What is cluster feeding?
Here are two words that I’d never heard together before becoming a mom: Cluster feeding. And sweet mercy, did they ever send me spinning. Yep, won’t be forgetting those words in a long, long time.
I remember my baby’s first cluster feeding experience with me. So many thoughts flew through my brain as my newborn continued to eat ... and eat and eat and eat and eat:
Why won't my baby stop eating? Is something wrong?
What if my milk supply runs out?
Why does the universe hate me?
And then, Dear child, make it stop. Mommy’s breasts may actually fall off.
Allow me to give you the 411 on cluster feeding so that you don’t spin out into a universe of panic like I did.
First of all, cluster feeding is when your baby requires feedings with little to no break in-between. It is completely normal and healthy. Newborns often snack and feed during the day, and then gear up for a late afternoon or evening cluster feed to store calories for their night sleep.
Secondly, baby will have a number of catnaps during their cluster feed marathon. These short naps are going to help your little one avoid overtiredness before bedtime, so they are a good thing … even if you keep thinking, Thank goodness! It’s finally over. I can go and – oh wait, she’s awake and feeding again.
Thirdly, the longest stretch of your baby’s night sleep happens after a cluster feeding period, signalling the beginning of the 24 hour body clock … so get straight to sleep! This is your chance to soak in all the slumber that you can.
Did you know that cluster feeding often ends when a baby is ready to move their bedtime earlier to gain a longer night? Yep, it’s true. So if you notice that cluster feeds are few and far between, consider shifting baby’s bedtime earlier.
Finally, a great bedtime for a newborn is between 8-10pm. I know, it seems rather late for such a tiny person, but it’s perfectly healthy for their development. By 12 weeks of age, you’ll want to shuffle bedtime to land between 7-8pm.
Need some great tips for surviving cluster feeding? Check out part 2 of our cluster feeding mini series here.
And if you’re feeling overwhelmed by all of the baby things you now think should have been covered in school, you’re not alone.
Our Nurturing Newborns course is a terrific option for parents who are looking for support with newborn sleep. In this course we:
Walk you through understanding how sleep works for newborns
Give you a manageable sleep goal to implement each week (so you don’t have to sleep train later)
Answer alllll of those questions that come up with a new baby (Why is my baby crying? How do I swaddle? What is cluster feeding? Is it okay if my baby rolls to their stomach to sleep? And much more.)
Give you resources to be successful as baby ages
If you are an expecting mama or a parent with a baby ages 0-4 months, you can find out more information here.
Happy feeding,
Anna