9 Ways to Speed Up Your Family’s Morning Routine

Start Your Morning Routine at Night

It’s definitely harder to get a kid up in the morning if she didn't get the rest she needed the night before.

Here's a handy guide to how much sleep children of different ages should should be getting each night:

• Infants: about 15 hours
• Toddlers: at least 12 hours
• Elementary and middle schoolers: at least 10 hours
• Teens: at least 8 hours

And don't forget yourself. Adults should get at least 7 hours of sleep each night. Good sleep leads to better memory and problem-solving skills, the ability to empathize with others and, for kids, a higher IQ.

If you have trouble getting a hyperactive child to calm down at night, try giving her a protein-rich bedtime snack a half hour before bedtime. A glass of milk works well because it contains tryptophan, a protein which is a natural sleep inducer.