WTF is Cluster Feeding?!

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Have you heard the term cluster feeding and wondered what was being talked about? We have all been there. Cluster feeding is when a baby keeps feeding over and over for a long period of time. It can go on for hours and is starkly different from baby’s normal feeding habits.

First and foremost, it is perfectly natural. It is not a sign of anything being wrong. Cluster feeding can be hard to identify though. Newborns and young infants do not have very reliable feeding or sleeping schedules. So a few days here and there that seem like baby going crazy may or may not stand out.

Signs of cluster feeding-

Less than a month or two old
Hunger signs like rooting for the breast, sucking on hands, opening and closing mouth
Refuses to stop crying until fed
Feeds continuously with or without short breaks
No other obvious signs of problems aside from being generally fussy
Normal peeing and pooping

Benefits of cluster feeding-

Breastfeeding moms will produce more milk to keep up
Baby gets full enough for longer periods of sleep
Baby has the nutrition needed for growth spurts
Baby can bond with the parent doing the feeding
Baby can relax and calm down while feeding

How often should I expect cluster feeding?

Cluster feeding tends to line up with your baby’s growth spurts, so typically-

In the first few days after birth
A week after birth
2-3 weeks after birth
4-6 weeks after birth
12 weeks after birth
16 weeks after birth
24 weeks after birth
36 weeks after birth

Each of these periods may only last a day or two or up to a week. Many babies stop cluster feeding after the 16 week mark, but some keep going. They may also go through fussy periods that coincide with mental development.

I need sleep. How do I make cluster feeding stop at night?!

Rampant cluster feeding at night usually means baby has their schedule backwards. Multiple nighttime feedings are hard on parents whether it’s breastfeeding or bottle feeding. The trick is to train or retrain baby to understand day vs night. Their sleep patterns need to get established with the correct part of the day.

Here’s a few tips for getting baby asleep when they should be-

Awake or not, lay them down at the same time each evening.
Play sounds or music to signal sleep time
Make sure the house is quiet and calm
Keep lights off in the room that baby sleeps in
Open blinds or keep lights on when baby is supposed to be awake
Keep nighttime feedings calm and quick

Basically, the environment in the house should be cueing baby on when it is time to sleep. This will take time. The process of baby relearning their sleep schedule won’t happen immediately, but over time you should see a significant improvement.