The clocks that keep the light on in a power cut, on sale in the US

Every clock on sale in the US whose light keeps running on a battery when the power goes, not just its settings: why each fits, and the one thing to know first.

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  1. ZAZU Sam the Sheep

    Four AA batteries keep the light and alarm running when the plug comes out, and everything is set on the clock.

    Power
    USB, or 4 AA batteries (not in the box)

    The catch: ZAZU does not say how long the batteries last, and there is one wake-up time for every day.

    ZAZU product page Setup, power and nap facts

  2. Hatch Rest+ 2nd gen

    A charged Rest+ keeps its light and sound going: up to 12 hours at low brightness and volume, Hatch says, and about 8 for most people.

    Power
    Built-in battery; charging base in the box

    The catch: Hatch no longer makes or sells it, and it is set up and changed in the Hatch Sleep app, with an account and an internet connection.

    Check price on Amazon Setup, power and nap facts

  3. Nanit Sound + Light Machine

    Its rechargeable battery runs the sound and light for up to 8 hours, Nanit says, and it keeps separate weekend times.

    Power
    Built-in battery; adapter and 6 ft cable in the box

    The catch: It shows no time, it is set up in the Nanit app with an account, and Nanit does not say whether its schedules run while the Wi-Fi is down.

    Check price on Amazon Setup, power and nap facts

  4. Novo123 Ooly

    It runs on its built-in battery, so a power cut changes nothing; Novo123 says a charge lasts up to 7 days.

    Power
    Built-in battery; USB-C cable in the box

    The catch: It is set only in the Ooly app, it shows no time, and if the battery runs flat it loses the time until you reconnect it to the app.

    Novo123 product page Setup, power and nap facts

  5. Core Innovations Baby Shark ALM204

    Its rechargeable battery runs the clock for about 12 hours on a full charge, Core Innovations says, and it is set on the clock.

    Power
    Built-in battery; Micro-USB cable, no wall adapter

    The catch: At wake-up time it glows and plays a song, so it cannot give a silent morning.

    Check price on Amazon Setup, power and nap facts

Not counted, because its maker does not say whether it keeps running in a power cut: It’s About Time Stoplight Alarm Clock.

This one does it too, but is out of stock or no longer sold by its maker: Skip Hop Dream & Shine Sleep Trainer.

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Shopping in the UK, the EU or Australia? 14 more clocks sold there do this: see every country in the matcher.

What happens when the plug comes out?

Battery that keeps the settings

Settings saved

Light and sound stop

Battery that keeps it running

Clock keeps running

Until the battery runs down

A “backup battery” can describe either behavior.

Clocks that keep running when the plug comes out

A charged Hatch Rest+ 2nd gen keeps going away from its charging base: Hatch says up to 12 hours at low brightness and volume, and that most people see about eight. Nanit Sound + Light has a rechargeable battery rated up to eight hours.

ZAZU Sam runs on four AA batteries instead of USB power; ZAZU does not say for how long. ZAZU Pam, Purflo Snoozee and the Oricom Sleep Trainer Clock, sold in Australia, have built-in rechargeable batteries, and the Baby Shark clock runs for about 12 hours, though its wake-up always glows and plays a song.

ZAZU’s Davy the Dog runs on four AA batteries as well as USB, like Sam. Bobby the Bear and the soft Brody the Bear run on batteries alone (three AAA and three AA, not included). ZAZU’s own shop has sold out of all three.

Sold in Europe, the Alecto BC-100 and Luvion’s Penguin, Bear, Sophie Sheep, Turtle and Sheep-a-Boo run on built-in rechargeable batteries; neither maker says how long a charge lasts. Novo123’s Ooly, an owl light with no clock face, runs on a built-in battery too, and Novo123 says a charge lasts up to seven days. Pabobo’s Kid’Sleep Moon takes three AA batteries (not included) as a backup to its plug, which Pabobo says last about a month with the night light on 12 hours a day, and its Kid’Sleep Clock takes two, for about the same time. The travel-sized Kid’Sleep Globetrotter runs on four AA batteries alone, about 40 days at 12 hours a day with good alkaline batteries. Pabobo’s Koala also takes batteries, but Pabobo does not say which or for how long, and recommends its plug.

Hatch Rest 2nd gen and Hatch Baby have no battery

Hatch Rest 2nd gen has no battery and cannot use the Rest+ charging base, so it stops the moment the power goes; Hatch says its saved routines may still be there when the power comes back. Hatch Baby has no battery backup either.

The names are close, so check the exact model: only Rest+ 2nd gen of these three keeps running in a power cut.

Clocks that only keep their settings

Light to Rise keeps its settings for up to 72 hours without power, but its light, display and sounds stop. MELLA and NESSI keep their settings on a CR2032 coin battery, which does not run the light or sounds. So does the Flow Amsterdam sleep trainer (George or Luna), sold in the Netherlands: its light and digital display need the plug. Learn & Climb’s Good Morning Buddy keeps its settings on 3 AAA batteries (not included), and Learn & Climb says not to run it on the batteries alone.

Groclock freezes its time and settings when the power goes. After a long power cut its clock is behind by the length of the cut, so set the time again before you rely on the next wake-up.

Check what is in the box

Rest+ 2nd gen comes with its charging base and cable, Rest 2nd gen with its cable, Hatch Baby with an adapter, MELLA with a four-foot cable and a wall plug, and the Good Morning Buddy with an adapter and a 6 ft cord. Light to Rise, Groclock, NESSI and the Oricom clock come with a USB cable but no wall plug, so you need one that fits your socket.

Turn what you need into one filter

  • If the light must keep working in a power cut, choose “Keeps running in a power cut”: Rest+ 2nd gen, Nanit, ZAZU Sam and the Baby Shark clock do it, with different running times and wake-up styles.
  • If the settings only need to survive a short cut, Light to Rise keeps them for up to 72 hours.
  • If the clock wakes your child at a time of day, check whether its clock keeps time or freezes during a cut.
  • A coin battery or “saves your settings” is not the same as running on battery.

Sources

Details can differ between versions and countries. Dates show when we last checked something that changes, like stock or a recall. Every source we use