Cluster feeding

[Nutsyputs]

I know every baby is different but was just wondering what other people's experiences were.

Ds is 8 weeks and breast fed. During the day he mostly goes 2 hourly between feeds. At night he goes between 4-6 hours. But it gets to 6 pm and he just wants to be attached to me until he goes to bed at 11pm. ( I know 11pm is late but I can't get him to go any earlier) I've been told this is normal but was wondering if and when this will calm down?

 

[J_Anne]

My LO is 8 weeks on Tuesday. She did the exact same thing until we introduced a bedtime. We noticed she would fall into a deep sleep at about 9pm so started a routine about 8.30, the first couple of nights she still cluster fed we then noticed she was fighting to keep her eyes open after about 7.30 so brought her bedtime forward. Since then she has slept through. I think when she was cluster feeding both her and I were mistaking tiredness for hunger so she really just wanted comfort and sleep. Like you say though, they're all different! It also helped when I got her a dummy, it meant she stopped using me as a dummy, I don't know if that's what your LO is doing but I found she wasn't feeding properly, it was just for comfort

 

[knopk@]

Both my sons are the same. Fussy and want to feed/suck in.the evening. Its not even always feeding. I am afraid its normal ( i am typing with 1 hand). They do grow out of it, i remember it starting to get better after 3 months but breast is their comfort as well as food

Tapatalking so cant see signatures

 

[Nutsyputs]

My LO is 8 weeks on Tuesday. She did the exact same thing until we introduced a bedtime. We noticed she would fall into a deep sleep at about 9pm so started a routine about 8.30, the first couple of nights she still cluster fed we then noticed she was fighting to keep her eyes open after about 7.30 so brought her bedtime forward. Since then she has slept through. I think when she was cluster feeding both her and I were mistaking tiredness for hunger so she really just wanted comfort and sleep. Like you say though, they're all different! It also helped when I got her a dummy, it meant she stopped using me as a dummy, I don't know if that's what your LO is doing but I found she wasn't feeding properly, it was just for comfort

I've tried dummies, he will have it for about 10mins then spit it out. I've tried putting him in his cot to see if will sleep earlier but he ends up screaming. I'm sure he comfort feeds but if I try and stop or try and distract him he ends up getting so worked up.

 

[Vickyxx]

I found that giving an expressed bottle after Alex's bath really helps. Because he is eating more in one go then he would if i just gave him boob he gets a nice full tum and stops the fussing ... I still have to offer boob after to get him to go to sleep tho but mainly for comfort rather then food.

 

[babymother]

My twins are the same too. It is normal and doesn't last long, like most things it's a phase, and 8 weeks is a big growing time for babies, so this probably has something to do with it.
Go with flow if you can, the cluster feeds don't last for long.

 

[l_maclean]

Totally normal. The cluster feeding is LO trying to stock up enough to get through the night - which you can see from the jump of two hours to 4-6, they do being bedtime forward naturally on their own, so try not to stress about it too much. X


On my iPhone - so cant see tickers

 

[tiggy85]

Mine used to cluster feed from 4 till 9 pm most nights until around 8 weeks. It will ease off soon but come back during growth spurts.

Mine still does do a long feed before bed- 45 mins to an hour. His other feeds during the day are 5-7 mins so think he does this to enable him to sleep longer at night. He is 17 weeks now and has only just started doing 6-8 hours over night.

 

[Belfast girl]

Hi mine cluster feeds from 3-6 which isn't that bad. I have to do top ups anyway but at 6.30 I bath her and give her a top up at 7pm and leave her to sleep then. She then goes 7-11 and 11-5.30ish. Its important for me to have both babies asleep by 7.30 so I can get things done and spend time alone with my oh. The top up is expressed milk from the previous morning.