Mary Graham

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how I make my kids stay in bed until 7:41 every morning

Around Christmas, my kids got together and decided 5:30-6:00 would be the best time to get up every morning.

This was not acceptable to me, my husband, or the dog. We all need our beauty sleep (especially those two princesses Chris and Blue) and it was causing us all great distress (to put it mildly). I had heard through the parent-grapevine that Amazon sold these kid clocks that light up red or green depending on whether the child should still be in bed or it was time to get up. Great idea for little kids who don’t know how to tell time or read numbers yet.

So I did some research and found some I thought would work. The only problems were that they were way too expensive (although I was willing to pay for one anyway because, um, sleep) and they were all pretty ugly. I didn’t want this juvenile, primary color alarm clock thing in my daughters’ room. I wanted it to match the aesthetic of their room and not be an eye sore.

Enter the random wall light and appliance timer solution.

child alarm clock

Let me start off by saying this isn’t my idea. I belong to a local mom’s social group (theCityMoms) and someone suggested this and I pretty much thought it was the greatest idea of all time so I’m sharing it in case you need a cheap and easy way to keep your kids in bed, too. I guess the picture above is deceiving because “until I want them up” would be around 10:00 every day. This is not that magical. But keep them in bed until 7:30 or 8:00? Totally realistic.

child alarm clock 0child alarm clock 2

We picked up the small heart light at Target. I didn’t want a lamp because on the off chance they’re actually still sleeping when the light comes on, I didn’t want it waking them up. (A girl can always hope, right?) The light was less than $15 (similar light here) (or a stoplight option) and we picked up the cheapest, low-frills appliance timer they carried. It was around $5. (similar one here)

Then it was as simple as mounting the light on the wall, setting the timer, and plugging it in. That next morning, Harper got out of bed too early so we gently led her back and told her not to come out until the light was on. She cried, but stayed in bed. Since then, it’s worked like a charm. Occasionally the girls will get up and use the bathroom, but they go right back to their beds and wait until the light comes on.

But you know exactly when it is 7:41 because they both stampede out the door, yelling “The heart is on! The heart is on!” at the top of their lungs. It’s a rude little wake-up call if there ever was one. But it’s so much better than the 5:45 that it was a few months ago. Best.idea.ever.

 

DISCLOSURE: AFFILIATE LINKS USED.
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Comments

  1. The Domestic Fringe says

    April 28, 2014 at 7:25 am

    Ok, you’re crazy smart. I wish I had done this with my kids!!!! What a great idea.

    Reply
    • mary says

      April 28, 2014 at 11:12 am

      I take no credit, it’s too smart even for me! HA! 🙂

      Reply
  2. Christie says

    April 28, 2014 at 10:34 am

    There’s no telling what time Moriah really wakes up! I had seen a few posts about writing the number of the time you wanted them to get up and covering the minutes with it so that they could see what when the hour hand said “8” they could match it to the “8” over the minutes and they would know it was time to get up. It seemed a little advanced for her, so I haven’t tried anything.

    But THIS – this is perfect!! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • mary says

      April 28, 2014 at 11:14 am

      My youngest has no number sense whatsoever, so that wouldn’t work at our house either. BUT when the light turns on? So easy. Good luck, I hope it gets you a little extra sleep in the mornings! 😉

      Reply
  3. Sam says

    April 28, 2014 at 8:47 pm

    I’m so glad it worked for you! My kids did the same thing in the morning, so the rousing cries of “my lamp is on!” became our alarm clock. 🙂

    Reply
  4. Vickie Gilman says

    April 29, 2014 at 5:31 am

    You are amazing! Love all your ideas!

    Reply
    • mary says

      April 29, 2014 at 1:27 pm

      You’re too much…but if you start doing this, let me know if it works for you! It could be life-changing! ha!

      Reply
  5. Ann-Marie says

    April 30, 2014 at 8:35 pm

    What a smart idea!

    Reply
    • mary says

      May 2, 2014 at 12:52 pm

      Thanks, Ann-Marie!

      Reply
  6. Angie S. says

    May 2, 2014 at 9:04 am

    I love it when an idea is brilliant and beautiful! We use the “Ok to Wake” clock for our son, but I’m definitely passing this idea on to friends.

    Reply
    • mary says

      May 2, 2014 at 12:52 pm

      Thanks, Angie! I think that’s one of the clocks I looked at originally, glad it’s working for you!

      Reply

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