You need to slow down your speed, especially with a toddler or preschooler. Once in grade school, kids gradually understand how long it takes to complete tasks. As with bedtime rituals, it depends on the child, and on the family. While it takes a few minutes to change and carry a sleeping baby out the door, a child old enough to feed and dress herself may need an hour. But try paring it to thirty minutes and things get real harried.
Parents can further reduce morning-time stress by shaving the right corners.
Even at age 4, Eliza doesn't mind arriving at her daycare provider's house in jammies, says Gizang-Ginsberg. If she doesn't feel like getting dressed one morning, we just shove her clothes in a bag and go. Cutting corners can backfire, however, as I found out last summer. I figured we could skim 15 minutes off Eva's morning schedule if she ate breakfast during our 40-minute drive to day camp. As most parents know, even a well-rested, unrushed child can dawdle an entire morning away if not kept on schedule.