Best Kids Alarm Clocks In 2022
It’s safe to assume that most kids have not yet realized that sleep is pretty good. Even if you don’t have kids of your own, you’re no doubt well aware from either anecdotes supplied by your despairing friends or fond memories of your own hell-raising early years, that children can be difficult to get sleep and keep them asleep. Luckily for parents and carers everywhere, we’ve put together a list of the best kids alarm clock to help make going to sleep and waking up a little less of a battle and a little more fun.
These alarm clocks represent a whole new generation of proper sleep schedules. They take advantage of the greatest aspects of modern technology and instead of giving us ridiculous photo and voice filters and a platform for silly people to say silly things, tries to do a little good for a change. Companies have designed them to promote proper sleep through fun, music, challenges, and characters that won’t just catch kids’ eyes, but keep their attention to.
If your kids have trouble waking up – or staying in bed before you’re ready – now’s the time to invest in an alarm clock, so hold off on hitting that snooze button and come with us.
The Best Kids Alarm Clock
1LittleHippo Mella Ready to Rise Kids Alarm Clock
The LittleHippo Mella Ready to Rise Alarm Clock is our pick for the best kids alarm clock available right now. It comes complete with a variety of colors and facial expressions that help you teach kids when it’s time to bed and when it’s okay for them to wake up and play. This includes 3 sleep sound alarms and 5 night light colors that help to ease the child off to slumberland and a fun little clock face that is simple to read day and night.
Mella is both easy to set up and use, and the sleep trainer function is great for gently bringing the child out of sleep instead of yanking them from it with a typical alarm buzzer. While its primary purpose is for toddlers, you can also et use from it once your kid graduates from 12-hour to 24-hour time by just changing the settings once they get to that level.
As with any aspect of parenting, though, you can’t expect it to solve all your problems, and you’ll still need to encourage your kids to listen to Mella, at least for the first few weeks. That being said, this is an all-in-one sleep gadget that combines the effectiveness of alarm clocks with the magic of modern technology to make falling to sleep and waking up the most comfortable part of the day. Be sure to also check out our guide to the best desk clocks for more cool products like this.
Colorful facial expressions
Teaches kids when to go to bed and when to wake up
Grows with your child
All-in-one sleep gadget
Durable, safe construction
Three alarm sounds
12 and 24 hour function
- BrandLittleHippo
- ModelKHAC
- Weight8 ounces
2Hatch Rest+ Baby Sound Machine/Kids Alarm Clock
Instead of having a battle when it’s sleep time, teach your child to self-soothe and go to sleep on time with the Hatch Rest+ Baby Sound Machine. This neat little device has a sweet and soothing collection of sounds including lullabies and white noise all designed to lull your child gently to sleep.
Set your kid’s alarm clock for naps, night time bedtime and the perfect time to rise in the morning to teach your little one better sleeping patterns without fuss. The LED clock can help them tell the time so they understand when it is time for them to snooze and to give them a little reassurance, this kids alarm clock can also be connected to your smartphone so you can check-in and communicate via the two way audio monitor. This kid’s alarm clock can be personalized with light colors and special sounds so your child feels that they are in control and independent. Start those good sleeping habits early and watch your precious little ones thrive.
Sound machine & toddler sleep trainer
Choose soothing sounds, lullabies, etc
Set programs to cue kids’ sleep routine
Two-way audio monitor
LED clock aids in teaching time
Gentle & reassuring night light in different colors
- BrandHatch Baby
- Weight1.12 pounds
3It’s About Time Stoplight Sleep Enhancing Kids Alarm Clock
Cute and cuddly Elmo is here to help you teach your toddler using the colored lights of a stoplight. It’s About Time Stoplight Sleep Enhancing Alarm Clock for Kids, Elmo’s Bedtime features the adored Sesame Street character and a beautifully bright stoplight to help your child learn and adapt to a healthy sleep routine.
The stoplight is easy for kids to learn. A red light means sleep time and it stays on all night so that if your child wakes up, they understand that this light means they need to stay in bed. The green light lets junior know it’s time to get out of bed. This kid’s alarm clock also features an option beeping alarm for those that need a little extra nudge to rise. Not forgetting the yellow light, this can be used as an optional nightlight for kids who need a little glow in the dark reassurance. Created by sleep-deprived mothers, this is a beautiful and fun way to instill good sleeping habits in young children.
Sleep enhancing alarm clock with stoplight
Digital clock and optional beeping alarm
Uses proven learning technique
Light colors indicate sleep or awake time
Battery function as back up power source
Features Sesame Street’s Elmo
- BrandIt’s About Time
- ModelIAT 108
- Weight1.5 pounds
4Anmones Kids Alarm Clock
If you’re looking for something with personality and cuteness coming out of its ears, the Anmones Kids Alarm Clock is an excellent choice for your bunny loving child. It is available in three colors so you can find the perfect6 one to match their room, while the safe ABS material makes it okay for them to handle should they feel like playing with it as long as they don’t break it!
It’s a multifunctional alarm clock that can do just about anything you want it to do. The alarm clock function is complemented by the night light that helps ease any fears of the dark and also gives them something to read their book or do their homework by should they need an extra half an hour in the evening.
With five ringtones, your child can pick whichever sound is their favorite but they can also change it if they tire of hearing the same thing every morning. The touchscreen features also make it easy to use and save accidental button presses that could alter settings without you knowing what has happened.
You can set dual alarms for different days of the week or alternative wake up times, which minimizes how much you need to fiddle and adjust the clock, while the dual time format helps to teach younger kids the time so they’re confident wherever they are. It sits comfortably on the nightstand, but you can also place it on its back, hang it from the wall, or attach it to the refrigerator if you’re looking for a cute kitchen timer.
3 colors
Cute bunny shape
Safe ABS material
Multifunctional
Multiple placement options
Dual alarm settings
Dual time format display modes
- BrandAnmones
- Weight7.7 ounces
5Betus Non-Ticking Robot Kids Alarm Clock
The Betus Non-Ticking Robot Alarm Clock doesn’t give you the fancy-pants futurism of our previous picks but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth looking at. Once your kid has progressed from waking up and ungodly hours and realized that long in bed is sometimes a good thing, they might appreciate having an alarm clock that fits their interests.
As far as boys alarm clocks go, there are few cooler than this happy little guy. The no-tick feature is great for light sleepers, while the flashing lights are a fun way to wake up, and will quickly halt any morning grumps. The clock face is also easy to read, and the alarm is loud enough to disturb slumbers, but not too loud that it’ll irritate the whole neighborhood.
As a bonus, it doubles as a cool decoration for their room, even when they grow out of it, which is great news for you, meaning it won’t go to waste. Besides, your kid may like it so much they’ll want to keep it well into adulthood, and we can see why. Even if you don’t have kids, this little robot should still be welcome in your home. Make sure you also check our selection of the best alarm clocks for adults.
No-tick feature is perfect for light sleepers
Easy to set up with two adjustable knobs on the back
Doubles as a great decoration for kids’ room
Easy to read clock face for kids learning to tell the time
1-Year replacement warranty
- BrandBetus
- ModelB0722RWN2C
- Weight12 ounces
6Learning Resources Tock The Learning Kids Alarm Clock
Tock the Learning Clock from Learning Resources is a colorful and fun addition to any toddler or Kindergarten-aged kids’ bedroom. This happy little character provides both analog and digital displays, helping your child learn how to read both times which work together to ensure there’s no confusion for young learners. To get their brains working, Tock comes with a challenge by asking them to match the analog hands to the digital display with the unique Question Mode.
It’s not all tests and quizzes, though, Tock also offers a Musical Fun mode that rewards kids with a dance to help get them energized for the day ahead. Along with this, there’s an OK to Wake light, teaching your kid when it’s okay to wake mom and dad up to join in the dance party.
Wholly educational, functional, and effective for what may come across as a mere novelty for some, Tock is an attractive option for parents of younger kids that makes for a great bedroom decoration and teaches them to learn the basics of telling the time and staying in bed in the best way possible – by letting them have fun.
Both analog and digital displays introduce kids to both systems
Musical fun mode rewards kids with a dance
Question mode challenges kids to match hands with digital display
OK to Wake light tells kids when it’s good to wake up
Suitable for ages 3 and above
- BrandLearning Resources
- ModelLER2385
- Weight1.29 pounds
7Lego DC Comics Super Heroes Minifigure Light Up Kids Alarm Clock
In a time where you can’t go a day without spotting superhero-related merchandise, it’s no surprise that Lego has released this DC Comics Superhero Minifigure Light Up Alarm Clock. Available in a variety of your kid’s favorite heroes – from Wonder Woman to Batman – it’s the perfect alarm clock for boys and a great alarm clock for girls, too. This itself speaks to Lego’s wide-ranging appeal and is sure to be a hit in bedrooms across the country.
Looking just like the classic minifigures found in awesome Lego sets, only much bigger, this alarm clock comes with moveable arms and legs while the body features a large, clear digital display which features the set alarm time in the bottom corner for at-a-glance reading. This alarm comes with snooze functions for lazy weekends and summer days, and it also has a light-up display to convince your kid to get out of bed even when they don’t want to.
An excellent addition to the bedroom of any Lego or DC fan, this Minifigure Alarm Clock may not save the world on its own, but it can inspire the heroes of tomorrow to get up and get at it.
Large, clear digital display
Moveable arms and legs
Alarm and snooze functions with light up display
Multiple characters available including Wonder Woman and Batman
Alarm time displayed under current time
- BrandLEGO
- Model9009877
- Weight1.19 pounds
8PiLife Mini Non-Ticking Vintage Classic Kids Alarm Clock
The PiLife Mini Non-Ticking Vintage Classic Analog is a timeless bedside alarm clock for kids and adults alike that can serve your brood well from kindergarten to high school and even well into adulthood. It can appeal to both light and heavy sleepers alike, offering no-tick functions to ease you to sleep but also a loud – but not too loud – alarm to help drag them out of the bed in the morning.
There’s also an easy-to-read light up function, which is great for those drab winter months but it’s not too bright to blind your kid and ruin their sleepiness if they wake up in the dead of night. The retro design means it’ll suit any decor, too and never feel out of style, so it might even inspire your kid to find out what was so great about your youth.
For the price, it’s probably the best kids alarm clock if you’re looking for reliable, long lasting value. It may not come with all the gadgets and gizmos of more modern clocks, but it wouldn’t be anywhere near as charming or versatile if it did. Simplicity is, in this case, superior.
Loud ringing mode for heavy sleepers
No-tick function doesn’t distract at night
Easy to use and set up on the back of the clock
Light up function for easy reading in low light
Retro style inspires kids and teens
- BrandPILIFE
- ModelB06XW27GTZ
- Weight7.4 ounces
9Lego Star Wars Kids Alarm Clock
Not to sound too biased, but it almost feels like Lego have cornered the cool alarm clock market and doesn’t look like relinquishing this hold. This time, the Lego Star Wars Alarm Clock is the focus, and it offers much of the same as the DC Comics version, only featuring the best characters from the rejuvenated space epic that happened a long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.
The iconic Stormtrooper character heads this range of kids alarm clocks and while these guys may not be respected for accurate shooting, they can provide accurate timekeeping with a large display which lights up. Along with this, there’s a reliable alarm and snooze functions to keep your kid organized, and hopefully preventing you from nagging them too much to get ready. We won’t hold our breath on that one though.
The moveable arms and legs provide a little more fun for the child, allowing them to shift and pose them how they like: sitting, standing, saluting, or however they please. If your kid loves Lego (and honestly, who doesn’t?) but prefers the vast expanses of space battles to the simplicity of fighting crime on Earth, then this is the perfect pick to keep guard over them and their dreams.
Iconic Star Wars Stormtrooper character
Easy to read digital LCD display
Alarm and snooze functions
Light up display
Moveable arms and legs
- BrandLEGO
- Model9002137
- Weight1.13 pounds
10Mirari OK to Wake! Kids Alarm Clock & Night Light
If you’re looking for a children’s alarm clock for teaching them the fundamentals of good sleep habits, then the Mirari OK to Wake! Alarm Clock and Night Light is a slightly cheaper but no less effective option. It comes with color-changing lights, which encourage kids to stay in bed longer and provides a variety of functions including Nap Time and fun toe buttons. These not only give your kid (and you) a rest but also engages their imagination like few other alarm clocks.
As parents or carers, you can customize both brightness and time with hidden controls on the back – just don’t let the kids find them, or they could wake you up at 3AM. It works best with younger kids, especially those around the 36 month age, but its design also promotes independence once your kid is old enough.
For anyone who is frequently stirred from their much-needed rest far too often on weekends (or even during the week), the Mirari OK to Wake! is the solution you never thought existed. It doesn’t offer as much as the Mella, but for a simplified and cheaper option, it does just enough for a great night’s sleep for the whole house. You may also be interested in some of the best wake up lights from our list, so check them out.
Color changing light
Encourages kids to stay in bed longer
Customizable brightness
Hidden controls
Separate Nap Time function
Toe button design
Provides independence for children
- BrandMirari
- ModelDP8091Z
- Weight8 ounces
11JALL Wake Up Light Sunrise Alarm Clock
The JALL Wake Up Light Sunrise Alarm Clock is a slightly more grown-up alarm clock. It’s perfect for kids that are getting a little older or need to wake up slowly (we know how groggy they can be in the morning). It’s designed to help kids wake up naturally using a natural light simulation. The brightness increases from 10% to 100% in half an hour, slowly bringing them out of deep sleep. Waking up like this will prepare them for the day.
You can choose from seven different color options, so you can find one that matches the color of their room. Plus, as they get older, they can program the alarm to turn the radio on when they wake up. It works as a nightlight as well as an alarm clock, with 20 different brightness levels. If you’re looking for an alarm clock that will suit them for years, this is the one to choose.
Gradually increases brightness
Seven natural sounds
Set up multiple alarms
20 adjustable brightness levels
FM radio
- BrandJALL
- ModelACA-002-B
- Weight1.1 pounds
12I-CODE Time-to-Wake Alarm Clock
The I-CODE Time-to-Wake Alarm Clock is perfect for young kids. It’s designed to help them develop better sleeping habits and make them happier and healthier. It uses emojis and colors to teach your kids when it’s time to sleep, time to wake up, and time to get out of bed. The red face means sleep, the yellow means wake up, and the green means get up. This is a simple and effective way of developing healthy sleep patterns.
In addition to the color and emojis, it has 17 different sounds built-in for better sleep. Ambient sound often helps young children fall to sleep, so you can experiment with sounds like ‘heartbeat’ and ‘rain’ until you find one that works.
Different colors and faces
Develops healthy sleeping patterns
Sleep timer
17 sleep sounds
12/24 hour format
- BrandI-Code
- Weight1.15 pounds
Kids Alarm Clock Buying Guide & FAQs
How We Choose Our Selection Of Best Kids Alarm Clocks
If we had a time machine, we’d have purchased all these clocks and gone back to when we were wee nippers to test them out ourselves. We don’t have one, though (not that we’d tell you if we did, anyway), so instead we did it the more ‘professional’ and less fun way.
Functions and Features - Putting the fun in Functions, kids alarm clocks are full of sweet features that make them much more than simple clocks on the bedside table. We knew the clocks needed to come with alarms, and it was even better if they are backlit. Along with these features, there needed to be an easy-to-read display, and also have straightforward settings for either the parents or the kid.
These were the most basic features, though, and if there were any products that caught our eye by doing something a little different from what we’d seen before then we were happy to include it. This includes funky lighting, Bluetooth connectivity, and sleep tracking.
However, we also understand that flashy doesn’t always mean good and so we also looked for the more modest, traditional but still cool options to include for those who have kids who may have outgrown Lego, don’t want a yellow robot staring at them as they sleep, and don’t need telling when it’s okay to get out of bed.
Every kid hits that stage when they’re too cool for what they perceive as toys, so a stripped down, minimalist option is always welcome here.
Reviews - Looking at reviews was a massive help in figuring out which alarm clocks are best for your kids. The only problem was that unlike other Buying Guides aimed at adults, we’re sure the kids didn‘t have too much iput in writing the reviews.
This isn’t a massive problem, and we’ve encountered bigger issues during our time as your favorite website, in fact, it may have even helped us. These reviews were at least coherent, they were at least (mostly) honest, and they gave us insight into what other parents could look out for when searching for a new alarm clock. Really, parents reviewing on behalf of their kids was the perfect result.
Age Range - You might think a kids alarm clock is a kids alarm clock, and that’s that, but that sounds suspiciously like the talk of someone who doesn’t know kids well, and definitely sounds like the talk of someone who has none themselves. They’re a weird breed, kids, they swap allegiances quicker than The Big Show, and you can never quite tell what will pique their interest, especially as they grow up.
Knowing this, we thought about the age range of the alarm clocks in our selection. Some options had obvious demographics whereas other could appeal to anywhere between 3 and 13 - and even older sometimes. Considering this, we tried to find as wide an age range as possible to ensure we covered all bases from cradle to that age where they think they’re the coolest cat on the playground and you’re just some loser who drives them to school.
Quality - It sucks when you buy a product and then find out it’s nothing more than some expensive garbage as soon as you take it out the box. To prevent this happening to you and your kid, we search high and low for only the best quality alarm clocks we could find. Sure, we could have found you something cheaper, something unknown, something that seems too good to be true, but we’re confident that would mean you’d be returning your item and losing trust in us quicker than you hit the snooze button.
We want to ensure we only recommend the highest quality products to you, and so we look for recognizable brands, excellent reviews, and product information we know we can trust and we’re sure you can trust, too.
Price - You’d be surprised at how much money kids alarm clocks can cost, this is true of both the options for a boys and girls alarm clock. We know that everyone has a different budget, so we didn’t want to make anyone feel like they’re missing out. To achieve this, we looked for a wide range of prices that ensured no one gets the short end of the stick.
This means that whatever your budget demands (or how much you’re willing to pay for an alarm clock) you’ll be able to buy it. Sure, more expensive options may be slightly cooler than others, but not really. Besides, it’s the thought that counts, and if you’re just trying to promote your kid to get out of bed on time, you don’t need a fancy alarm, you need something that’ll wake them up and keep them up.
Kids Alarm Clock FAQs
Q: Why Would I Need A Kids Specific Alarm Clock?
A: Assuming you’re and adult reading this, you don’t need a kids specific alarm clock. However, you may have a child, a young relative, or family friend who is becoming a little nuisance at night and in the morning. A kids’ specific alarm clock may do much similar to what an average, boring adult alarm clock does, but it adds a bit of flair and fun to it, as well. Here are five reasons you should invest in one, for your kids’ benefit and your own.
They’re Fun
Kids are a very picky bunch, and they haven’t yet learned that sometimes you need to pretend to be enjoying yourself to save someone else’s feelings. This means that if you want them to enjoy anything at all, it has to be fun for them.
It’s challenging enough to get kids to go to sleep at night and then stay asleep (or at least in bed) in the morning, especially on weekends. What kids alarm clocks do is transform these often losing battles into something they can enjoy. They make games out of the most mundane things, such as staying in bed until a set time, which may not fool us, but kids lap this stuff up, particularly if you promise rewards.
They’re Educational
It’s always a fine line between fun and too much fun that could risk defeating the whole purpose, but kids alarm clocks come with a variety of educational purposes. The most obvious is that they can help teach kids to tell the time, but it stretches further than that. Some alarm clocks will help kids differentiate between analog and digital, while others can be used in active play, encouraging kids to use their imagination as they learn.
Another way of educating kids is by teaching them boundaries and how to behave. While some kids may find the staying in bed games enjoyable, others could find them challenging, and it could help them in following directions. If you purchase an alarm clock that uses a popular character such as Batman, Wonder Woman, or Darth Vader, they may be more inclined to follow these fictional character’s instructions than your own.
They’re Different
How boring would it be if everybody had the same alarm clock with the same alarm set to the same time every day? Sure, it’d be cool at first in a ‘Wow we have the same thing? Awesome!’ kind of way, but we believe this would get old fast.
It’s a good job that there’s a wide variety of alarm clocks for kids available. Unlike adults who don’t really care what accessories they have as long as they work, kids prefer to have something a little more exciting. Instead of a boring old clock face, kids are amazed by the colors, sounds, and additional decorations that many alarm clocks offer.
There’s also the benefit of using recognizable characters from Star Wars, Marvel, DC, or even just a simple Lego brick. These recognizable triggers make the alarm clock much more exciting, and instead of watching a dull, monotonous ticking of a clock, they’re engaged with their favorite characters as they drift off to sleep.
They’re Soothing
Some kids may have trouble sleeping, especially when first moving out of your room and into their own. This is perfectly natural and is something that many kids deal with. To help kids get over this initial change, the best kids alarm clocks come with soothing sounds and lights to help them forget their troubles and go to sleep.
This can include everything from a selection of lullabies to white noise while there are also alarm clocks you can program to play your kid's favorite song to either send them to sleep or wake them up. However, if there’s a song your kid is passionate about, we suggest you do this at your own peril, unless you want the Peppa Pig introduction stuck in your head for the rest of your days.
Alarm clocks with wake up lights are also useful in reminding kids that there’s still plenty of time to sleep, which is helpful if they’ve not yet learned to tell the time as well as they soon will. This prevents sleepless nights and grumpy kids, which is a win for everybody involved.
They Aren’t Just for Kids
Well, they are, but they’re also very much for mom and dad, too. Alarm clocks that teach kids to go to bed and stay in bed - especially on those groggy Sunday mornings after a night that may have gotten out of hand - might just be the technological equivalent of angels descending from on high. Having kids can be stressful enough as it is, and while we’re sure you love your brood with all your heart, we won’t judge you for admitting you need a break occasionally.
What better way to make this dream a reality than by investing in an alarm clock that eliminates early morning noise and tantrums and instead gives everybody the chance to be well-rested and eager to take on and smash the day ahead of you. This means you’re happy, your kid is happy, the pets are happy, everyone is happy, and you can enjoy your day full of energy and do all the things you really want to do as a family, which is the most important thing.
Sources
- Seven Top Tips to Stop your Child from Waking Up So Early - Essential Parent
- Sleep Issues: Calling Out and Getting Up - Raising Children Network
- 10 Tips for Helping your Child Fall to Sleep - Parents