Sleep Through the Night and Naps

If your 15 month old sleep schedule is wrong, it can wreak havoc in your household. But, the right schedule can help your toddler sleep through the night and take longer naps. Many toddlers this age are starting to drop one of their naps which can make things more challenging. This article will share everything you need to know about your 15 month old’s sleep schedule to help them sleep longer and be happier!

In this article:

How Much Sleep 15 Month Olds Need

Most 15 month old toddlers need 13-14 hours of sleep per day including 11-12 hours at night and 2-3 hours during the day. At this age, toddlers are sleeping through the night and taking 2-3-hour naps.

Of course, many toddlers will need more or less than the average amount of sleep. So, if your toddler is sleeping more or less than 13-14 hours in a 24-hour period, if they’re happy, it’s more than likely just fine. The best way to know if your toddler is getting enough sleep is to look at their mood, behavior, and other signs of over-tiredness. Although toddler tantrums are common, overtired babies tend to have more of them.

15 Month Old Sleep Schedule Wake Windows and Awake Time

Most 15 month olds are transitioning to one nap if they didn’t do so at 14 months old. The Wake window, or awake time, is usually 4.5 to 5 hours both before and after their nap. Note that if your toddler is not taking 2.5 to 3-hour naps, it will be more difficult to get a 4.5-hour wake window to work with their schedule.

If you are an unlucky parent and your toddler “only” sleeps 11 hours at night and two hours during the day, your toddler’s wake window could be 5.5 hours before and after the nap. This is one of the more difficult schedules for many families!

How Many Naps Should a 15 Month Old Take?

Many 15 month olds are ready to drop a nap and transition to a 1-nap schedule. The average age to transition to one nap is around 15 months, however, if your toddler isn’t ready, that’s okay, too! Instead, use the 14 month old sleep schedule. The best thing to do is wait to see signs of dropping to one nap before changing their sleep schedule because transitioning too early can cause night-waking and other sleep problems.

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3 Ways to Transition From 2 Naps to 1 Nap – Find the Right Way For Your Toddler

What Time Should a 15 Month Old Go to Bed?

The most common bedtime for a 15 month old is 7:00 to 8:00 PM. If your bedtime is earlier than 7:00 PM, you might have a false start where they wake up 30-90 minutes later as if bedtime was a “nap.” If your bedtime is later than 8:00 PM and your toddler is overtired, this can cause an early-waking problem.

If your bedtime is earlier or later than the typical range, and sleep is good in your household, there is no need to change it.

Why Is My 15 Month Old Taking So Long to Fall Asleep at Bedtime?

If your 15 month old is taking a long time to fall asleep at bedtime, it likely means it’s time to drop a nap and transition to one nap.

Once your toddler’s wake windows surpass 4 hours, there’s simply NOT enough time in a day to offer two naps and have them sleep 10 hours at night. If you are tempted to give your toddler melatonin because they are awake so long before bedtime, consider dropping one of their naps and using one of the sample schedules below, instead.

Sample 15 Month Old Sleep Schedules

The right 15 month old sleep schedule can help your toddler sleep through the night, nap longer during the day, and be happier, overall. Use these sample schedules to help you find the right one for your unique situation.

Sample 1-Nap Sleep Schedule

In my 15+ years of experience as a sleep consultant, 15 months is a very common age to drop a nap and use a 1-nap schedule. Keep in mind that if your toddler takes “just” a 2-hour nap (which is completely normal), you will want to stick to 5-hour wake windows and strive for a 12-hour night.

However, if your child takes a 2.5 to 3-hour nap, you can offer a 4 to 4.5-hour wake window before their nap and 4.5 to 5 hours of awake time before bedtime (or vice versa if it works better for them).

As I mentioned above, if your toddler is sleeping 11 hours at night and napping for “just” 2 hours, you might need 5.5-hour wake windows. It all depends on how much sleep your toddler needs in total. Don’t be afraid to embrace your child’s unique-ness!

Here is a very common 1-nap schedule to consider:

* Should You Wake Your Toddler? On a 1-nap schedule, there isn’t as much of a need to wake your toddler and you can usually let them sleep. However, if your toddler is routinely sleeping longer than 12 hours at night and taking short naps, you may want to limit nighttime sleep to “leave some” for the daytime. Their total sleep will stay relatively constant so some toddlers can sleep “too much” during the day or night which negatively impacts the other.

Sample 1-Nap Sleep Schedule With Meals

Again, many clients want to know how to fit meals in to set up their toddler for success in sleeping through the night and taking long, luxurious naps. Here’s a typical 1-nap schedule with meals:

* Should You Wake Your Toddler? On a 1-nap schedule, there isn’t as much of a need to wake your toddler and you can usually let them sleep. However, if your toddler is routinely sleeping longer than 12 hours at night and taking short naps, you may want to limit nighttime sleep to “leave some” for the daytime. Their total sleep will stay relatively constant so some toddlers can sleep “too much” during the day or night which negatively impacts the other.

Download the sample schedule below by clicking on it and then right-clicking:

Sample Toddler Schedules By Month For All Ages

Did you know we have sample toddler schedules by month for all ages? Check it out!

What Should You Do If Your Toddler Can’t Sleep 12 Hours?

First, know that even if your toddler never slept 12 hours at night on a 2-nap schedule, it doesn’t mean they won’t when on a 1-nap schedule. My son only started sleeping 12 hours at night once we transitioned from two naps to one nap! Make sure you give them 2-3 weeks to adjust to the new schedule before you give up!

If your toddler can’t seem to sleep 12 hours at night and you’ve given them at least two weeks to adjust, you might need to adjust your wake windows to be longer than is comfortable for the time being. Usually, it’s best to have a shorter wake window before the nap and a longer one after the nap, but not always. You might need to experiment, though, because, over the years, I’ve seen all different types of schedules work!

Why Some 15 Month Olds Wake Up Too Early

If your 15 month old is waking up too early in the morning, there are a few common reasons:

• Overtiredness at Bedtime – If your toddler’s wake window is too long before bedtime, this is the #1 reason for waking up too early the next day. Shorten the wake window right before bedtime. If your toddler wakes up crying, this is the most likely reason.
• Hunger – If you offer dinner too early (e.g. 4:30 or 5:00 PM), this is a common reason for waking up too early. Ideally, dinner will be no earlier than 6:00 PM, if possible. While some toddlers can go 13 hours without eating, some toddlers simply can’t.
• Sunrise – We are meant to rise with the sun and go to sleep with the sunset. Unnatural light has made all of our bedtimes later than natural. Children who are sensitive to light could wake up too early when the sun starts to shine through their windows. Consider room-darkening shades, blinds, or curtains.

Although there are a few other reasons your toddler could be waking up too early, these are the most common culprits.

Why Some 15 Month Olds Wake Up at Night and Can You Do Sleep Training?

There could be many reasons causing your toddler to wake up at night. While you can do sleep training, that doesn’t fix every cause. Be sure to solve the right problem and check out our article Top 15 Reasons Your Baby Is Waking at Night. Keep in mind that if your toddler has insomnia (aka split night), this is a big sign it’s probably time to transition to one nap!

15 Month Old Sleep Schedule FAQ