Cluster feed vs growth spurt vs comfort suck

[beijingaling]

How do you tell the difference?

DD is 5w today. After an initial jaundice period where I was told to wake her for feeds she was feeding approx every 3 hours.

Last night she fed every 1.5 to 2 hours, same today Today she fed on and off since 8. It's almost 2 here now. I can't always tell if she is properly feeding as I can't ever hear gulping or feel let down.

So how do I know if this is comfort sucking or just a growth spurt?

This is probably the 3rd time it has happened in 5weeks. She is also exhausted and desperate to sleep but wakes within minutes of falling asleep.

DD is ebf.

Personally I think if its a growth spurt it lasts about 24 hours.

If its for comfort you can usually telll be sticking them in a sling, if they fall asleep then its comfort they are after.

If you think its cluster feeding then it usually sounds like this although some do cluster feed in the morning, its not just an evening thing.

I read Babycalming by Caroline Deacon before having DC2 and I found it helped enormously, it especially helped me to work out what she wanted. Just wish I'd read it before having DC1!

I'm not trained though, so don't take everything I've said as Gospel

Thanks- she's just dropped off so I'm going to try and get my head down too. Will reply more later.

Hope you have a good sleep beijing.

Keep us posted

at 5w all of the above . likely the 6w growth spurt. at this age though, feeding her when she wants it can only do good...

Oh absolutely I'm all for feeding when she wants. It's just when she's on there for the 4th hour, has just woken again because I've put her in her Moses basket and cries out for a feed again I couldnt help but think 'are you actually hungry or just tired and know it will help you sleep?'

I know babies can only react to their needs so I would rather be safe than sorry but I would rather she didn't comfort suck.

3.5 hours sleep. Brilliant! It's 6:30am now and she's on for another feed and I'm all fingers crossed she drops off again after so I can have a bit more sleep.

I'll order the book today. Mum is coming from the Uk today so I'll have to see if I can get the book delivered here from amazon or if I'll have to wait until mum is back and for her to ship it to me.

lol its true, my dh used to take ds for a walk around or something which might kill 15 minutes or so lol and if he was still trying to get milk of him then it was over to me

sometimes my ds wanted to sleep right next to me aaaaahhhhh

beijing, if you are going to order the book, please don't expect a "how to". It's more "why is my baby doing that" kind of book.

That's fine Julie and probably exactly what I need. The how to books bother me as I know there is no way all babies can be the same!

Mum arrived this morning so in a better place already I think for this.

Hope you like it beijing. Unlike some other parenting books written by she who cannot be named and others, Caroline Deacon has actually had children, has breastfed and is also a trained NCT Bfing Counsellor. Oh, and all the information is evidence based too

My DD is 19 days old and has been doing this for a week - last night she fed on and off for 3 hours and cries when she's not on the breast and rarely sleeps in the day. She won't go in bouncer or moses basket and wants to be held all the time. I find it very wearing and have been close to giving up BF, but am assured it's all normal and latch is fine. Reassuring to know am not only one. How's DD now beijing?

Congratulations west yorkshiregirl! Come find the Jan post natal thread if you haven't already.

Tbh I think her feeding like that was down to me not her. I had bought the baby whisperer book when preg and hated the writing style and the way she talks about bfing so ditched it. My dr had suggested the bw but more baby led (no clock watching) and so yesterday we tried it. This meant a different way of putting her to sleep, waking her for feeds every 2.5-3.5 hours in the day if she hadn't already woken for food etc, watching for crying cues to figure out what she wants. No controlled crying.

It was a dream. DD went to sleep (took half an hour to settle her each time) in her own cot, she fed properly every 2-3 hours and when she cried I managed to figure out why instead of just giving her a boob.

I feel more confident with DD already and I'm a he'll of a lot happier than I was even 24 hours ago when she was waking every 20 mins and, I thought, calling for boob!