Cluster Feeding

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What is Cluster Feeding?
Cluster feeding, or bunch feeding, is when feedings are spaced closer together than usual. This usually occurs in the evening with younger babies and is often followed by a longer than usual stretch of sleep. Many babies will cluster feed on their own during the early months while other times moms may introduce a cluster feed to help extend
night sleep.

Please keep in mind that cluster feeds are totally fine and normal, even if you are trying to do a 2.5-3 hour routine etc. You will just adjust your routine to work with this while it lasts.

What does The Baby Whisperer suggest:
Along with the dreamfeed, The Baby Whisperer suggests cluster feeding to help baby "tank up" before bed. Click on the link to find more about tanking up.

She suggests you cluster feed at two hour intervals in the evening before bed. Usually you will end up cluster feeding the last two feedings before bed, often turning the last feeding into two feedings and making bedtime a bit later. So, if you normally feed baby around 7 pm, then feed at 6pm and 8 pm instead and have baby's bedtime be after the 8 pm feeding. Instead of long naps, you will have short ones before and after these cluster feedings, so the nap before 6 pm would be short and the nap after 6 pm would be short. This is just a suggestion, you can cluster feed in whatever way works best for you and your baby.

When should I START cluster feeding?
I suggest you do it soon after baby's birth. If you haven't been doing it and baby is younger than 8 weeks, then go ahead and try it. Most babies will naturally cluster feed in the evening.

When should I STOP cluster feeding?
Most babies do best when cluster feeding is stopped around 8 weeks of age. But pay close attention to your baby to see if it needs to be stopped sooner or stopped later. My boys have needed it to be stopped sooner. More like 5-6 weeks of age. My daughter was never interested in cluster feeding so I didn't do it.

What if my baby won't cluster feed?
First off, try a little longer. Many babies need time to get used to things. If this still doesn't work, then don't worry about it. Put all your focus on the dream feed instead.

What if my baby does a nursing marathon cluster feed?
Some babies will want to nurse all evening long, usually during their fussy period. Sometimes babies will even nurse for a minute, cry for a minutes, then nurse again for a minute. Many mothers start to worry about their milk supply and about their diet (i.e. is something they are eating hurting baby's tummy?). Rarely are these things a problem and supplementing, which sometimes occurs in response to this, often makes the situation worse, not better. Baby is just fussy and this is how many babies react. I have even had to nurse my boys standing up and rocking in the evenings to get them to be content.

On a side note, but a very important note, I want to point out that I do not sit and nurse my babies endlessly in the evening. I generally stick to a feeding routine, feeding more often if baby actually seems hungry, or if baby isn't soothed by other methods (i.e. rocking, baby carrier, pacifier). It is important to me that baby knows how to be soothed in other ways outside of nursing. It is also important to me that someone, mainly my husband, can soothe baby if I am not available. These things are important to me and reflect in the advice I give, but they are certainly not the opinion of everyone.

Do I really need to cluster feed? It is so hard to do!
Of course you don't have to do it. But for many babies it is extremely helpful in encouraging them to sleep longer stretches at night. It sure can make the evening extra busy when you are trying to take care of children and get dinner ready so some people don't do it (that is, if baby doesn't ask to be fed). If doing cluster feeds makes life too difficult in the evening then 1) keep in mind that it is only for several weeks and will be over soon or 2) Don't' do it and focus on the dreamfeed instead.