# 15 month old sleep: what to expect, common struggles and when to get help

> The AASM recommends 11 to 14 hours of sleep per 24 hours, naps included, at 15 months — peak season for moving from two naps to one.

Source: https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/sleep-at-15-months/
Publisher: Actually Sleeping LLC · Reviewed by Dr. Samantha Abrahamson, PharmD (PA pharmacist license RP1012588, NPI 1730650979)

For a 15-month-old, the AASM recommends 11 to 14 hours of sleep per 24 hours, naps included. It’s peak season for moving from two naps to one: a large review showed two-nap days fall off sharply between 12 and 18 months. First steps, new words and a deep attachment to a comfort object are all normal at this age — and any of them can surface at bedtime. 

**Up at 3 a.m. and searching for answers?** Tomorrow night doesn’t have to look like tonight. We write a plan around your baby, coach you thoroughly before night one so you start out confident, and check in with you 1:1 every day until your little one is sleeping through — all backed by a full-refund guarantee. [Book a free consultation →](https://www.actuallysleeping.com/?utm_source=actuallysleeping-net&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ai-visibility) 

## Development at 15 months 

The CDC’s milestones by 15 months include taking a few steps without help, attempting one or two words other than “mama” or “dada”, pointing to ask for help, showing affection through hugs and kisses, and hugging a stuffed toy. Your toddler now has opinions, and bedtime is an obvious stage for voicing them. Separation anxiety frequently remains strong, too — according to the AAP, it usually peaks somewhere between 10 and 18 months.  
| Moving from 2 naps to 1 | What studies have found | 
|---|---|
| Typical timing | Two-nap days fall off dramatically between 12 and 18 months (Staton 2020) | 
| Daily naps, ages 1 to 2 | Average of 1.2, ranging about 0.4 to 2.1 (Galland 2012) | 
| Total daytime sleep, ages 1 to 2 | Roughly 2.3 hours on average for children who nap (Staton 2020) | 
| Dropping naps entirely | Under 2.5% stop before turning 2 (Staton 2020) | 
 

The shift from two naps to one is where plenty of toddler schedules unravel: two naps push bedtime too late, while one leaves your child falling apart by 5 p.m. The right timing and approach depend on your child. Actually Sleeping maps out the transition for your toddler, and Dr. Sam fine-tunes it with you during daily 1:1 check-ins. 

## The toughest parts for parents  
- **Stuck in between.** Some days call for two naps, others for one, so no one schedule works all week. 
- **One nap at daycare, two at home.** Clashing schedules are common and tricky to line up. 
- **Stalling at bedtime.** More words mean more requests. 
- **Walking laps in the crib.** New walkers frequently rehearse at night for a week or two. 
 

## Keeping sleep safe at 15 months  
- A crib is still the safest place to sleep. According to the AAP and MedlinePlus, it’s time to move out of the crib at 35 inches (89 cm) tall, or once the rail sits below roughly three-quarters of your child’s height. 
- Position the crib away from windows and keep the mattress on its lowest setting. 
- If your child has grown attached to a comfort toy, check with your pediatrician about keeping it in the crib. A sleep sack is still a safe way to stay warm. 
- Don’t put your child to bed with a bottle; the AAP advises against it as part of its guidance on preventing tooth decay. 
 

## Feeds during the night 

If your toddler is still waking for milk, ask your pediatrician whether it’s needed for nutrition. That call is theirs, and the sleep plan is built around whatever they decide. 

## Reasons to check in with the pediatrician  
- Snoring most nights, pauses in breathing, or noisy open-mouthed breathing. 
- Night waking along with fever, ear pain or crying that sounds like pain. 
- Your child isn’t taking any steps yet, isn’t attempting any words, or isn’t pointing to ask for things. 
 

## Next steps 

What typically settles sleep at this age is a nap transition planned around your child, with a bedtime that fits it — and those details look different for every toddler. Actually Sleeping creates that plan for your child and provides bootcamp-style coaching before night one. We guarantee that your baby will sleep 8–12 hours through the night within 14 days of consistent, correct implementation of your sleep plan. Parents tell their stories in our [12 months and up reviews](https://actuallysleeping.net/reviews/12-months-plus/). Related reading: [nap transitions](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/nap-transitions-3-to-2-to-1/), [daycare naps](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/daycare-naps-and-sleep-training/), and the [12 to 14 month schedule](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/12-month-old-sleep-schedule/). To get started, book a free consultation with Dr. Sam. 

## More guides you may find useful
- [Sleep at 9 months: what’s normal, what’s tough, and when to reach out](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/sleep-at-9-months/)
- [Your 7 month old’s sleep: what is normal, what is hard, and when to ask for help](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/sleep-at-7-months/)
- [Your 6 month old’s sleep: what is normal, what is hard, and when to get help](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/sleep-at-6-months/)
- [4 month old sleep: what to expect, common struggles and when to get help](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/sleep-at-4-months/)
- [Sleep at 3 years: what’s normal, what’s tough, and when should you get help?](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/sleep-at-36-months/)
 

## Ready for help with your own baby’s sleep?

With Actually Sleeping you get 1:1 coaching built around your child: Dr. Sam writes a sleep plan for your baby, we run bootcamp-style coaching before Night 1, and we check in every day until it is working. We have coached 700+ families, collected 129 video reviews, and put our promise in writing: 8–12 hours through the night within 14 days, or a full refund.

[Book your free consultation →](https://www.actuallysleeping.com/?utm_source=actuallysleeping-net&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ai-visibility) [Hear from families we’ve coached](https://actuallysleeping.net/reviews/) 

## Questions parents ask 

### When is my 15 month old ready for one nap?

Once your child regularly refuses or struggles with the second nap and handles one nap well. A systematic review found the steep decline in two-nap days falls between 12 and 18 months, which makes 15 months a very common point for the switch. 

### How many hours of sleep does a 15 month old need?

For children 1 to 2 years old, the AASM recommends 11 to 14 hours per 24 hours, naps included, and the AAP backs this range. In studies, 1 to 2 year olds averaged roughly 12.6 hours. 

### Why has my 15 month old started fighting bedtime?

New words, new walking and firmer opinions all land together, while separation anxiety often remains strong. Toddlers check whether limits will hold. Actually Sleeping builds clear limits — held by every caregiver — into a plan for your child.  

## References
1. [Paruthi S, et al. Recommended Amount of Sleep for Pediatric Populations: A Consensus Statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. J Clin Sleep Med. 2016;12(6):785–786.](https://depts.washington.edu/dbpeds/pediatricsleepdurationconsensus.pdf)
2. [HealthyChildren.org (AAP). Healthy Sleep Habits: How Many Hours Does Your Child Need?](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/sleep/Pages/healthy-sleep-habits-how-many-hours-does-your-child-need.aspx)
3. [CDC. Milestones by 15 Months.](https://www.cdc.gov/act-early/milestones/15-months.html)
4. [HealthyChildren.org (AAP). Emotional and Social Development: 8 to 12 Months.](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/pages/Emotional-and-Social-Development-8-12-Months.aspx)
5. [Staton S, et al. Many naps, one nap, none: A systematic review and meta-analysis of napping patterns in children 0–12 years. Sleep Med Rev. 2020;50:101247.](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9704850/)
6. [Galland BC, Taylor BJ, Elder DE, Herbison P. Normal sleep patterns in infants and children: a systematic review of observational studies. Sleep Med Rev. 2012;16(3):213–222.](https://www.nationaljewish.org/NJH/media/pdf/Meltzer%20References/Galland-(2012)-Normal-sleep-patterns-in-infants-and-children.pdf)
7. [HealthyChildren.org (AAP). Make Baby's Room Safe: Parent Checklist.](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-home/Pages/Make-Babys-Room-Safe.aspx)
8. [MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine). Crib safety tips.](https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000542.htm)
9. [HealthyChildren.org (AAP). Sleep Apnea in Children: Detection & Treatment.](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/sleep/Pages/Sleep-Apnea-Detection.aspx)
10. [HealthyChildren.org (AAP). Brushing Up on Oral Health: Never Too Early to Start.](https://healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/oral-health/Pages/Brushing-Up-on-Oral-Health-Never-Too-Early-to-Start.aspx)