Three week old feeding habits changing often

[MintGreenLife]

Is it normal for breastfed babies feeding habits to change often? Up until he was around 2.5 weeks old he would feed every 1.5-2 hours but only for 5-15 mins at a time. Earlier this week he started feeding for longer, around 20-60 minutes at a time, but we have had a couple of episodes of cluster feeding this week. Overnight and today he seems to have gone back to every 1-2 hours and 5-15 mins at a time. Is this normal? I’m only concerned as he has prolonged jaundice at 3 weeks and 4 days (we were in hospital for treatment until he was 9 days old) and feeding is key to helping him get over the jaundice.

Yes it's normal, you think you've cracked it then it just switches up completely. You won't find they get into any proper rhythm until about 4 months I would say. Tbh I didn't manage to crack a routine with my first until after 6 months. Up until then he would drink 5oz sometimes then 1oz other times. He was bottlefed but it is the same with breastfed. Sometimes we as adults are hungrier/thirstier than others to be fair :)

Yep perfectly normal. A rhythm will start to emerge but just as you notice it, it'll change again.

A book called your baby week by week is really useful at this age.

Brilliant, thanks both. Will check that book out ☺️

They will have growth spurts also which make them feed more for a while then it settles again or they settle into a slightly revised routine. Perfectly normal.

A little light therapy is good for jaundice too, not in direct sunlight as such but a few minutes by the window or outside each day will help too.

Completely and totally normal, yep.

As long as nappy output is fine and you don't restrict access to the breast, all will be fine.