Talk to me about Gro Clocks. Do they really work?

[practicallyimperfect]

Ds is 22 months. Quite bad sleeper, but main problem is very early waking, usually around 4.30-4.45am. We have tried everything suggested with no or limited success.

We have been recommended a Geo clock type thing by a friend. Her dd was older when she used it though. He has very good understanding, but only two words, so finds communicating hard.

Has anyone had any success with them? Do you think he is too young to understand?

[antfroggirl]

We used ours from 18 months when ds pretty much couldn't say anything and it did work - I think he got the whole star and sun thing. But i lent it to my friend and it didn't work on her dd who is almost 2 (and not speaking much either). Could you borrow it off your friend and try before you buy? They are horribly expensive imo especially if they don't work! Mind you not starting the day at 4am is priceless.

[Iggly]

I think he'll be too young if he's like my DS TBH.

DS was recently an early riser but is much better if he goes to bed early, his room is completely blacked out and he gets decent naps in the day.

[rookiemater]

We have one but didn't introduce it until DS was about 3. It works well provided you don't expect miracles i.e. at the weekend I set it for 7.30- 7.40 rather than 7.10, any later and DS just appears at our bedside anyway.

[ziptoes]

Worked a treat for about 2 weeks until DS worked out how to undo the child lock and started changing the times himself. Grrrr.

If you have a socket that's out of reach (we didn't) could you buy one of those timers you buy to confuse burglars when you go on holiday? The ones that plug into the socket and then you plug your lamp into it.

[practicallyimperfect]

Thanks. Iggly we have tried everything else- earlier bedtime, later bedtime, shorter naps, differently timed naps. He has a blackout blind and curtains- but he has been doing this since winter, so it isn't the sun!

I might ask around see if I can borrow one first. I have already spent a fortune on sleep books, don't want more wasted money.

[Iggly]

I hope it works for you! DS took a while to stop the early wake ups - it's bloody soul destroying!!!!

[Munzle]

worked really well for a friend of ours who had an early waker. do it gradually, i.e. set it for 5am for a few days, then 5.15 for a few more etc until you get to a reasonable hour. Don't expect overnight miracles. We use it just to keep 3yo quietly in room until 7pm. Just a thought - early wakings always, always, always means overtired with both of my DCs. Does he nap well?

[Bumperlicioso]

Maybe a little young. We had to kickstart ours with a sticker chart to get the message. Agree with the poster who said just get a timer, and some fairy lights or a nightlight.

[practicallyimperfect]

Yeah he naps well. He would nap for 2.5 hours in day if allowed to and some days 3 hrs! But these days mean earlier wake ups. At the moment he has 2 hours 12-2pm.

I will try nightlight idea. Not sure how to explain it to him. Might just have to wait. Argh. I have been part time this year (teacher) but starting full time again in September, it is going to kill me!

[Iggly]

Can you give him a morning power nap? DS needs that even now and he's nearly 21 months. I usually take him for run about at about 9 then he sleeps in the pushchair on the way home for 20 mins. Only on my days off - the other three days he's knackered and usually quite unsettled as a result.

[ceebeegeebies]

IME it completely depends on how 'biddable' the child is tbh.

DS1 had one at 26 months (just before DS2 was born) and it only ever worked intermittently - if he was awake and wanted to come into see us, he would do and didn't really care if the clock was 'awake' (and no amount of star charts etc would persuade him otherwise). He is now nearly 5 and pretty much does obey it but it has taken him until recently to do so.

DS2 went through a phase of waking at 5.30ish at 2.5ish so we bought him a Night Garden one - this was about 2 months ago and he happily stays in bed until it 'wakes' up without any problems and on the very odd occasion he has tried to come to our bedroom before the set time, we send him back and he goes back into his bedroom and stays there until it is time. Not needed star charts or bribery....he just 'obeys' the clock.

In fact, both Ds's share a room and have their own clock - and they are difficult to set properly so the clocks don't wake up at the exact same time and it is not unheard of for DS2 to stay in bed cos his clock hasn't 'woken' up whereas DS1's has and he is messing about in our bedroom

But this is the difference between DS1 and DS2 - DS2 is very biddable whereas DS1 is a pain in the bum a more free spirit

[practicallyimperfect]

If he has even 10mins any time after 10am he will.not sleep at lunch time. I have tried splitting his nap, having it earlier etc.

I am at the point of considering a sleep consultant. Or a tv in his room. When we do get up he happily watches cbeebies for an hour, as he isn't really ready to get up,.just isn't tired enough to go back to sleep.

[MissTinaTeaspoon]

A cheaper alternative would be to do as a few people have suggested and plug a lamp into a timer. We've used that system with one of those nightlights that gently spin an image since dd was quite young (ours is Elmer the elephant from jojomamanbebe). I can't remember what age we started using it but I'm sure by 2. It works well - the first thing we hear in the morning is a click then excited shouts of 'elmer's on!' then footsteps!

[ceebeegeebies]

Not sure this is good 'parenting' practice but do you have a tv in your room? Could you put cbeebies on there and let him lounge around in your bed watching it whilst you get to lie there and doze for a bit - that is not unheard of in this house

[LadyC32]

We have glow in the dark clock a little like the Gro one for our DD (27mnths) - worked for first week or so - set to glow at 6.45. Then has lost it's impact.. D'oh. But we're having success with the Bed Fairy, who wrote to DD saying if she stayed in her bed and quiet she'd bring a gift next day. This morning she managed it and was left a little animal in the fairy's bag. Am hoping tomorrow she'll do same. But we will keep the rewards small 'n cheap, don't want to make a rod for our backs! Maybe worth a try?