In your first few weeks, you will probably breastfeed your baby 8-12 times every 24 hours. Sometimes your baby may want to nurse more often. When feedings are bunched together, especially in the evening, it's called cluster feeding. While it may seem like a lot, it is normal.
If your baby is having a lot of short feeds close together over a few hours, you are cluster feeding. If you are cluster feeding, you might also find that your baby: has short rests or sleeps between these feeds. feeds for a few minutes then pulls off and on the breast.
Usually, cluster feeding resolves within 2-3 days after starting. Also, a few helpful things to remember when cluster feeding is feeling endless: Cluster feeding occurs around developmental milestones — your baby's body is doing important things!
Cluster feeding is a smart way for your baby to boost your milk supply during growth spurts. There's nothing wrong with your milk or supply, but baby's instincts know that feeding every hour or so is the best way to trigger your body to produce more. Spacing out feedings would not be nearly as efficient.
Signs of Cluster Feeding
Having a normal, full feeding, and then wanting to be fed again 30 to 60 minutes later—often eating just as much as they would in a regular feeding. Sleeping deeply for long stretches of time after two or three close feedings.
Cluster feeding is unlikely to cause overfeeding a breastfed baby.
Can a pacifier help with cluster feeding? If you're already using a pacifier, you know how much of a saint these tiny devices can be. This is especially true during cluster-feeding periods. Not only can they help soothe a fussy baby, but it can help parents distinguish between cluster feeding and comfort.
They can cause your baby to nurse longer and more often. These growth spurts typically happen when your baby is around 2-3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months old.
What's the only way to stop cluster feeding at night? Make sure baby is getting as much milk as they can throughout the day. Don't let baby snack while nursing. 10 minute feeds throughout the day mean baby will be up all night because baby is hungry and needs milk.
When he stops suckling and swallowing, or when he falls asleep, you'll want to switch him to the other breast. If he hasn't released the first breast, simply slip your finger into the corner of his mouth to break the suction (and protect your nipple) before removing him from your breast.
“Second night syndrome” is a perfectly normal response to being born, and most babies experience a bit of fussiness on their second night of life. It doesn't mean that anything is wrong or that your baby is starving. It can feel overwhelming, but there ARE some things you can do to help survive the second night!
Some babies may sleep longer after cluster feeding because they're going through a growth spurt. This can feel exhausting – to both mom and baby! So a little extra zzz's due to cluster feeding is a good thing.
A newborn should be put to the breast at least every 2 to 3 hours and nurse for 10 to 15 minutes on each side. But rather than worry about duration, it's important to know that the best way to ensure that the baby is getting enough breast milk is by feeding frequency, wet and dirty diapers, and weight gain.
Most parents notice cluster feeding during their baby's fussy periods—usually in the evening or late afternoon. Experts don't completely understand why it happens at this time, but they theorize that your newborn might be overtired or overstimulated from their immature nervous system.
You can choose to not engage in cluster feeding by breastfeeding by offering a set amount of your breast milk or formula in a bottle (a top-up), or offering a pacifier after breastfeeding.
Bottle-fed babies
Newborn: every 2 to 3 hours. At 2 months: every 3 to 4 hours. At 4 to 6 months: every 4 to 5 hours. At 6+ months: every 4 to 5 hours.
At the very end of a feeding session, a sleepy or full baby may slow down, stop sucking, and make quivery little sucks. This is flutter sucking. Comfort nursing may include some stronger sucks, but often focuses more on the gentler, spaced motions typical of flutter sucking.
Overfeeding a baby often causes the baby discomfort because he or she can't digest all of the breast milk or formula properly. When fed too much, a baby may also swallow air. This can produce gas, increase discomfort in the belly, and lead to crying.
If they are limp at your breast and barely moving except gentle sucks, they're just sucking but not in an effort to get a real feed. If you can put a pacifier in their mouth and the suck is similar, this is a good way to tell whether they're sucking for a feed or just comfort.
Cluster feeding is a phrase that sometimes is also called “comfort-feeding.” As parents, we react to infant cries and feeding cues, so naturally, we will assume a baby is hungry and when we feed them, they will be satisfied.
It's important for your baby to feed whenever they're hungry during this time. To reduce cluster feeding, avoid stimulation when your baby fusses so they fall back asleep. You can dim the lights, hold them close, rock them, or listen to soft music.
But cluster feeding is perfectly normal, says Attie Sandink, a lactation consultant in Burlington, Ont. “Babies instinctively know how much milk they need. If they're not getting enough, they just want to feed and feed,” she says. This doesn't mean your milk supply is tanking or you need to supplement with formula.
Sounds like cluster feeding, a time when baby needs to nurse frequently in order to satisfy his appetite. Though cluster feeding can happen at any time of the day, it often happens in the evening and is accompanied by a period of fussy and restless behavior that can last for a few hours.
What is Cluster Feeding? Cluster feeding is pretty much what it sounds like...it's back to back nursing sessions that your newborn can demand every 20 minutes to 2 hours. These feeds—one after another—help her boost your milk supply while she is going through a growth spurt.