This document describes techniques and devices to synchronize communications between devices in a wireless mesh network. Based on the requirements of an end device that sleeps (e.g., is out of communication with the wireless mesh network) for periods of time, the end device indicates to a parent wireless mesh network device that the end device wants to configure operations in a synchronized-reception mode, which causes the parent device to reply with an indication of the clock accuracy of the parent device. The end device uses the clock accuracy of the parent device to determine parameters for synchronized-reception and transmits the parameters to the parent device. The end device activates its receiver based on the parameters to receive data from the parent device.