Last Updated: May 1, 2020 (Refresh Now)
LittleHippo Mella Ready to Rise Children s Trainer Alarm Clock Night Light Sleep Sounds Machine Arctic Blue
Last Updated: May 1, 2020 (Refresh Now)
7.9
SCORE
/10
Total Reviews
999
Old Reviews
0
Unverified
48
Spam Test
WARN
Review Analysis - 951 recent, verified reviews
Detailed Mode
Clock
373alarm, wake, green, nap, sleep
+82%
-18%
" ... This is a great clock with one exception. ... Well she fell asleep and the fricking alarm went off after an hour, waking her up from her nap. ... Other than that, it really is a nice clock with some cool features. ... Update: I found that you can set the map feature with the light instead of the alarm. ... "
" ... He has decided that he wants to wake up at 4 in the morning so I bought this clock. ... All in all this is a wonderful clock and we'll worth the investment. ... "
" ... Clock is nice, easy to program. ... "
" ... My boys love to wait until their clocks turn green so they can wake mommy and daddy up. ... "
" ... It is a very cute clock and my daughter loves the little face. ... "
" ... What an adorable clock! ... "
" ... I like the lock feature and the clock face and my kid likes the clock. ... "
" ... I love this clock! ... "
Sleep Tracking
218clock, wake, sleep training, mella, sleeping
+89%
-11%
" ... It does seem to work as intended for a sleep timer. ... "
" ... It's been much easier to get the little one to bed because the clock says it's time to sleep ... "
" ... My son loves it and the sleep mode function is something that he has embraced and it works really well. ... "
" ... sleep is worth it LOL ... "
" ... He likes to “beat her” to sleep😂 Hasn’t worked to keep him in bed yet, but I think once he’s a bit older (he’s 3.5) that will be easier to understand. ... "
" ... We’ve only been using for a couple of days, but the sleep mode works great for our 2 year old. ... The face going to sleep helps him to realize it’s time for him to sleep. ... "
" ... Great tool for more sleep in the morning. ... "
" ... It has worked beautifully and we're all getting more sleep. ... "
For Kids
201daughter, loves, bed, child, year old
+93%
-7%
" ... My daughter was co-sleeping with me a lot since I had a newborn and dad was on deployment so when I tried to get her to go back to her room it was a constant struggle to get her to stay in her room and go to bed. ... "
" ... My 2 year old loves this! ... "
" ... Really useful with toddlers. ... "
" ... This has really helped my child go to bed with minimal complaint! ... "
" ... Love this product for both of our kids! ... "
" ... The ocean sound is nice but not what my kids like. ... The lullaby is not a sound I thought I would use but my daughter actually likes it so we play it for 10 minutes at bedtime, love that you can put it on a timer or constant “On”. ... The kids love the face and look of it. ... "
" ... We really like this, and our 2 year old son is already doing so well with it! ... "
" ... I bought this item for my 9 year old granddaughter. ... "
Features
136yellow, feature, wake, night light, lock feature
+71%
-29%
" ... It is very bright for both yellow and green modes. ... "
" ... PROS - I love the green awake light and setting, night light color options, lock setting, and sounds. ... "
" ... Like the features. ... "
" ... also great that the lights aren’t jarring even on the brightest setting. ... Also great for parents with little ones is the lock feature ... "
" ... Otherwise LOVE the product and would (regardless of the lock feature placement) totally recommend to others! ... "
" ... We did not use the night light function but I felt that there were a good variety of different colors to choose from, as well as brightness. ... "
" ... There is also a sound machine to lull him to sleep and tons for other cool features. ... "
" ... I have not used any of the other features except the sleep/wake mode. ... "
Sound Quality
98sounds, white noise, noise, night light, lullaby
+54%
-46%
" ... I love the volumes of sound as well as the option to program an alarm. ... There aren't a ton of sound options which I see as a plus. ... "
" ... I would also like to have more options for the brightness for the night light and volume for the sound machine. ... "
" ... Bonus that there is a night light & sound machine. ... "
" ... They are learning to wake up on there own and the noise maker and night light that are with it are a plus. ... "
" ... I also love the additional features of a night light and white noise machine as well. ... "
" ... I love the light only for sleep trainer as my littles are terrified of any type of sound alarm . ... The ocean sound is nice but not what my kids like. ... The lullaby is not a sound I thought I would use but my daughter actually likes it so we play it for 10 minutes at bedtime, love that you can put it on a timer or constant “On”. ... "
" ... The only thing I would suggest improving is the volume of the sound machine option. ... "
" ... He likes the lullaby music for white noise and the soft colors are soothing. ... "
Product Reliability
92stopped working, year old, working, month, 3 year old
+41%
-59%
" ... 1 star because after less than a month of use it stopped working. ... "
" ... We've had this for over a year now. ... The idea is great, however there are a few problems. ... 1) The nightlight feature died within 6 months. ... "
" ... Maybe this product was good when most of the reviews were written (last year), but in late 2019 it doesn't seem to be that way. ... "
" ... I give it two stars because it was great until it stopped. ... "
" ... Used this for a few weeks. ... Then the screen stopped working. ... Other than it not working it was good. ... "
" ... I had really high hopes for this product but it seems I will be returning it as they either sent me a used or defective clock. ... "
" ... I figured it would have lasted a lot longer but I was wrong. ... "
" ... It makes no sense and it broke after less than a month of use. ... "
Ease of Use
89easy, set, easy to set, user friendly, easier
+93%
-7%
" ... Easy to use and for kids to understand. ... "
" ... Makes the mornings so much easier. ... "
" ... Super easy to use, clear instructions, and a very soft exterior (it's still plastic of some kind, but actually soft to the touch). ... "
" ... The nap feature is easy to use and all of the controls are intuitive. ... "
" ... Set up was a little tedious. ... "
" ... It is easy to program and works great. ... "
" ... Both my kids love it and the instructions are easy to figure out. ... "
" ... Pretty easy to follow instructions for initial set up. ... Once you’ve used it a time it too it’s easy. ... "
Capacity
71bed, morning, mella, kid, bedroom
+93%
-7%
" ... I would definitely recommend thos product to friends and family. ... "
" ... My granddaughter already has a Mella at home and she requested Nana to get a Mella to keep at Nana's house. ... "
" ... Great clock for a kid's room. ... "
" ... My son kept running out of his room in the middle of the night. ... "
" ... Our son knows when he can come out of his room in the mornings and when it's still quiet time. ... "
" ... 3 feet is not long enough for a child's room if you don't want to have it plugged in right next to their bed, which is a necessity for this clock since you want your child to be able to see Mella's "face" and the sound isn't strong enough to project across the room. ... "
" ... Whoa it’s like the sun was in my kids room. ... "
" ... My 4 year old loves it and has welcomed Mella into our family ... "
Price
57worth the money, money, totally worth, definitely, worth every penny
+61%
-39%
" ... Definitely worth every dollar! ... "
" ... Worth the money. ... "
" ... Overall, a big win and totally worth the cost. ... "
" ... For me, just that day, it was worth the money! ... "
" ... I get a few extra minutes to prepare for the day ahead and it was worth every penny!! ... "
" ... Totally worth the investment! ... "
" ... Don't hesitate, this is worth the money. ... "
" ... Totally worth it. ... "
Color
51color, brightness, nightlight, yellow, bright
+90%
-10%
" ... Didn’t come out of bed till he saw his favorite color yellow. ... "
" ... There are several color options for a "nightlight", including yellow. ... I tried to convince him to use any other color as his nightlight, but he's 3 . ... Colors can't mean two things. ... It's basically useless to me until I can convince him blue is a suitable nightlight color. ... "
" ... Upon the recommendation from a friend, I ordered Mella and our toddler was able to easily understand, after some explanation of what the different colors mean. ... "
" ... My son loves being able to pick his nightlight color and brightness. ... "
" ... The little one can't tell time, and the color coding is brilliant. ... "
" ... You can adjust the brightness, but the lowest setting is still bright. ... "
" ... She's 3 and can change the color herself. ... You can adjust the brightness as well as the colors. ... "
" ... He loves the colors. ... His only complaint was his favorite color green is a little bright, so he's using the yellow setting. ... "
Controls
50button, bottom, clock, settings, lock
+40%
-60%
" ... Volume control doesn’t work properly. ... "
" ... What is more annoying is that all of the buttons are underneath so if you don’t want to use a timer you have to turn the machine over to press the buttons every time. ... "
" ... After about 6 months, none of the buttons work anymore, and I can’t set the clock. ... "
" ... I just wish they had a volume control on their music. ... "
" ... All the buttons are on the bottom of the clock and my son figured out how to unlock the buttons too easily. ... "
" ... My only complaint is the buttons are on the bottom and all identical. ... In the dark it's hard to differentiate which button is which. ... "
" ... The only alarm sound option is a frightful beeping and there are no hi tech options on the lighting whatsoever. ... "
" ... Settings don’t work. ... "
Design
50design, looks, super, nightlight, little face
+98%
-2%
" ... It does a lot of other cute things too. ... "
" ... It has a friendly look to it, but for $50 i was expecting more modern user controls. ... "
" ... But it is super cute! ... "
" ... The appearance is very cute and appealing to my 2 year old. ... "
" ... It looks cute and was easy to set up. ... "
" ... The design is delightful, and my child grew attached to its sweet face. ... "
" ... Plus this product is cute. ... "
" ... It's very cute. ... "
Returns
36returning, item, wish, send, returned
+8%
-92%
" ... Unfortunately, we need to return it. ... "
" ... I wish I could send it back but the return window was only one month. ... "
" ... produce was not working need to send it back- what is the procedure of returning item? ... "
" ... I will be returning this. ... "
" ... I’m returning this immediately. ... "
" ... I had really high hopes for this product but it seems I will be returning it as they either sent me a used or defective clock. ... "
" ... so sad I threw away the packaging if nothing would definetely return this ... "
" ... Will be returning. ... "
Volume
34volume, room, white noise, sound machine, loud enough
+29%
-71%
" ... Isn’t loud enough for my sleepers. ... "
" ... It's a bit loud. ... "
" ... Other reviews regarding the frustration of having all the buttons together on the bottom and too-loud minumum volume are spot on. ... The lowest volume setting is too loud. ... "
" ... The sound machine is pretty terrible and so I use a different sound machine in his room. ... "
" ... The speaker is very poor quality and sounds terrible. ... "
" ... It wake them up slow and not loud. ... "
" ... The speaker is harsh sounding and not at all soothing. ... "
" ... The lights WAy too bright and also sound I thought it was going to help my child but is too loud and it bothers him . ... "
Night Photography
29light, bright, night light, every, setting
+66%
-34%
" ... If your kid needs a night light then this is great! ... "
" ... The night light is bright and the happy face is cute. ... "
" ... The other features are also nice, like the night light. ... "
" ... The night light is a bit bright but otherwise love EVERYTHING about this ... "
" ... I set the night light feature to a light blue for bedtime. ... "
" ... The light is pretty bright but it's now his only night light so it's not as bad. ... "
" ... If you already use a night light, I don't think the brightness will make that much difference and could work really well for you, but that is dependent on your child and other factors. ... "
" ... it has night light ... "
Battery Life
28clock, plug, backup, charge, settings
+46%
-54%
" ... I took the battery out and put it back in and tried keeping off for a while before turning it back on. ... "
" ... It is totally impractical for this clock to not run on battery power. ... "
" ... Like 2-3 AAs vs that little lithium coin battery . ... "
" ... if you unplug it the backup battery does NOT work. ... "
" ... The plug no longer registers into the back of the clock to give it power and the battery runs out constantly. ... "
" ... Also my lithium ion battery didn’t work with the clock so it’s plug in only? ... "
" ... Added the battery but it would only last a day or so. ... "
" ... Despite having a battery, and being plugged in, the clock comes on for a moment and then goes off. ... "
Comfort
27stay in bed, mella, asleep, nap, fell in love
+81%
-19%
" ... Love that the light stays on for an hour after both wake up and nap so that my child can continue sleeping but still feel it’s “okay to wake” without too much change in routine. ... "
" ... She loves that she can choose the color to fall asleep. ... "
" ... He feels someone is watching him. ... "
" ... If you're trying to decide between this and a cheaper brand (specifically the one that looks almost identical except with "ears"), save yourself the time and frustration and just get this one. ... "
" ... He immediately fell in love with his Mella. ... "
" ... He knows when he has to stay in bed and when it’s almost time to get up and when he can get up. ... "
" ... My 5yo treats “Mella” like a person and tries to fall asleep before she does. ... "
" ... I think he feels more secure, like someone is in his room with him. ... "
Setup
26instructions, easy, setup, easy to set, settings
+92%
-8%
" ... It is working how I expected and was easy to set up. ... "
" ... - Setup is a bit of a pain, and clock needs to be re-set manually ... "
" ... - set up: 5 (super easy, didn’t even read directions, very intuitive) ... "
" ... I went page by page through the instructions and had it set up in less than 5 minutes. ... "
" ... Set up was a breeze and I love how customizable all the options are! ... "
" ... It works perfectly and was easy to set up. ... "
" ... Other than that, very easy to set and program. ... "
" ... As soon as the new one came setup was a breeze. ... "
Build Quality
26broke, plastic, feels like, feels, durable
+31%
-69%
" ... This product worked for two months and then broke. ... "
" ... But it's not very durable. ... "
" ... Both the Mellas were sitting next to my kid’s bed, in a secure spot where they were not bumped, dropped or disturbed in any way, always connected to the power supply, never moved. ... "
" ... I dont like it I cannt get it to charge and it keeps going off in the middle of the night, feels like cheap material. ... "
" ... Cheap “made in china” product. ... "
" ... This is the cheap plastic clock I received ... "
" ... The cord broke despite no damage to it. ... "
" ... So far, I'm upset this thing broke so quick. ... "
Display Clarity
24bright, light, clock, face, nightlight
+58%
-42%
" ... Only negative would be the nightlight brightness, I wish there was one level less on brightness, but I do appreciate the opportunity to dim slightly. ... "
" ... We use the night light which can be a little bright, but we turned the clock slightly and he can still see Mella's face without the light shining too bright in his face. ... "
" ... Or, perhaps a way to step the brightness up and down manually. ... "
" ... I would like if the nightlight adjusted for brightness. ... "
" ... 4 stars for the Brightness it’s little bit strong for us but for some one can be perfect . ... "
" ... Recommend the lowest brightness setting. ... "
" ... With Mella, you can actually reduce brightness from the face (it has 5 levels) but the lowest level is still bright (is the face blue light?). ... "
" ... The brightness of the clock and the light can be adjusted. ... "
Cables
22power, clock, short, wire, us
+18%
-82%
" ... Additionally - the cord is too short if you wanted to put this up on a dresser out of reach of your toddler. ... Too expensive to not have more parental controls - and the cord is just too short. ... "
" ... The cord on this is very short and never stays in. ... Exactly 3 months after purchasing (and reprogramming every single day because the cord won't stay plugged in and the battery backup has never worked)- the USB portion of the plug has completely come apart. ... "
" ... the only issue I run in to is cable . ... I had issues with cable I’m assuming??? ... "
" ... We did not receive a power cord or instruction manual. ... "
" ... All three have had the same issue with the plug not being properly seated inside her so it flickers on and off. ... "
" ... For some reason, this clock has a removable power cord and a 3V battery that eventually stop working. ... "
" ... About 6 months in, the power cord started getting really sensitive and Mella would turn off when we moved her unless we held the cord really still. ... "
" ... 2) The cord. ... The cord is a measly 3ft. ... I’m going to have to buy an extension cord for a product that already cost me $50?! ... It should have a 6ft cord at least. ... "
Marketplace
14works, thank, received, little, described
+71%
-29%
" ... Thank you for a great product. ... "
" ... Works as described ... "
" ... Thank you for making this product. ... "
" ... Thank you, Little Hippo! ... "
" ... TLDR: great product that works exactly as described ... "
" ... Works just as advertised. ... "
" ... But we will deal. ... "
" ... I only gave 4 stars because my shipment was late but other then that it is a fantastic product ... "
Software Platform
12product, would, user error, settings, control
+75%
-25%
" ... Hope they will create a dimmer on future versions ... "
" ... Overall I am very pleased with the product, the app suggestion is just that, a suggestion. ... "
" ... This is a wonderful product that really works without having the hassle of using an app. ... "
" ... Doesn't require an app. ... "
" ... I like the interface. ... "
" ... I was using a different product that has an app to control and set everything- much easier. ... "
" ... It would be cool if this had an app. ... "
" ... Great looking light, but the user interface is tough to understand. ... "
Charging
12clock, charge, plug, plugged, working
+17%
-83%
" ... Also my lithium ion battery didn’t work with the clock so it’s plug in only? ... "
" ... The plug no longer registers into the back of the clock to give it power and the battery runs out constantly. ... "
" ... And its also charging me to return it . ... "
" ... I dont like it I cannt get it to charge and it keeps going off in the middle of the night, feels like cheap material. ... "
" ... It would not recognize the charger and stopped working. ... "
" ... For some reason, this clock has a removable power cord and a 3V battery that eventually stop working. ... "
" ... The charger is not working properly and you have to jiggle the cord for it to turn on but the moment you touch the clock again it turns off. ... "
" ... First, the battery did not charge at all - the battery icon did not show up when the battery was inserted properly. ... It did show up when the battery was out in upside down, but still didn’t charge, and then would reset all the settings when unplugged. ... "
For Fun
10really, kids, cute, loves, clock
+100%
" ... A lot of fun features! ... "
" ... Of course it’s new to her and they have fun with it at first. ... "
" ... Very cute and fun. ... "
" ... Doesn't always work on them, but it's fun to say. ... "
" ... The product is well built, looks great, and is really fun for everyone in the house! ... "
" ... My daughter loves this clock because it's fun. ... "
" ... it's fun and playful but not obviously just for kids. ... "
Apps
10product, would, settings, set, suggestion
+90%
-10%
" ... I am much happier that I did because it is so easy to program and has an app making it super easy to make changes based on my child's every changing schedule. ... "
" ... Doesn't require an app. ... "
" ... In this day and age there should be a way to do this through an app or other online method. ... "
" ... Overall I am very pleased with the product, the app suggestion is just that, a suggestion. ... "
" ... I was using a different product that has an app to control and set everything- much easier. ... "
" ... My daughter figured it out and then later with it and manage to set alarms and change settings 😞. ... "
" ... I know there are other products that use an app and Bluetooth, but I chose this product instead because I needed something that was simple and easy and reliable. ... "
" ... This is a wonderful product that really works without having the hassle of using an app. ... "
As Gift
8christmas, present, bought, stopped working, son
+88%
-13%
" ... It is what my grandson wanted for Christmas. ... "
" ... So far best Xmas gift to my niece. ... "
" ... The company also sent a personal thank you note and nightlight as a present. ... "
" ... I bought this alarm for my son birthday present. ... "
" ... Bought this as a gift for my daughter and her babies. ... "
Call quality
8mella, hear, turns green, name, green
+88%
-13%
" ... In the mornings I hear, "MELLA IS GREEN!!!" ... "
" ... I cannot say enough good things about Mella (as my 2 year old calls “her”). ... "
" ... He calls it “Mr Clock” and he loves it! ... "
" ... My daughter calls her by name and it's helped with our shift to her "big kid bed". ... "
" ... As soon as it turns green he calls for play time. ... "
" ... We haven't used the nap feature but we use it for "ok to wake" and he calls it by name! ... "
" ... My daughter was so excited for her clock, which she calls “Mella” as if it is a real person :). ... "
Defective Delivery
7product, received, lemon, return, stopped
-100%
" ... Maybe we have a defective one . ... "
" ... The product was defective -- should have sent it back. ... "
" ... Hoping it was just mine that’s defective. ... "
" ... I would not recommend this product and intend to return or replace this defective unit. ... "
" ... I was unhappy when receiving the box. ... "
" ... It seems as we may have received a Lemon. ... "
" ... and I didn't realize that feature didn't work until they stopped me from being able to return a defective product. ... "
Storage
7two, time, stay, drawer, year old
+71%
-29%
" ... Saves space to have it all in one little, cute machine! ... "
" ... Our two year old is able to figure out when to leave the room now. ... "
" ... It has really helped keep my two boys in their room until it's time for them to come out. ... "
" ... The light is also a tad on the brighter side for my taste, but our girls do stay in their room most of the time until Mella turns green. ... "
" ... It doesn't take up too much space on the table and 8s gery easy to use. ... "
Size
7size, easy to use, take, much, compact
+71%
-29%
" ... Also small enough to put just about anywhere. ... "
" ... Good functionality and small size. ... "
" ... Easy to use and a perfect size! ... "
" ... It doesn't take up too much space on the table and 8s gery easy to use. ... "
" ... Mella is compact and very cute. ... "
Noise Cancellation
6like, white noise, white
+17%
-83%
" ... It also has a humming noise while noise is on. ... "
" ... 2) The 3 music tracks are horrible and more like noise. ... "
" ... The worst feature is the noise. ... "
" ... The white noise is not good quality. ... "
Overall performance
6really, month
+100%
" ... Fast forward to January. ... "
" ... They are incredibly responsive. ... "
" ... It does it’s job perfectly! ... "
" ... He responds really well to positive affirmation, so being able to say "Good job! ... "
" ... This light gets the job done but there are a few things that would make it work better for us that are echoed in other reviews too. ... "
Wash Programs
5nap, work, timer, yellow, time
+40%
-60%
" ... It has very limited settings. ... "
" ... Settings don’t work. ... "
" ... Also it will not work well for time out timer as the shortest timer setting is a 15 minute nap timer (too long for toddler time out) and a 10 minute light timer (also too long for timeouts) ... "
Gaming
5changer, us, kids, 2
+80%
-20%
" ... So far it is a total game changer. ... "
" ... It’s been a game changer for us! ... "
" ... I rarely leave product reviews, but this was a game changer. ... "
" ... It’s been a game changer for us. ... "
For Running
5running, kid, behavior
+80%
-20%
" ... run and get one for your kid right now!! ... "
" ... we reward her good behavior and come running and do whatever she wants that next half hour. ... "
" ... Great training tool and behavior trainer. ... "
" ... Definitely a great option for training though. ... "
Product As Described
5described, picture
+80%
-20%
" ... TLDR: great product that works exactly as described ... "
" ... Works just as advertised. ... "
" ... Works as described ... "
" ... Worked as described ... "
Cable Length
4power, short, longer, clock
+25%
-75%
" ... The cord on this is very short and never stays in. ... "
" ... The power cord does not connect well to the clock. ... "
" ... 2) The cord. ... The cord is a measly 3ft. ... I’m going to have to buy an extension cord for a product that already cost me $50?! ... It should have a 6ft cord at least. ... "
Device Compatibility
4bluetooth, app, sounds, product
+75%
-25%
" ... My son is a smart 2 yo boy and he has already figured out how to unlock Mella as we have to keep it plugged in. ... "
" ... I know there are other products that use an app and Bluetooth, but I chose this product instead because I needed something that was simple and easy and reliable. ... "
" ... - A future feature request may be to have a programmable USB interface or bluetooth/app connection so that the faces can be customized. ... "
For Travel
3green, bring, clock
+100%
" ... There's even a battery saver so if you bring it on vacation (which we've already done) it stores everything and you just plug it back in. ... "
" ... My parents were blown away at a family vacation that my son stayed in bed until it turned green. ... "
" ... You can use sound if you need the alarm for school or just the colored light if it’s summer vacation! ... "
Delivery
3box
+33%
-67%
" ... I was unhappy when receiving the box. ... "
" ... The unit I received is clearly not new. ... "
Ports
3plug, clock, back, would, usb
+33%
-67%
" ... However, by the time I actually got my 2-3yr old trained and used to it, the electrical port shorted out in the back! ... "
" ... I believe something went wrong with the plug port, I wish the clock had a plug that was not removable to avoid this issue. ... "
Fit
3little, get, could, considering, bed
-100%
" ... it’s such a poor sound quality that no one could fall asleep to it. ... "
" ... The speaker is a little weak and fuzzy, and there aren't many selections of sounds they can fall asleep to. ... "
" ... Neither side of the cord fits snuggly so every time we pick it up to adjust a setting it shuts off and we have to start over. ... "
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Specifications
No specs available.
Recommendations
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