Newborn snacking every hour

Newbiemum25 · 2025-03-20T10:56:23+00:00

Hi, my LO is 4 and a half weeks old, she is mainly breastfed with one formula feed at night. She is constantly snacking though and waking up every hour to feed, especially through the night to feed, and I’m just wondering if anyone has any advice on how to reduce snacking so she instead gets full feeds every 2-3 hours and sleeps better.

ARichtGoodDram · 20/03/2025 10:59

Cluster feeding is very normal at that age. Its prime growth spurt territory and the cluster feeding also helps signal that the milk levels are increasing.

Prolactin is highest at night so the baby feeding lots at night is normal as it's just then signalling your body that they're growing and need more milk.

dairydebris · 20/03/2025 11:00

She's 4 and a half weeks old. Her tummy is tiny. The frequent feeding is growing her stomach and building up your milk supply. It's completely utterly normal and healthy.
Both of mine did this for a few months then it stretched out to 3-5h around 3-6 months.
At this age best thing to do is feed totally on demand and trust your baby and your body.
Don't try to stretch the time between feeds yet.
Its fucking exhausting I know. And I know you'll have heard it lots but it really does get easier soon xxx

TY78910 · 20/03/2025 11:03

Am I the only one that clicked on this as I imagined a newborn whipping out a bag of crisps every 5 mins? 😂😂

But honestly, totally normal for BF babies to cluster feed. They can do this because of your milk supply building up or because they want comfort.

Upsetbetty · 20/03/2025 11:15

TY78910 · 20/03/2025 11:03

Am I the only one that clicked on this as I imagined a newborn whipping out a bag of crisps every 5 mins? 😂😂

But honestly, totally normal for BF babies to cluster feed. They can do this because of your milk supply building up or because they want comfort.

Yeah 🤣 me too!

Original poster

Newbiemum25 · 20/03/2025 11:20

ARichtGoodDram · 20/03/2025 10:59

Cluster feeding is very normal at that age. Its prime growth spurt territory and the cluster feeding also helps signal that the milk levels are increasing.

Prolactin is highest at night so the baby feeding lots at night is normal as it's just then signalling your body that they're growing and need more milk.

I think it might be a bit different than cluster feeding as she has also cluster fed in the evenings but this is more just all her feeds are not very spaced out, and can sometimes be during the day too. I feed her on demand and then burp her and then put her down but sometimes she doesn’t settle and may wake after ten minutes, and then she’s rooting again and won’t settle till on the breast again.

She does settle more during the day than the night and last night she managed one long stretch from 2:30am ish - 5am of sleeping.

OP posts:

endofthelinefinally · 20/03/2025 11:22

Once you have burped her she probably has room for a bit more. Her stomach is very small, so she might not be getting completely full.

Original poster

Newbiemum25 · 20/03/2025 11:23

dairydebris · 20/03/2025 11:00

She's 4 and a half weeks old. Her tummy is tiny. The frequent feeding is growing her stomach and building up your milk supply. It's completely utterly normal and healthy.
Both of mine did this for a few months then it stretched out to 3-5h around 3-6 months.
At this age best thing to do is feed totally on demand and trust your baby and your body.
Don't try to stretch the time between feeds yet.
Its fucking exhausting I know. And I know you'll have heard it lots but it really does get easier soon xxx

Thanks, it just feels like I’m constantly bound to the sofa/bed feeding her, but yeah hopefully it does become more spaced out

OP posts:

Original poster

Newbiemum25 · 20/03/2025 11:23

TY78910 · 20/03/2025 11:03

Am I the only one that clicked on this as I imagined a newborn whipping out a bag of crisps every 5 mins? 😂😂

But honestly, totally normal for BF babies to cluster feed. They can do this because of your milk supply building up or because they want comfort.

😅 this made me chuckle!

OP posts:

endofthelinefinally · 20/03/2025 11:25

The night time formula feed is likely to be interrupting the night time stimulation to increase milk production. The night time feeding is tough in the first 6 weeks, but it is worth it for the establishment of supply.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 20/03/2025 11:26

@Newbiemum25 - your baby is following her hunger signals - feeding when she needs to feed, and stopping when she is full, which is absolutely perfect.

As other posters have said, it will get more spaced out as she grows, but I do appreciate how tiring it is for you at the moment, and how you feel tied to the couch. But you could look on it as wonderful bonding time for the two of you, and a chance for you to get as much rest as possible before she is up and running around all day.

Congratulations on your beautiful baby.

dairydebris · 20/03/2025 11:31

Newbiemum25 · 20/03/2025 11:23

Thanks, it just feels like I’m constantly bound to the sofa/bed feeding her, but yeah hopefully it does become more spaced out

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I also found the responsibility of being the source of food really mentally exhausting... it's definitely not easy.
I do think the feeding on demand is really important tho, she asks for food, she gets food, she stops when full etc etc. It's a really healthy communicative cycle. And as they get older they learn, eat when hungry, stop when full, mum is there for me.
The spacing out will happen naturally as her stomach grows. You're in the worst bit right now xx