Cluster Feeding

Around 3 weeks and again at 6 weeks, your newborn is probably sleeping better, and for longer stretches during the night. That's the good news. The downside is he may wake up ravenous.

Don't be alarmed if your nursing baby suddenly starts treating your breasts like an all-you-can-eat buffet, eating once then coming back for more again and again. Known as cluster feeding, babies nurse frequently at certain times to feel full and support their development. While cluster feeding can be stressful and limiting for you, it passes quickly.

What is cluster feeding?

Cluster feeding is a smart way for your baby to boost your milk supply during growth spurts. There's nothing wrong with your milk or supply, but baby's instincts know that feeding every hour or so is the best way to trigger your body to produce more. Spacing out feedings would not be nearly as efficient.

Cluster feeding and milk supply

Your milk supply is tailored to your baby’s demands. At first, he probably did more sleeping than eating, nursed on a somewhat predictable schedule and snacked occasionally. As he grows, so will his calorie and nutrition needs.

Babies' intake of breast milk or formula nearly doubles during the first six months, and cluster feeding — nursing frequently to coax more supply — is one way of making sure you'll have enough in the tank when his appetite increases.

When do babies cluster feed?

Cluster feeding sessions are most common around 3 weeks and again at 6 weeks. That's when babies have their first of many growth spurts, and it's in both of your interests to make sure your milk supply can keep up with your baby’s hungry belly.

How do you know a cluster session is looming? By now you're probably in tune with your baby's hunger cues, which could give you a signal. If he starts smacking his lips, trying to position himself to nurse, rooting around for the breast, or starting to cry, you know a long feeding may be about to happen. 

How long does cluster feeding last?

Marathon feeding sessions may be fun for your baby, but they can be emotionally and physically draining for you. Hang in there. Cluster feeding sessions rarely last for more than two days. (If they go on for more than a week, check his weight; he may not be getting enough calories.)

While it's almost impossible to get enough sleep when your baby is demanding a feeding every hour, try to relax and go with the flow — literally.

How to deal with cluster feeding

Tips for making a cluster session more bearable include making sure you're well nourished, hydrated and rested. Keep healthy snacks and water handy, have your favorite movie cued up on Netflix and enlist your partner or a friend to keep you company or even offer a foot rub.

Don't assume cluster feeding demands bed rest. You can do it anywhere, and some moms successfully cluster feed on-the-go with their babies in a sling or carrier.

Try not to get discouraged or start to think that your milk supply isn't adequate. It is. 

It's also tempting to turn to formula to appease your baby's appetite, but this tactic can backfire by stalling your milk production and potentially causing you to quit breastfeeding earlier than planned. 

How does cluster feeding start?

If your 3- or 6-week-old baby starts fussing immediately after feeding, or if he starts rooting around for more after he's drained one or both breasts, he may be starting to cluster feed. 

This often happens when your baby starts sleeping more during the night, making his less-frequent feeding sessions even more important.

How to stop cluster feeding

Cluster feeding is nature's inconvenient and exhausting way of making sure your body is primed to feed a growing baby, so settle in for the ride if you can. Pumping between feedings can help keep your milk flow on overdrive as you sate your baby's appetite, as can "power pumping," an on-and-off kind of pumping that boosts milk supply by mimicking cluster feeding (where you pump for 10 to 20 minutes, then rest for 10 minutes and repeat for an hour).