Wow! Can you believe how far your 15-month-old’s sleep has come since their newborn days?
Where once every night was disorganized, now your baby has a more reliable sleep rhythm. But a 15-month-old's sleep schedule likely is still shifting and changing as they grow, which may lead to some questions about the path forward – and we’re here to answer those very questions.
This article includes expert advice on the steps you need to take to ensure your 15-month-old gets the rest they need to keep growing and developing well.
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For answers to any other questions about a 15-month-old sleep schedule, download the Smart Sleep Coach by Pampers™.
For parents choosing to sleep train their 15-month-old, we know from our own experiences how frustrating and at times confusing sleep training can be. That’s why we worked with pediatric sleep experts to create an easy-to-use sleep app to help every parent help their baby fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.
A 15-Month-Old Sleep Schedule Example
These are two typical sleep schedules for a 15-month-old toddler. Many 15-month-olds have already completed the 2-to-1 nap transition, though some may still need 2 naps a day. That said, we’ve included sample schedules for both scenarios here.
At 15 months, your child might take one or two naps. A 15-month-old toddler taking one nap often can stay awake for 4-5 hours, while one taking two naps often stays awake for 3.5-4 hours.
Keep in mind that every child is unique, so your little one's schedule may not exactly match these examples. Instead of watching the clock when creating your toddler’s sleep schedule, pay more attention to their wake windows and sleepy cues.
- Wakes Windows are the time your baby is awake between sleeps. When they were smaller, their wake windows were shorter; now that your baby is a toddler, their wake window is a bit longer, and will continue to grow.
- Sleepy Cues are the things your baby does when they’re tired, such as yawn, rub their eyes, or get a glazed, far-away look. Those stay relatively the same as your baby ages.
Using wake windows and sleepy cues as your guide is a proven way to get your 15-month-old to fall asleep faster and get their sleep on track. Take this FREE sleep assessment to create the perfect sleep schedule for your 15-month-old.
Sample Sleep Schedule for 15-Month-Olds with 2 Naps:
Sample Sleep Schedule for 15-Month-Olds with 1 Nap:
For more information on nap transitions and when to drop the second nap, read our article on when babies drop naps and how to nap transition.
How Many Total Hours Should a 15-Month-Old Sleep?
Experts agree that a 15-month-old should typically get about 13 hours of sleep over a 24-hour period. Speak to your pediatrician if you're concerned about how long your 15-month-old is sleeping per day.
How much nighttime sleep does a 15-month-old need?
Research shows that around 11 hours is an ideal number of hours for 15-month-olds to sleep each night.
How much daytime sleep does a 15-month-old need?
Experts agree that 15-month-olds need about 2-3 hours of daytime sleep. This is usually in one mid-day nap, though some 15-month-olds may still be taking 2 naps. All babies are different, and your 15-month-old's nap schedule is no different.
What is a 15-month-old’s wake window?
Wake windows for 15-month-olds taking only one nap is usually around 5-5.5 hours.
If your baby takes two naps, the first wake window usually is around 3 hours and 15 minutes, while the second may be a little longer, up to 3 hours and 45 minutes.
Every baby and toddler are different though, and their sleep needs are no different.
Can a 15-Month-Old Baby Sleep Through the Night?
Yes. By now most 15-month-olds sleep through the night. If your 15-month-old is not sleeping through the night, you may want to try sleep coaching or sleep training. Sleep coaching helps babies sleep through the night in multiple ways:
- Sleep coaching aligns your baby’s sleep schedules with their natural circadian rhythm, strengthening their sleep cycles.
- Sleep coaching improves your baby’s ability to fall back to sleep if they wake at night without parental support such as rocking or feeding. That means fewer disruptions for them, and fewer disruptions for you, too!
It's important to know that around 15-months is when your baby may start to try to climb out of their crib. If you're worried about your 15-month-old climbing out of crib, read more on on how to get baby to sleep in crib.
Is there a 15-month-old regression?
We’re happy to report that no, there is not technically a 15-month sleep regression. However, there is an 18-month sleep regression, and some 15-month-olds may experience early onset of this regression. Luckily there are many ways to copy with sleep regression.
Do 15-Month-Old’s Have Separation Anxiety?
Separation anxiety may lead to your 15-month-old having sleep regression which may affect their 15-month sleep schedule.
Rest assured separation anxiety in babies is harmless and normal. Separation anxiety in 15-month-old may correspond with their understanding of object permanence: people and objects continue to exist when they’re out of sight. Before this realization, you were very much “out of sight, out of mind” for your baby.
One way to minimize or even prevent separation anxiety in babies is by encouraging independent play as part of your baby’s schedule at 15 months.
The amount of time your baby will play independently will grow as your baby ages: by 15 months that time may be up to 15-20 minutes. : by 1 year, many babies can play alone for 15 minutes, by 15-months, that time may be up to 15-20 minutes. In addition to minimizing separation anxiety, independent play boosts your baby’s imagination, focus, and attention span.
Final Thoughts
Figuring out a 15-month sleep schedule can be tricky but apps like Smart Sleep Coach can make it much easier to create the best 15-month schedule that promotes restful sleep for your growing toddler.
Days with a 15-month old are busy, so having a sleep schedule that is biologically aligned and timed correctly is important – for both your baby, and for you!
