does clusterfeeding work before bedtime? 6 weeks old

[beckymcfc]

Hi there

My 6 week old son is currently 9lb3 and is feeding 5oz every 4 hours. In order to help him sleep longer during the night I've been told to try cluster feeding. Does anyone have any experience of this and if so howmuch should I feed him and when?

He currently has his last feed at 11pm, then we go to bed and he'll wake around 3am then 7am.

I look forward to receiving your advice.

Hi. You might want to post this in breast and bottle feeding as well. I didn't bottle feed and found both my babies demanded cluster feeds. I know it isn't much help but only feeding twice in the night at six weeks is pretty good going.

I thought cluster feeding referred to breastfeeding and meant when the baby has lots of small feeds clustered together usually in the evening and is because milk supply is lower/not as good 'quality'.

Sorry not more helpful.

Yes worked well with both. But I found had to time it carefully and moderate the amount so didn't end up not drinking or being sick. So would try to do about 3/4 feeds every 2 hours from about 4.30 to 10/11.

Dd2 8 weeks and about 11 pounds - will now usually go through 11-5 if gets all these feeds (or will wake at 3 for one quick feed). However I fully anticipate this going backwards about 14 weeks or so as 4 -6 month regression hits (was my experience with dd1 who was similar).

And agree that his feeding sounds good for his age .

I didnt think cluster feeding was anything to do with milk quality but was usually related to growth spurts so baby was boosting supply when required?

If your baby is hungry, feed him. If he's not interested, then don't worry about filling him up for longer sleep. it sounds like you're getting a good chunk of sleep between night feeds ATM so am DD was up every 3 hrs or more!