Gro-clock/lights on timer: success stories and support here! #2

[*Ali*]

We got a book with it that had a story to read LO about a pig who stayed up all night and was too tired to have fun with the other animals so they bought him a Groclock. My DS2 was younger than that and seemed to get the idea easily after a short time using it. I hope your LO will too.

[*Becky*]

yes we have the same book!

[pgibb]

Hi I've been using a Gro clock for nearly 2 weeks now since my lo has now started waking early,she's happy to accept its not morning but she will not go back to sleep,she calls as soon as its 'morning' so I'm sure she just lies there watching the clock so not sure if we would have more chance her going back to sleep without it there!xx

[*Ali*]

Are you sure she isn't just not tired enough? Do you know how long she is lying there waiting for the sun?

[pgibb]

This morning she was awake after just over 10 hours sleep + she doesn't nap anymore either she was having 12-12.5 hrs sleep so I'm sure she must still need it. Im gna try for a nap today tho as she seems tired. I'm thinking it could be a development thing shes going through at mo.x

[*Ali*]

Maybe.  What time is wu and bt? Have you tried really early bedtime? When we dropped the nap at 30mo with ds1 I had to have him in bed by 10.5hrs after wakeup.

Is she an independent sleeper?

[bluebell568]

How can I explain to my very sharp, observant, intelligent 33 month old the difference between the real sun coming up and the sun on the grow clock coming up? When I tell her it isn't time to get up yet because the sun isn't up she quite rightly points out that it is light outside so the sun is up. She has a blackout blind and curtains but she can lift them up or just open her bedroom door and see the light from the landing window. She just ignores the gro clock now and insists she is getting up.

[barbaraz78]

I did explain my DS the reality, keeping it as simple as possible: that during summer days are longer than in  winter, but we all need to get the same amount of sleep to do all the beautiful things that we do every day (playing, reading, running, etc). So we cannot use the sun outside to know when it is time to get up. For this, he has a "private" sun that tells him when it is time to get up.

[creations]

Very similar to Barbara, I explained we need enough sleep so we can play well and have lots of fun ...and so that Mummy isn't grumpy

[ZacsMumme]

Very similar to Barbara, I explained we need enough sleep so we can play well and have lots of fun ...and so that Mummy isn't grumpy

Same as Barbara and creations.

When Z started this 'it's light outside - it's daytime' I would say morning is when you wake and feel refreshed and had enough sleep so you can play and be happy all day. If you don't get your sleep you will feel grumpy and tired and need to go to bed earlier.

We introduced a gro clock a month or two ago and Z took to it so well even at 3.5 yrs! He has great pleasure telling. Me 'the sun is up!' Every morning I set it early to start with and shifted the day a little so that he wasn't waiting unreasonable lengths of time, and also had a sticker reward chart to encourage him to stay in bed initially.

[Jaxsta81]

Morning all! Yes it's 5.22am so as you can guess that I'm joining the gang!

Son is 2yrs 2 months old an just bought his gro clock as he's a regular 5am waker and I only even want 6am. First trial this morning - he's currently screaming and crying in his room even though I've gone in a few times and given him toys and books to read in his bed. Bless him, I keep on saying "we can't get up until the sun is up" and he says through his tears "ok mummy!". I'm going to go in shortly and put the sun up early (which was set for 6am) and get him up and make a fuss.  I'm hopeful if I do this a few times he'll understand the message and stay quiet even if he is awake until 6am?

Any tips?

[*Ali*]

I wouldn't set it for 6am straight off. I'd set it for 10-15 mins after he usually wakes and then gradually set it later by 5-10 mins every couple days. Otherwise he will just get bored and frustrated and it is less likely to work. If he is screaming and crying I would definitely go in or at least speak with him through the door.

Do you think his routine is the best it could be?

[Jaxsta81]

Well I can't see how else to change his routine (suggestions welcomed though) he is up at 5am, nap at 1pm (at childminder's only about 30mins, at home can nap earlier and for 2hrs, could go longer but I cap it) and then in bed at 6.45pm. It was 7.30pm but I've moved it forward as I thought OT might be playing a part.

Ok so I'll set it for 5.20am tomorrow and see how we go. Urgh, exhausting.

[*Ali*]

Yes it's hard when they can't keep to a similar routine several times a week due to childminder or activities etc.

The other thing you could try is wake to sleep about 4am.

[Jaxsta81]

Well I forgot to mention we still have 1-3 NWs thrown in too so I've never done wake to sleep cos he has interrupted sleep already!

Perhaps it's all just OT. So hard to fix though when he's short napping mon-fri.