My 15-month-old won't sleep well — should I worry?

The nights feel endless when your little one won't settle — but a wakeful 15-month-old is usually a typical toddler, not a warning sign.

In short

At 15 months, broken sleep is extremely common and rarely a cause for worry. Many toddlers this age still wake in the night, resist bedtime, or need help settling — this is normal developmental behaviour, not a disorder. Most sleep difficulties at this age respond beautifully to a calm, consistent bedtime routine. Worry on its own is not a diagnosis; it is simply a reason to check in with someone who can reassure you properly.

What's normal at 15 months

Toddlers this age typically need around 11–14 hours of sleep across the day and night, including one or two naps. A few things often disturb their sleep — and most are passing phases:

• Separation awareness — your toddler now knows when you leave the room, so night-waking and protest at bedtime are common.
• Teething, growth spurts and milestones — learning to walk and talk can briefly unsettle sleep.
• Routine and timing — a nap that runs too late, an overtired or under-tired child, or an inconsistent bedtime can all make settling harder.
• Comfort and environment — hunger, a wet nappy, too much light or noise, or screens before bed.

Gentle, predictable habits help most: the same wind-down each night, a dim and quiet room, a consistent bedtime, and putting your child down drowsy but awake so they learn to settle themselves.

When to check in

Most of the time, reassurance and a steady routine are enough. Do speak to your paediatrician if you notice snoring or pauses in breathing, your child seems excessively sleepy or hard to rouse in the daytime, sleep problems come with poor weight gain, or if night-waking is paired with delays in talking, play or connecting with you. These are reasons for a friendly developmental check — not alarm.

The Pinnacle way

AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional — never from an app or online form. If your worry sits alongside questions about how your child is communicating, playing or growing, a developmental check at Pinnacle can give you clarity and peace of mind. You can learn how we measure your child's starting point with the AbilityScore, or explore gentle support through our occupational therapy team for everyday routines like sleep and self-care.

Trusted sources

American Academy of Pediatrics guidance on healthy infant and toddler sleep; WHO guidance on early childhood development and nurturing care.

Next step — If something feels off beyond the sleepless nights, book a developmental check with a Pinnacle clinician for reassurance and a clear plan.