Cluster Feeding

Are you busy with a cluster feeding newborn? Whether you are trying to feed very often to increase milk supply, or you are feeding every hour because baby seems starving, this post will help you learn the different types of cluster feeds. I’ll show you how to make sure your infant takes full feeds and avoids snacking, and how to purposefully cluster feed to get longer sleep stretches. This will help you know what to do so you’re not up all night feeding a baby every hour. 

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Newborns are perfectly snuggly and sweet and warm and wonderful. It’s like you are focused on being so heavily pregnant and making it to birth and then… in an instant you have a tiny person that is so perfect.

And dependent on you.

But it can be hard to survive.

If they won’t sleep well, don’t seem to be eating well, and are irritable due to gas pain, overtiredness, or even baby teething… then you can feel like you’re slowly starting to lose your mind from lack of sleep and complete world upheaval.

It’s fairly easy to go with baby’s flow… until baby’s flow is constant eating, very little sleeping, and fussiness that makes mama stressed out.

Common Phenomenon

There’s a common phenomenon with little ones… cluster feeding.

What is it?

Cluster feeding (n): A breastfeeding pattern when baby groups several feeding sessions in a short window of time. It can happen for a number of reasons (some purposeful, some not), which we’ll dive into below.

How babies cluster feed – 4 likely scenarios:

1. Baby cluster feeds at night, but not during the day.
2. Baby cluster feeds both day and night.
3. Or baby snacks all day but never takes full long feeds.
4. Baby cluster feeds some time in the late afternoon/early evening period (5 pm to 11 pm) on purpose.

Rules of thumb while cluster feeding your newborn

Cluster feeding can really feel difficult or confusing, but I want to assure you that these newborns days are intense yet they will pass.

And the habits you start now can create a strong foundation then fade out naturally into a mutually beneficial routine.

Remember, during this time you may find your baby log comes in handy to refer back to. You certainly don’t need to keep track of anything, but organized mamas often feel comforted by this. Knowing that baby is getting enough milk and sleep throughout the day.

Reasons cluster feeding works

So first of all, you’ll end up cluster feeding at some point in the day with your newborn.

Their tummies are tiny and they need to fill them up at regular intervals.

This is actually a good thing and you can use this feeding rhythm to your benefit in a way that means baby gets more sleep and you do too.

Read: End Baby’s Witching Hour — In 4 Simple Steps

Reasons Tanking Up Is Beneficial And Why Babies Do It:

• Your baby gets lots of nourishment in a shorter period of time which is beneficial during the late afternoon/early evening hours when, depending on your personal stress levels, milk quality may be lower.
• Baby can sleep longer stretches after cluster feeding periods.
• Mom can sleep longer stretches because baby is sleeping longer stretches.
• Milk supply can be kept up with regular feeding.
• Cluster feeds help babies get through growth spurts by maintaining adequate milk supply.
• Your baby is less likely to wake up early from a nap or night sleep due to hunger.

Read: Dreamfeed: The Why, The How, & When To Stop

Watch my video on an important cluster feeding issue.

Hourly feedings at night: day night confusion?

If your baby cluster feeds at night, but not during the day then sweet baby probably has some day night confusion going on.

The goal is to make those cluster feeds during daytime hours so they’re sleeping longer stretches at night.

If baby wants to nap for 4 hours during the day… well… don’t let him!

Follow my newborn sample routine or my week by week newborn schedule and do what works for you, but know that if you let baby sleep long stretches during the day he will be up more frequently at night.

Lots of lengthy daytime naps lowers baby’s sleep need. A baby only needs so much deep sleep in a 24 hour period and if he’s getting it during the day… he won’t at night.

Read: What To Do When Baby Is Feeding Every Hour (& Not Sleeping!)

The way forward? 

Purposefully cluster feed your newborn in late afternoon and early evening and make sure baby is taking full feeds.

This means at least 10 minutes per breast if you’re nursing, often times twice that.

Read: Cocooning a Newborn & 7 Reasons Why it Can Be Good For The Family

Read: How To Fix Day/Night Confusion In 3 Nights Or Less

How to stop cluster feeding at night (if you’re ready)

Whew.

Ain’t no mama want to be up every hour at night. The good news is you don’t have to be.

Even if you are feeding every hour through the night, you can shift that and begin getting longer stretches at night.

What’s the main 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 you start giving baby full feeds throughout the day (this will mean you’ll have to do jump through some hoops to keep baby up) and baby settles into a predictable routine then they’ll sleep longer stretches at night.

Purposefully cluster feed in the late afternoon period when the milk supply is at its lowest quality (4 pm onwards) so that baby’s tummy is as full as it can be.

This will promote deeper sleep.

Eventually, even if baby wakes frequently at night for feeds, if you are not giving long full feeds throughout the night baby will get it.

It’s super hard when your newborn is cluster feeding all night, but you will get there and it will get easier!

Are you feeding your newborn both day and night?

If you have a cluster feeding newborn both day and night there are only a few likely alternatives.

• Milk supply is low and baby is starving.
• Baby is going through a growth spurt and is starving.
• Baby is only “snacking” and not taking full feeds or getting to the hindmilk rich in nutrients because he just takes a bit then stops.

The best way to help baby stop cluster feeding day and night is to determine which issue you’re having.

If it’s milk supply then continue feeding until your supply is up or supplement with formula (see a lactation expert).

Alternatively, if baby is going through a growth spurt then there’s nothing to do but wait it out and feed baby as much as possible to keep them full and get your supply up to meet the demand.

What to do if baby only “snacks”

• Keep baby awake during feeds by taking off their clothes except diaper. You can also rub their feet, cheeks, or hands with a baby wipe or keep trying to stimulate them to stay awake long enough to feed. You can put them on a soft blanket or tummy time mat and let them kick in their diaper until they’ve woken up, then continue feeding.
• Try not to put baby down to sleep if they fall asleep while nursing unless they just won’t wake up. Keep trying to feed baby even if it takes a bit of time so they’ll get as much as they can.

• Differentiate between active nursing and non-nutritive sucking, and let baby do one but maybe not the other.
• Give the baby a pacifier (the pacifier I recommend that stays in baby’s mouth) if they wake and want to nurse right after having nursed a short time ago. They might just need to satisfy the sucking urge and this will help. Also, the next time they feed after this will mean they’ll take more milk and keep your supply up. “Snacking” can contribute to a lower milk supply because baby is never emptying a breast and getting the rich milk.

Eventually by doing those things baby will stop snacking and start taking fuller feeds which will naturally result in longer times between feeds.

Read: The Ultimate Newborn Sleep Schedule: Week By Week For The Postpartum Period

Cluster feeding in the early evening

The prime time to have newborn cluster feeding sessions is the late afternoon early evening.

As I previously said, the milk supply can be lower in quantity and quality at this time due to the stresses of the day.

Because of this, feeding baby every 2 hours for a few hours will help keep your supply up, will keep the little one happy, and will set them up to sleep longer stretches at night.

Your evening routine might look something like this. 

By purposefully cluster feeding in the right time you’ll help everyone sleep more at night while keeping your precious one topped up on milk.

Common issues postpartum moms have with cluster feeding newborns

I’m going to touch on some majorly common issues moms experience in the early months. Dive in and get ready for some serious support.

Frequent nursing demands from your newborn can wear a mama out

You love your newborn to pieces. You are going to make sure baby is nourished and safe. Of course, you want baby to be content. You also can admit that cluster feeding (particularly when baby is feeding every hour and not sleeping) can be demanding.

• You may feel like you’re in a constant nap trap.
• Or maybe your newborn only takes contact naps so you feel like your body is not your own.
• Perhaps baby won’t take a bottle or you aren’t expressing and so nobody else *can* help.

My best advice: if you want to go with the flow during this phase then you need to surrender. If you don’t want to go with the flow, then you can create your own newborn routine and go with that flow.

Cluster feeding your newborn can lead to feelings of sleep deprivation

If you’re focusing on cluster feeding in the late afternoon early evening hours then this won’t affect your own sleep much. Unless you’re a late afternoon disco napper!

On the other hand, if you find yourself cluster feeding your newborn throughout the night then you are likely worn slam out. Tired like you were forced to do a HIIT workout with baby strapped on then couldn’t lie down and rest after.

The true fact is this: you must have sleep to function well.

Isolate when baby seems to be cluster feeding. If it’s during the night, then focus on giving your baby full feeds and not snacking. If baby wakes up an hour after a full feed, you know it’s not hunger. The you can comfort baby back to sleep.

It’s important you know how to settle a newborn to sleep without feeding. I go into that in my guide below.

Cluster feeding, as an instinct, can lead to confusion about baby’s cues

If you automatically shove baby on the breast at every whimper or gristle you’ll rob yourself of learning baby’s cues. A tired baby is comforted by sleep. A hungry baby is comforted by being fed.

It’s a mama’s job to learn to differentiate.

Before immediately offering milk to a baby who has been fed very recently, watch and observe. Attempt comfort in other ways. You want more comfort tols under your tool belt than simply feeding. This will ring true for many months to come.

Frequent feedings can make it tough to care for older children

This is a very common refrain I hear from mamas. They are focused – of course – on making sure that their newborn is okay, but there are other children underfoot.

Toddlers and preschoolers will love baby as well, but there will be some tension if mom is always plopped on the couch feeding during their every waking hour.

• Focus on full feeds throughout most of the day to avoid nursing 24/7.
• Before sitting down to nurse, plan what your little ones may do near you.
• Don’t resort to screen time at each nursing session, particularly if you are nursing in clusters all day (this will be way too much screen time!)

Make sure you are feeling supported and not alone

The newborn period can feel super isolating. Many moms despair surviving it. To put it bluntly. One thing that can lead to these feelings is that everything feels pointless. Constant cluster feeding can contribute to a sense of helplessness and powerlessness.

Why go out? I’ll just need to feed in the line, at the table, in the car, etc.

Why go to church? Baby will just cry.

It is true that these early weeks and months require a lot of hands-on attention and focus. But even so, it’s important that you reach out and take advantage of support. If you are constantly nursing your baby and feel nobody else can do that for you, then get them to help with other things.

• Get a mother’s helper to help with chores.
• Let others watch baby while you shower or do self-care.
• Get out of the house even if it’s just to go outside!
• Don’t nurse fears or worries. Talk to someone who is an expert.
• Baby won’t sleep? Learn to settle without feeding. Anybody can do this (your mom, your MIL, the nanny, babysitter, or older sibling, etc.)

Summary

• Feed every 1.5 to 2 hours during the early evening.
• Give baby plenty of milk before their bedtime so they are satisfied and sleep longer.
• Cluster feed during the DAY so you don’t find yourself having to cluster feed at NIGHT.
• Drop the cluster feeds when baby is no longer interested in one of the feeds.

Remember, feeding at frequent intervals in the late afternoon early evening will not solve actual sleep problems, but it will help your little one have a full tummy.

Sleep issues might subside if they were hunger related.

Need sample routines for babies 6 weeks and older?

By now, you know how to handle the early days, but what after? Here is the good news: you’ve set your baby up for a foundation of success.

Now all you need to do is continue to find routines that work for you and your baby as they grow up and begin getting bigger and bigger.

Sob.

After having 5 babies with 5 different personalities, I know a thing or two about finding a good schedule.

This is why I’ve created a book of sample routines and schedules for babies ages 6 weeks up to 5 years.

The book includes information on how long to let baby stay awake, how much play time is good for each age, what to do with baby when baby is awake but not quite mobile, and even how to manage toddler and baby joint routines.

Chapters covered in Rhythms, Routines & Schedules  include:

Section One: Sample Schedules

• 6 Weeks to 3 Months Old
• 3-6 Months Old
• 7-9 Months Old
• 9-12 Months Old
• 12-18 Months Old
• 2-3 Years Old
• 4-5 Years Old

Section Two: Tips and Tricks

• Tips for Managing the Day With Multiple Children
• Daily Rhythms for an Only Child Ages 1-4 Years Old
• Daily Rhythms for Multiple Small Children Ages 0-5
• Sample Bedtime, Mealtime, and Playtime Routines
• Tips for Keeping Kids Busy Throughout the Day

For more sample routines, mom tested and approved schedules for babies ages 6 weeks and up, check out Rhythms, Routines & Schedules right now.

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