If you have a toddler and you’re struggling with early wakings, you’ve probably had someone suggest that you get an okay to wake clock! I find that people fall into 1 of 2 camps when they talk about these tools. They either swear by them and think they are the greatest invention OR they dislike them because the okay to wake clock “didn’t work.” But can I tell you a secret? Those in the second camp often feel like the clocks don’t work because they aren’t using them correctly.

As someone in camp 1 who is obsessed with my okay to wake clock, I put together step by step instructions for exactly how to use an okay to wake clock so that it works for you as any sleep tool should. Keep reading to learn how to teach your toddler to stay in their room until their clock light turns on and it’s actually wake up time.