https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 10 Apr 2026 04:02:13 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-cluster-feeding#post-2804244 Wed, 14 Feb 2018 14:15:48 +0000 periwinklebee 2804244@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thank you all, this is really helpful. I'm sure there is a place for being more regimented about feeding but my baby is just so much happier at this point when he snacks and snoozes and I'm just relieved that it's normal.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-cluster-feeding#post-2804227 Wed, 14 Feb 2018 13:44:11 +0000 agold 2804227@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrswin: I remember my husband feeding me, too!! I honestly never had time to eat for myself. I was constantly nursing the baby and not able to feed myself. I'm wondering if that is how its going to be with baby #2, or will I be more skilled at nursing and be able to nurse and eat on my own! </p> <p>@Pollywog: Ditto on keeping the baby on the breast as much as possible!! :heart: </p> <p>@ElbieKay: I also ignored some of the pediatrician's advice. I think that you can't nurse a newborn too much! </p> <p>@periwinklebee: I relied on KellyMom a lot!</p> <p> @catgirl: I'll never forget the moment I realized that nursing should happen every two hours counting from the START of the last feed. :shocked: There was no break! Totally overwhelming at first, but I'm honestly looking forward to doing it all again with #2! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-cluster-feeding#post-2804224 Wed, 14 Feb 2018 13:37:01 +0000 themrsgoff 2804224@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yeah, there were nights in those early weeks where he would literally nurse all evening, for hours at a time. They're hungry.</p> <p>If that was truly the ped's advice, I'd let it go. Babies are 100% incapable of "making up" that they're hungry. The part of the brain that would be responsible for that kind of manipulation literally has not developed yet. If they're rooting, they need to eat. Feed the baby, and know that while it can be totally exhausting, this will pass! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-cluster-feeding#post-2804194 Wed, 14 Feb 2018 12:40:53 +0000 catgirl 2804194@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At that age DD was eating for 30-40 minutes at a time every two hours. (Two hours from start of one feed to start of the next.) And then in the evening was basically attached to me for 3+ hours on and off. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-cluster-feeding#post-2804190 Wed, 14 Feb 2018 12:30:51 +0000 peachykeen 2804190@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Totally normal as long as he's gaining weight! And also so, so hard - hang in there! I remember wondering how I was ever going to go anywhere but it is temporary and they get much more efficient. On the bright side, it seems to be excellent for your supply :happy: </p> <p>In the beginning, DD2 would eat 7+ hours a day and each feeding (even in the middle of the night) would take 40-45 minutes. I basically parked myself on the couch with her from 4-7pm most nights. Find some good shows to watch on Netflix to make the time pass more quickly.</p> <p>Now she still likes to eat every 2 hours or so, but she can definitely go longer and she eats like 5-6 min at a time on average. It gets so much easier :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-cluster-feeding#post-2804110 Wed, 14 Feb 2018 08:32:57 +0000 periwinklebee 2804110@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrswin: thank you for the link! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-cluster-feeding#post-2804109 Wed, 14 Feb 2018 08:32:02 +0000 periwinklebee 2804109@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pollywog: @ElbieKay: @petitenoisette: thank you all, it makes me feel much better that I’m not doing something obviously wrong! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-cluster-feeding#post-2804108 Wed, 14 Feb 2018 08:31:32 +0000 mrswin 2804108@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: It depends on your personality-if doing a weighed feed with give you some re-assurance/answers and allow you to enjoy it more than look into it, otherwise know that cluster feeding is totally normal and that the 3 week growth spurt is the worst. </p> <p>Have you checked out Kellymom at all? <a href="https://kellymom.com/parenting/parenting-faq/fussy-evening/" rel="nofollow">https://kellymom.com/parenting/parenting-faq/fussy-evening/</a><br /> It is a wonderful resource about feeding (all types) and the articles are really short! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-cluster-feeding#post-2804105 Wed, 14 Feb 2018 08:07:36 +0000 petitenoisette 2804105@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yea, I think the 2 hours for 10 minutes a side guide is not very good advice! The cluster feeding is so tiring, draining and you feel like it's just going to be your life forever, but it will subside very soon! It's really normal and also even if you feel totally 100% empty and you can't imagine how you have any more milk just keep letting the baby nurse because he's sending a message to your body to keep the milk coming!</p> <p>Also regarding doing a weighted feed, if it will reassure you definitely look into it but if your baby is gaining weight it's not like this is something you HAVE to do. I just know at that point I felt really stressed about whether I should have been doing more re: seeing a LC and it just kind of made me feel worse you know? But my baby was doing just fine and we really didn't have any real issues beyond the normal it is hard nursing a 3 week old baby and adjusting to it all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-cluster-feeding#post-2804104 Wed, 14 Feb 2018 07:38:40 +0000 Anya 2804104@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Microscope: haha yes! I called it nurse and nap :grin: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-cluster-feeding#post-2804078 Tue, 13 Feb 2018 20:45:56 +0000 ElbieKay 2804078@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: I ignored some of my pediatrician's advice about feeding and sleep training and have no regrets. I tried to follow my baby's cues. As long as your child is growing I would not get too fixated on a schedule at such a young age. But that is just my opinion. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-cluster-feeding#post-2804067 Tue, 13 Feb 2018 20:05:51 +0000 Pollywog 2804067@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Keep the baby on the breast as much as possible. It doesn't really matter if it's a snack or comfort, there's no harm to cluster feeding at this age. My LO did and it gradually went away, except for when teething. It also really helped my supply</p> <p>Also, I still nurse my 2 year old and he nurses way longer than 10 minutes. It's for comfort, not food </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-cluster-feeding#post-2804063 Tue, 13 Feb 2018 19:41:33 +0000 periwinklebee 2804063@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snarkybiochemist: I’m pretty sure my supply is like this as well, I notice a big difference in how my boobs feel, and my postpartum doula said supply peaks at. 4am and goes down from there... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-cluster-feeding#post-2804061 Tue, 13 Feb 2018 19:31:57 +0000 snarkybiochemist 2804061@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: weighted feeds are awesome for reassurance that he is getting enough or advice on how much supplementing should be happening if needed. I saw my LC for 5 weeks and we tried to mix up the time of day so that I could get a clear picture of how she was doing through out the day. My supply is naturally lower as the day goes on so by night she either needed to eat way more frequently or get supplemented. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-cluster-feeding#post-2804060 Tue, 13 Feb 2018 19:13:28 +0000 periwinklebee 2804060@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Snack and snooze is the perfect description! I really don’t see how people manage to have more than one kid ...</p> <p>@mrswin: I will look into finding someone who can do a weighted feed...we haven’t done that yet as the lactation consultant we saw didn’t have the scale at her office near us but it seems useful... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-cluster-feeding#post-2804058 Tue, 13 Feb 2018 18:46:01 +0000 Mrs. Microscope 2804058@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD would just latch in the morning for the whole day it seemed! I called it "snack and snooze". Totally normal. If you are still concerned for any reason at all, see an IBCLC, they know way more than a pediatrician about breastfeeding. Otherwise I recommend the following: go pee. Fill a giant mug of water (like, 7-11 big gulp size). Grab lots of snacks like lactation cookies, chopped veggies, etc, whatever sounds good to you. Grab nursing pillow and baby, and fire up the Netflix/Amazon/Hulu. Hunker down. You will get through this! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-cluster-feeding#post-2804057 Tue, 13 Feb 2018 18:31:02 +0000 mdf106 2804057@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: Both of my children nursed more than that. My first was pretty erratic, in the timing, but would do at least a half hour a side every 2-3 hours during the day, and would cluster feed like crazy in the evening (but reward us with a long stretch of night sleep). My second got into a regular patter of nurse for one hour, sleep for two, which he would do 24 hours a day. For both, I could not distinguish when they were hungry versus lonely, I would feed when they fussed. Both had great weight gain early on. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-cluster-feeding#post-2804054 Tue, 13 Feb 2018 18:18:33 +0000 mrswin 2804054@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: I think I had replied on you other thread but I think seeing an IBLC would be very helpful, especially one that can do a proper weighted feed. My DD was not a very strong nurser in the beginning and we saw the LC for sometime until her ability to transfer a full feed was well documented.<br /> The growth spurt at 3 weeks was particularly rough, I remember my husband feeding me dinner because my DD literally would not unlatch. We eventually started using the paci to satisfy her need to suck but as I said that was only after we were comfortable with her feeding </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-cluster-feeding#post-2804052 Tue, 13 Feb 2018 17:58:13 +0000 periwinklebee 2804052@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You all make me feel much better! The recommendation from the pediatrician’s office, which is on a handout, is literally ten minutes on each breast every two hours and if they want more than that they need to suck and not eat so give a paci. My baby always takes significantly longer than that... I feel like if I know it’s normal and a stage i can get through it, what sucks is wondering if I’m doing something dumb wrong, lack of sleep doesn’t help... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-cluster-feeding#post-2804050 Tue, 13 Feb 2018 17:44:44 +0000 gingerbebe 2804050@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The growth spurts at 3 weeks and 6 weeks are a beast. They last 5-7 days, just keep feeding the baby. The more they eat the faster it will pass. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-cluster-feeding#post-2804049 Tue, 13 Feb 2018 17:25:18 +0000 snarkybiochemist 2804049@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Cluster feeding is hard and no joke. I remember wanting to cry bc she just wanted to eat and be held for about 4 hrs every night at that age. So I did it, I was working on increasing my supply so I fed on demand. I was supplementing and even an ounce or two of formula didn't seem to help much, it was partly about comfort partly about food. We got take out or my husband cooked and I was in charge of the remote. The lc I was seeing said it was normal. I was still feeding E naked at that point to help her stay awake and I would just leave my nursing tank unclipped and wrap a blanket around my back and we would hang out </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-cluster-feeding#post-2804048 Tue, 13 Feb 2018 17:18:11 +0000 KT326 2804048@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Same as @MaryM, ours was "at least" every 2 hours. But our ped also warned me about cluster feeding and said that while it is exhausting for mom, it is perfectly normal for the baby to nurse on and off for hours. At this point you are still establishing your supply. </p> <p>Also, both my boys did way longer than 10 minutes on each side until they were about 6 weeks old. My first was always a lazy eater, taking 30-40 minutes because I kept having to wake him up. Even as an older infant he was easily distracted. My second, once he hit that 6 week mark became very efficient. Never nursed for more than 15 minutes, draining both breasts in that time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-cluster-feeding#post-2804041 Tue, 13 Feb 2018 16:47:03 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 2804041@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Have you done a weighed feeding? That could give you peace of mind that baby is getting enough. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-cluster-feeding#post-2804040 Tue, 13 Feb 2018 16:46:12 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 2804040@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There is a growth spurt at 3 weeks. I remember not doing much of anything except nursing for a couple of days. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-cluster-feeding#post-2804037 Tue, 13 Feb 2018 16:39:04 +0000 MaryM 2804037@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Are you sure the ped's recommendation was a limit and not an "at least" recommendation?</p> <p>I'm not there yet, but what I've heard from lactation consultants is that the "every 2-3 hours" advice is usually an "at least" recommendation. If your baby hasn't eaten in 2-3 hours, wake them up and make sure they're eating enough...but that you can't really overfeed a baby. </p> <p>does your ped's office have a lactation consultant you could clarify with? Or a nurses line you could call to double check with? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-cluster-feeding#post-2804035 Tue, 13 Feb 2018 16:32:43 +0000 agold 2804035@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Congratulations on your baby! I am not a breast feeding expert by any means, and I remember still feeling like a zombie during week three. I always just nursed my baby. All times, any times. The cluster feeding is especially exhausting. But it doesn't last. And if your baby is gaining weight, then your supply should be fine. And cluster feeding will help any supply issues you think you have. Good luck! I hope you have a super supportive husband. Any support you can get helps. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-cluster-feeding#post-2804021 Tue, 13 Feb 2018 16:02:01 +0000 periwinklebee 2804021@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My three week old will typically cluster feed in the evening and sometimes late afternoon. He will be semi awake for an extended period, eating and dozing at the breast, but even holding him I can’t really get him to properly nap. If I’ve had a chance to pump earlier in the day we will sometimes give him a bottle of pumped milk and he will generally scarf that down. Normally in the morning and early afternoon he’s somewhat easier to get to nap and we have a more normal schedule of eating approximately every two hours. But today he’s wanted to do nothing but eat and doze while eating since 8 am this morning. </p> <p>So a couple of questions... the cluster feeding goes quite a bit against the ped’s recommendation to feed ten minutes on each breast every 2 hours but as far as I can tell is pretty normal for newborns and not indicative of a problem? I’m nervous about supply since his weight gain was low initially but it was above normal last week with just breastfeeding and so the ped said not to worry...And what if the baby wants to cluster feed all day, does that happen with growth spurts or is it less normal? I also am still unsure whether hunger cues/rooting always means he’s hungry or if sometimes he wants to eat for comfort because something else is bothering him, gas, constipation, too hot or cold, etc.... </p>