Don’t start using the Gro Clock too early
Your ten-month-old may be waking up at 4:30 a.m. every day but they are too young to understand the Gro Clock. Some parents report using it successfully with an 18-month-old, but most say two is around the right age to start.
Before you use the Gro Clock, teach your child about the sun and the stars
For children to understand the Gro Clock, they have to understand that at night, the sun goes away, the stars come out, and that’s when we sleep. In the morning, the sun comes back, and that’s when we’re allowed to wake up. Work this info into conversations each day in the weeks before you buy or begin using the Gro Clock.
Explain the Gro Clock to your Child
The Gro Clock comes with a book you can read to your kid to help them understand (and get excited about) how it works. It also has a demo feature, which allows you to practice using it before actually using it.
Change your Childs wake-up time slowly
If your child is waking up daily at an ungodly hour (we’re looking at you, 4:30 a.m.) and you’ve purchased a Gro Clock to solve this problem, you might be temped to set the clock’s sun to appear at 6:30 a.m. on the very first morning.
On the first night, set the clock’s sun to rise for the time your kid usually wakes up—even if it’s ridiculously early.
After that, increase the time by five or 10 minutes every morning. If you can be patient, stick with five.
Be consistent with the rules you set out
You’re teaching your child that they have to stay quiet in bed (ideally asleep, but quiet is better than nothing) until Mr. Sun wakes up. But if they don’t—for example, if you hear him yelling for you—try not to go immediately into their room!
Don’t expect the Gro Clock to work miracles
It’s a cliché, but it’s true: Every child is different. Some will simply never pay attention to the Gro Clock. In other cases, it works beautifully at first—then, suddenly, it stops working. Like every parenting tool, it probably won’t work miracles, but hopefully it helps, even a little.