MELLA Ready to Rise clock
When I find a parent hack or product that is a game-changer in the parent-hood, I have to share the love.
I used to feel so exasperated when packing my toddler up for a sleepover. If I wanted the night to go smoothly, it meant that my little one’s routine needed to be consistent. So into the backpack went the night light, the sound machine, the baby monitor, the tooth brush … you get the idea. It took forever to pack up the pieces of the nighttime routine, nevermind untangling the cords once we actually got to Grandma’s house. Cue my saving grace: the MELLA Ready to Rise clock.
The MELLA is a sleep trainer/sound machine/night light/nap timer/alarm clock that communicates when it is time to sleep and when it is time to wake.
Now, while this product definitely won’t brush your child’s teeth, it is incredibly intentional in the functions available and the simplicity of its use. Little Hippo is a family-founded company that makes children’s electronic products that support sleep, and the MELLA Ready to Rise clock is their most popular product.
Here is why I love the MELLA clock and would recommend investing in one for your family:
It is an INCREDIBLE tool for parents of toddlers 18 months and up.
The dim glow acts as a night light, reducing anxiety for toddlers around bedtime
The friendly facial expressions help toddlers feel like they are not alone
Parents save money buying one affordable, efficient product, over 4-5 different devices.
It is all-in-one, so packing for sleepovers and naps on the go become so much easier!
It functions as a white noise machine.
It functions as a nightlight.
It also includes an alarm clock and nap timer.
It speaks the language of the child.
MELLA has friendly and sleepy facial expressions to show your toddler when it is time to sleep and when it is time to wake. It glows in three colours that communicate sleep (red), play (yellow), and wake time (green).
These features actually help your toddler to stay in bed longer, using a language they understand (colour and expression).
It can be programmed to fit your needs.
The lights can be set to an appropriate level of brightness (we love the dim setting - it especially helps for babies and toddlers who are room sharing, as it isn’t bright enough to keep baby awake, but it’s enough to comfort an anxious toddler).
The sleep/play/wake settings are easily programmed to fit the schedule of your family. Want to sleep in a few extra minutes? Simply change the settings to make MELLA turn green just a bit later (tee hee).
There are a variety of sounds available for the alarm and sound machine components.
The drawbacks to the product?
Be wary of the sounds you use. Remember that noise other than white noise can actually cause a disruption to your toddler’s sleep. Thankfully, white noise is included in MELLA’s selection of sounds!
It needs to be plugged in, and the cord is rather short. While there is a battery component, it functions to preserve the basic memory settings.
Keep out of reach of children. While there is a lock button to prevent children from changing the settings, toddlers are smart. My toddler figured out that MELLA could shine in purple, and we had to position MELLA out of reach after that.
I LOVE this product and use it daily with my children. It has made such a difference in my mental health, knowing that my children won’t be calling for me in the early morning: they understand that “green means go-time.” Don’t just take my word for it, though - check it out for yourself at https://littlehippo.com/products/mella or find them on Instagram at @littlehipposays.
Enjoy your freedom,
Anna