Are babies really hungry every time they root?

[MamaChris]

Even as I write that, it sounds like such a dumb question, and surely the answer is simply "yes". But at the same time I've been feeding one or two babies (12 day old twins) non-stop for 5 out of the last 6 hours, and they're still rooting. I really don't remember ds1 doing this for more than 2-3 hours max. They'll feed, fall asleep, fall off, wake up and root. I'm going slightly mad, and wondering if there's something else babies need apart from milk and cuddles that I'm forgetting?

My DD did this but she wasn't latched properly. I'm guessing that you know what you're doing and so it isn't that?

I hadn't a clue so didn't realise why my baby was feeding for 2 hours at a time. Ouch!

Ah, you'rs posting in the afternoon / evening. This sounds like classic cluster feeding to me. Lots of babies do it and it stops after a few weeks or the first two or three months.

Info from Kellymom here.

Bertie, I think latch is ok (tho not convinced I know what I'm doing :)) as other times they can seem quite ok after just 30 mins or so.

Thanks for the link, AngelDog. That sounds like it, but 6 hours?! I guess if it's cluster feeding, at least I should be glad they're synchronised.

Maybe a growth spurt so they are seeking to up your supply? Don't know enouugh to know when they should be really...I would just go with it at this point I think...can understand this must be prety hardcore with twins though! Good on you!

At this age I would say that the rooting is a sign of hunger

Some days all you do is feed - it is so hard

My DD cluster fed for around 4 -5 hours in the evenings ... Sorry but it is usual breatsfeeding behaviour and it does settle down

You are doing amazingly to feed twins

Yes. Remember how tiny their tummies are at this age. Well done for feeding twins!

Well i don't know. All 3 of mine rooted non stop, but latched well and had great weight gain (never dropped below birth weight and shot up the centiles). I gave DD1 a dummy at 10 days as I was going mad with non stop rooting feeding and crying. She loved it and stopped rooting and screaming for first time since she was born. Within a few months she dropped the dummy and had her thumb permanently in her mouth.... still does 5 yrs on (a whole other problem!). She just loved to suck. Funnily enough I found it much easier to know when to feed once I started using the dummy as she'd spit it out and cry. The other two were just the same, they didn't find their thumbs until 3 months and until then needed the dummies as they wanted to suck non stop. I'm not sure this is good advice though as lots of people say don't use a dummy pre 6 weeks.

Well done by the way....

I agree with NellytheElephant. Some babies just like sucking. I found that mine would happily suck on a dummy if they weren't hungry but would continually spit it out and cry if they were.