, so that whoever has to get out of bed to turn it off.

MardyMcBlowdry · 22/09/2023 22:09

This one covers all bases.
Geemarc Sonic Bomb - Extra Loud Alarm Clock with Tone and Volume Control, Bed Shaker and Snooze Function https://amzn.eu/d/hPlVLUs

NotHooray · 22/09/2023 22:16

I used to have one that was like a clock base with a rocket which you slotted on top. When the alarm went off it would count down 5 - 1 and then the rocket would ping off and land on the other side of the room and the alarm wouldn't stop until you slotted the rocket back on top of the alarm clock base. It was horrible but it worked!

Neighneigh · 22/09/2023 22:21

I can lend you my six year old if yours needs to wake up at 5.50am on the dot every day?

BigSwigs · 22/09/2023 22:24

There are apps where you have to do something to turn it off, shake it 50x, solve a maths puzzle, take a photo of the kettle etc. Alarmy is one.

Lonecatwithkitten · 22/09/2023 22:28

I'll lend you my cat nothing gets you out of bed that the sound of a cat reaching.

Nat6999 · 23/09/2023 03:18

I'm a heavy sleeper due to the medication I take, I use a smart watch to wake me up, it vibrates & sounds an alarm. I have everything on the loudest setting.

BarbaraofSeville · 23/09/2023 04:50

BigSwigs · 22/09/2023 22:24

There are apps where you have to do something to turn it off, shake it 50x, solve a maths puzzle, take a photo of the kettle etc. Alarmy is one.

Fucking hell that sounds annoying. I don't normally use an alarm clock, because my bladder and the cats are more than enough, but for any time that I absolutely have to be up at a certain time, I use my phone and the standard 'touch and swipe exactly the right way' is hard enough.

But tbh, I'd leave him to it. He says he'll be fine and now he knows its down to him to get up (because it's likely it's lounging in bed, not sleeping through the alarm that's the problem) he probably will, or suffer the consequences of missed lectures etc.

Original poster
StefanosHill · 23/09/2023 17:01

That app sounds crazy

I got a cheapo £10 mechanical one

The others look good but on balance not wanting to waste money made the £10 seem the best bet

OP posts:
manticlimactic0 · 24/09/2023 22:28

Tessisme · 22/09/2023 10:31

I'm following here for ideas too. DS1 is terrible at getting to sleep and even worse at waking up. I do realise there's a connection here! But he sets the alarm on his phone and it wakens ME - on a different floor at the other side of the house - but not him. I realise this makes our house sound enormous, but it's just a converted bungalow😄 I am considering battering him over the head with said phone, but I don't think he'd notice. If he misses his bus in the morning, I have to drive him to school as there's no public bus service between our house and the school.

I got my daughter an alarm wuth a vibrating pad that went under her mattress. It woke me up as well but I had to get up anyway.

Also if she was late up and missed the bus she had to walk, I didn't drive at the time. She only walked once in the wind and rain

S910441 · 24/09/2023 22:32

Gosh, all these heavy sleepers. I wake up if a fly coughs in the next room. That is not a boast; it's bloody annoying.

S910441 · 24/09/2023 22:33

Lonecatwithkitten · 22/09/2023 22:28

I'll lend you my cat nothing gets you out of bed that the sound of a cat reaching.

Reaching for what?

JockTamsonsBairns · 24/09/2023 23:14

I've got a Sonic Bomb. It's a really horrible way to wake up, but very effective all the same.

Freddiefox · 24/09/2023 23:20

I think he has to stop
snoozing, because he’s teaching his body to not get up. Try less snoozing, but more intense and regular alarms, so ten mins of alarm every 2 mins, is better then an alarm every 15 mins for an hour

Freddiefox · 24/09/2023 23:21

Also try leaving the blind up say a 1/4 to let light in and tell your body to get up,
now it’s darker try a lumie, although I get up and turn it off and go back to sleep - all very unaware at the time