Ever since Max moved from the moses basket in our room to a cot he has shared a room with his big brother. This has worked really well for us, and when Max moved from his cot to the bottom bunk it seemed to be the perfect solution space wise – we got rid of the cot, moved some toys into their room and made it a real boy heaven with an Avengers theme. They both slept well, going to bed at around 7pm and waking at 7am.
And then we sold our house, and have had to move in with my parents until our new build is ready. And the successful sleeping seemed to go out of the window a bit.
The boys are still sharing a room currently, and still will when we move into our new house. But at present their bunk beds are in storage and they are sleeping on the spare beds at my parents house – which is fine and works well for now, but it has obviously upset the boys a bit. They are not going to sleep so well at bedtime, and Max is getting up FAR too early for my liking. So we have staged a 2 pronged attack with the help of the Gro-Clock and the Gro-Light.
The Gro-Clock
Not just any clock, the Gro-Clock helps children to understand and recognise the difference between sleep time and getting up time. It can be set as a simple digital clock – ideal for older children who are learning about time – or just as a simple sun and star image. Simply activate the wake up time – 7am for us – and before that time the blue star will show. This means it is time for sleeping. When it gets to the wake up time you have chosen, the display will change to a yellow sun, meaning it is time to get up.
Top tip: If your child is used to waking at 6am, don’t set the clock for 8am and expect them to suddenly stay in bed for an extra 2 hours. Make it a slow and gradual thing, increasing the getting up time by 10-15 minutes every few days.
We have been using the Gro-Clock for a couple of weeks now, and it has become a vital part of our bedtime routine. We head upstairs for a story before bed – the Gro-Clock comes with a lovely little book called ‘Sleepy Farm’ which actually features the Gro-Clock and gently explains the difference between night and day – and as soon as the clock display changes to the blue star Max knows it is time to settle down in bed. It has definitely helped with settling him at bedtime. As for the mornings, it has been a slow process – but by gradually increasing the time we expect him to stay in bed we have managed to get him from a 6am wake up to a 6.30am wake up – which is HUGE progress in a couple of weeks. Eventually, I hope we can aim for a 7am wake up time! Now I just need to teach Eliza about lie-ins and we are winning…
In conjunction with the Gro-Clock there is a reward chart you can use, to encourage that routine a little bit further and teach children what you expect from them. Feel free to download and use this yourself 
The Gro-Light
As well as using the Gro-Clock, we have been trying out the brand new, and very clever, Gro-Light. A simple piece of kit that fits over your usual bedside lamp or overhead light, this light offers a soft glow when you flick the switch. You can use it as a nightlight, or for night feeds with a small baby – we have 2 of these Gro-Lights and have been using them for both purposes.
As a feeding light it is perfect. It doesn’t wake Eliza up too much, which means I can dream feed quietly and gently and pop her straight back into bed. It also doesn’t wake Kevin up, so if he has work in the morning it means we don’t disturb him.
As a night light it is also perfect. I think the house move has unsettled Jacob – he would usually sleep without a light, but now asks for a light to be left on in his bedroom. A standard lamp is just too bright and wakes Max up. The Gro-Light is such a soft blue light that offers enough light for reassurance without being stimulating. It is also ideal if your child needs to get up in the night to go to the toilet – it is just enough for them to see where they are going without needing the main light on.
The really clever bit comes when you need your main light on during the evening or dark days. A simple flip of the light switch will pop the Gro-Light nightlight on. Another flick of the switch turns the Gro-Light off and the main light on! No need to remove it when you need a standard light on.
As with all Gro products, these are well thought out, practical, easy to use and designed with children and parents in mind. We will continue to use both the Gro-Clock and the Gro-Light for many years to come, and I cannot recommend them highly enough. They are must have items for any nursery or childs bedroom.
The Gro Clock came in handy here, great way of getting the kids to stay in bed a little while longer 🙂 the light seems rather useful too #triedtested
chantelle Hazelden recently posted…My Top 5 TV Series To Watch
These are such a good idea and really worked for us. It makes it so much easier for young children to understand when it’s time to get up!
#triedtested
Catherine recently posted…Ten Spooky Skeletons by Patricia Hegarty, Annette Rusling & Garry Parsons
Love the Gro Clock it was really useful for us too.
And I like the idea of being able to have the two settings on the light, lovely products.
Thanks for hosting 🙂 x
We have a gro-clock. At the moment we just use it as a night light as we co-sleep, but hopefully when our girls start to spend the whole night in their own we’ll use it to help with wake up times. #TriedandTested
Emily aka Twin Mummy recently posted…Eleven Things Tag
What a fantastic idea! My kids would have loved something like this when they were younger.
Elizabeth recently posted…Fethaland
We have a gro clock too and my son loves it – he really enjoys pressing the buttons to set it, just before bed #triedtested
I have seen so many positive reviews of the Gro Clock. Thankfully our children were always good sleepers, but if they were early risers I would have definitely got a Gro Clock. Love the idea of the Gro Light too. What a fantastic idea x
Tracey Williams recently posted…Wagamama opens at The Trafford Centre
We LOVE the Gro-clock. My son is an earlier rise (4am sometimes) so this has helped. For us the clock worked better when we turned the blue light off.
Adventures of Adam recently posted…Halloween Tuff Spot Tuesday
I’ve heard such good things about the Gro Clock, we’ve never had cause to use one but I’ve noted it for the future #TriedTested
Boo Roo and Tigger Too recently posted…Say It With Bears {Review}
We’re probably one of the only people the gro clock hasn’t really worked for. When he was younger he would just fiddle with it until the yellow came on! Now he knows he’s meant to stay in bed until it turns yellow…but tells me he’s waited until 1 start. He does stay in bed with some books which is good, I just need him in til yellow.
The theory’s good, but never rely on it if you’ve a fiddler (or if you sleep through them getting up and therefore can’t get them back to bed – oops that’s me!)
Emma T recently posted…Living Arrows 2015 week 42 – superhero
I love the idea of the Gro light, I could have done with it in the early days when I was up feeding during the night while hubster slept to prepare for work the next day. I love the extra details that Gro add like the reward chart for the Groclock (our Grobag came with a room thermometer)
Faye
#triedtested
I’ve heard so many good things about this clock, I am lucky in that Athena doesn’t wake too early and now the mornings are getting darker its even better, but I know that soon this could change so a gro clock would be the answer! Great review 🙂
Lauren | Belle du brighton recently posted…Baby Loves: Jinglers from Ambi Toys
I’ve thought about the GroClock, Mini M has always been an early riser. I do wonder if he’s a little young for it at the moment though
mummymelton recently posted…Smiffy’s Halloween Outfit – Review
This was great with my eldest, not so good with middle man when he pulled it out to show me it was a moon! Worth a try tho! #triedtested
Louise (perry) fairweather recently posted…Meringue Bones
Great review. I’ve been lucky so far that my little one isn’t an early riser but have heard great things about the GroClock. #Tried&tested
We have both of these – I haven’t found the clock very useful but the bulb is great #triedtested
Mummy Fever recently posted…Family-friendly days out: part ten
Sibling bedroom sharing isn’t and never has gone smoothly for us – this could be worth a go I think! #TriedTested
Crummy Mummy recently posted…10 signs your baby is a weanager
We have the Gro-clock and it’s worked really well for us although my little monkey did discover that if he presses the buttons enough times it goes yellow anyway!! #triedtested
Elaine @ Entertaining Elliot recently posted…Andy & The Odd Socks Album Review and Q&A’s
Ah we have both of these, they’re fab. In fact, everything that Gro does is so well thought out and essential. We’re reviewing the Grobed at the moment and its brilliant! So simple but so effective x x
ghostwritermummy recently posted…Elsie Rose is 10/11 months old
Love the idea of the Gro clock.