Cluster feeding is the term used to describe when babies feed several times close together at a particular time of the day. Babies who cluster feed will have several hours where they feed almost constantly or simply close together while the rest of their daily feedings will have several hours separating them as normal. Cluster feeding is more likely to occur in the evening but different babies will have different habits.

Cluster feeding is especially common in younger babies although some mothers report that it returns when older babies get close to a growth spurt. Read on to learn how you can deal with this situation.

Is Cluster Feeding Normal?

Most of the time cluster feeding will occur when a baby is fussy. The baby will follow a pattern of nursing for several minutes, pulling off and then crying or fussing, and repeating the cycle. In many cases moms begin to wonder if this is normal and if the baby is receiving enough milk.

The good news for mothers is that cluster feeding is completely normal and doesn’t mean that you are doing anything wrong. As long as your baby is happy most of the day and is never in pain while being fussy, just continue to soothe him. Let your baby nurse for as long as he wants and as often as necessary.

Although cluster feeding is most common in newborns, some older infants will also cluster feed to prepare for a growth spurt. The clustered feedings help increase the mother’s milk supply as well as the daily caloric intake of the baby. In some cases when the baby begins eating more at night, he will sleep for longer at a time at night.

Precautions: If your child is gaining weight correctly but the cluster feedings keep going, you should consider the real cause of the fussiness. In some cases it may be due to something such as colic which is better resolved in ways other than feeding.

Most of the time cluster feeding will only last for the first month or so of pregnancy but can return to help your baby with his growth spurts. Keep in mind, however, that every child is different so cluster feeding may last for longer.

How to Deal with Cluster Feeding

Most of the techniques for dealing with cluster feeding involve soothing your baby while fussy. Here are some of the best methods:

• Keep your baby with you in a baby carrier or sling. This way you can hold and soothe him while you do your everyday tasks.
• Ask your significant other to take care of the baby for a little bit so you shower or simply relax.
• Spend some time outside with your baby by going for a walk. This will relax both of you.
• Use sound to soothe your baby. Experiment with different sounds, types of music, and even singers. You can also use white noise, murmur, talk, hum, or sing yourself.
• Use rhythmic motion such as car rides, swinging, dancing, bouncing, swaying, or walking to soothe your baby. Combine soothing sounds and rhythmic motion.
• Soothe your baby with touch by holding or bathing him. You can also try baby massage.
• Reduce the outside stimulation by swaddling your baby, reducing the noise, and dimming the lights.
• Try to change your nursing positions occasionally. When sitting down for a long stretch of feeding your fussy baby, try to get as comfortable as possible and keep entertainment for yourself nearby.
• Nurse the baby while you are walking, swaying, or rocking.
• Try not to schedule anything for the times your baby is usually fussy. Accept that your baby will be feeding at this time.
• Always keep water by you when feeding as long periods of breastfeeding can dehydrate you.
• Always try to eat dinner before your baby usually eats. If you don’t eat in time, you will have to sit through several hours of feeding your baby while hungry.

Watch a very helpful video to learn more tips on cluster feeding from a mom with 5 kids!

Cluster Feeding—Experiences of Other Moms

Cluster feeding is a very normal experience and sometimes it helps to know that other mothers are going through the same experience. These are the experiences of some mothers.

“My daughter is four weeks old and she tends to doze off while feeding but when I try to put her down, she wants to keep feeding. For the past several days I’ve been setting a routine and it’s working. Between 4 and 6 in the afternoon I will feed her whenever she gives a cue and ignore other responsibilities. After that, I get a short break until she feeds constantly again starting at 8pm or 9pm. But by 10:30 or so she is ready to go to sleep for several hours. I always make sure that she is truly done eating before putting her down by waiting for her to move her head away.”

 

“My pediatrician told us to wake up our baby every two hours so she can eat during the day. At night we were supposed to let her sleep, but not more than four hours. At night before bed, I try to cluster feed so she’s full and sleeps all night. Whenever she cries, you need to pay attention as newborns can’t soothe themselves. And get sleep whenever your child is asleep.”