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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

No 'cluster feeding' - does it matter?

8 replies

lookout · 26/11/2011 14:20

Ds (7 weeks) does not and has never done this cluster feeding thing. He feeds anywhere between every hour to three hours, day and night, mostly shorter feeds at night sadly. Most people seem to have babies who cluster feed in the evening then go at least 3 hours between night feeds. Does it matter that ds doesn't do this? How can i encourage him to get into this? An assured 3 hours between night feeds would be bliss...

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midori1999 · 26/11/2011 14:42

My DD has hardly ever cluster fed and has never fed very regularly either really. I had massive oversupply at the start and wonder if this contributed to it, as she never need to 'up' my supply.

She's 5 months and has always followed her centile curve pretty much exactly, until recently where she's gone above the line slightly, and other than weight she is thriving, so it hasn't done her any harm.

rubyslippers · 26/11/2011 14:44

My DD cluster fed but it made no difference to her (lack of) sleep

Some babies cluster feed and some don't ...

Pascha · 26/11/2011 14:45

My son cluster fed once, at about 6 weeks. Never before or since. Perfectly normal.

girliefriend · 26/11/2011 14:49

No but I wonder if something else is going on for him to wake up every hour at night? Although its been nearly 6yrs since I had a newborn so maybe I have just forgotton what they are like!!!

Are you swaddling at night? Dummy? Nappy? I would check all those things before feeding every hour.

lookout · 26/11/2011 18:07

Ok, so i'll forget about the cluster feeding then.

girliefriend, he hates to be swaddled, takes a dummy only sporadically and i am only changing nappies for explosive poos. I've tried rocking, patting, shushing but the only thing that will settle him when he wakes is the boob. I don't know if that's ok for him to be feeding so frequently at night Confused

It's been nearly 7 years since ds1 was a newborn, and i've forgotten everything too!

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organiccarrotcake · 26/11/2011 18:13

Absolutely it's ok to feed as frequently as he needs at night :)

Can you bring him into bed with you to make it easier?

girliefriend · 26/11/2011 20:24

It might be o.kay for the baby to feed as often as he likes at night but I imagine not for the mum!!! Maybe he is going through a spell of trying to boost your supply or something, hopefully he will settle down in the next few weeks Smile

lookout · 26/11/2011 21:34

occ, i can't feed in bed, either lying down or sitting up. for some reason my mattress means i can never get the latch right Confused.

girlie, yes, exactly, not great for me! i am also hoping it will settle, i don't know how long one can cope with so little sleep!

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