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Cluster feeding, or frequent feedings with only short breaks between, can be typical newborn behavior. Certain practices, such as staying hydrated and planning ahead, may help you manage it.

Cluster feeding is when a baby suddenly starts eating much more frequently — in clusters — for a period of time. It usually lasts a couple of hours at a time and differs from your baby’s usual eating behavior.

Cluster feeding is normal baby behavior, seen primarily in breastfeeding newborns in the first few weeks. It doesn’t necessarily mean there’s anything wrong with your baby or your milk supply.

Read on to learn more about cluster feeding and how to manage it.

Cluster feeding can be hard to identify because newborns rarely have a predictable eating or sleeping schedule.

Your baby may be cluster feeding if:

• they’re a few days or weeks old
• they’re showing their usual hunger signs or won’t stop crying until they’re fed
• they want to eat constantly or they eat very frequently for short sessions each time
• nothing else seems wrong and they’re content when eating
• they still have regular wet and dirty diapers

Cluster feeding is more common in the evenings. With an older infant, though, there may be several days in a row when they eat a lot more than usual throughout the entire day. This may be due to growth spurts or teething.

What’s a normal baby feeding schedule?

Every baby is different, but a typical feeding session for a baby that isn’t cluster feeding can range from 10 to 30 minutes. Experts advise to feed your newborn baby an average of at least 8 to 12 times in 24 hours. Your baby may show hunger signs and need to eat more frequently.

Frequent feeding may help:

• prevent jaundice
• promote healthy weight gain in babies
• mothers develop a milk supply

Cluster feeding vs. colic

If your baby is fussier than usual, you might wonder if they have colic. Colic is similar to cluster feeding in that it can come on suddenly and often occurs in the evening.

A baby with colic usually can’t be soothed with nursing or formula. However, a cluster feeding baby will be soothed during nursing sessions.

Colic is defined as at least three hours of crying for at least three days a week, at least three weeks in a row. It affects 10 to 40 percent of all babies worldwide. There’s no difference in risk between male or female babies, nor between breastfed or formula-fed babies.

Colic symptoms include:

• crying that sounds more like screaming
• face and body that appears tense or contorted
• crying at a predictable time each day, often in the evenings
• crying that peaks at six weeks and usually passes by 3 months old

Researchers don’t fully understand why babies cluster feed, but there are many unproven theories. Cluster feeding probably meets a combination of needs that your baby has at this developmental stage.

Heather Turgeon, MFT, a psychotherapist and author of The Happy Sleeper, says, “cluster feeding is likely a way for babies, who have maturing nervous systems, to regulate. It could also be a way to store up on food for the night.

“What we do know about breastfeeding is that it’s a supply and demand system. When little babies want to feed, that’s a good sign that we should let them, because trying to schedule or space feedings out doesn’t give that supply and demand system the right feedback.

“So while we can have theories about why they cluster feed, what matters is that we let them do it — that’s the way to establish and maintain mom’s milk supply.”

Cluster feeding can be exhausting and you may hear people stressing the importance of a schedule for baby, but cluster feeding is a normal part of the development of many babies.

Is cluster feeding a sign of low milk supply?

More frequent eating shouldn’t cause worry about your milk supply. A doctor can easily tell you if your baby is getting enough milk based on their weight gain.

Tracking a young baby’s wet diapers can also help you tell if they’re getting enough milk. Below are the average number of wet diapers per day, based on baby’s age:

If you’re ever concerned about your baby’s eating, ask your pediatrician and meet with a lactation consultant. Babies who struggle to gain weight or seem frustrated while eating may not be getting enough milk.

Other reasons for nighttime fussiness

Some babies just tend to get fussier in the evenings. Reasons may include:

• being overtired or overstimulated
  
• missing parents who’ve been at work or away all day
• needing to be burped if they’ve been eating a lot

Cluster feeding has both positive and negative effects.

Benefits

• Baby may sleep longer after cluster feeding.
  
• It may help to increase your milk supply.
  
• It may help babies emotionally and neurologically regulate.
  
• It can increase your skin-to-skin time with baby, which has benefits for both mom and baby.

Risks

• It can increase nipple soreness.
  
• It’s unpredictable.
• It can be exhausting, both physically and emotionally.
  
• It often takes time away from other family or household needs in the evening.

While cluster feeding is a normal, brief behavior, it can still be taxing on the whole family. Here are some tips for taking care of yourself, your family, and your baby during cluster feedings:

• Keep a large bottle of water and snacks near your nursing area to stay hydrated and nourished during cluster feeds.
• Set up a nursing area in front of the TV so you can watch something during cluster feedings. Or use the time to listen to audiobooks or podcasts. Keep chargers within reach.
• Change breastfeeding positions often so you don’t get sore.
• Use the downtime to call a friend. Since you’ll want to keep your hands free to hold and aid your baby, consider using earbuds.
• Sit on the couch or floor while you feed baby so you can read or play with older kids at the same time.
• Have a basket of special toys for older siblings that they only play with when the baby is nursing.
• Practice nursing your baby while they’re in a baby carrier so you can potentially walk around while they feed.
• Plan ahead. If baby usually starts cluster feeding around 7 p.m., plan to use the restroom, eat, and get comfortable before then.
• Hand off the baby to your partner or a close friend whenever you can to get a short break. This also allows for other people to have time with them.
• Talk with your partner about expectations and plan for how you’ll handle evening chores if the baby starts to cluster feed.
• Let friends help cook or do housework, or, if possible, consider hiring a housekeeper for the first few weeks postpartum.

Cluster feeding isn’t a sign that you need to supplement with formula. If you’re nursing and need a break, you or someone else can offer a bottle of breastmilk.

You’ll still need to pump at this time in order to keep up your milk supply at pace with the baby’s eating, however.

There are many tricks other than feeding you can try to soothe a fussy baby. Some babies may be soothed by the same method every time. For other babies, what worked yesterday, or even earlier in the same day, may no longer work. Feel free to experiment with these or other ideas:

• Wrap baby in a swaddle to help recreate the experiences from the womb.
• Offer a pacifier.
• Hold baby as you slowly walk or rock.
• Dim the lights and reduce other stimuli, such as loud noises.
• Use white noise, either from a white noise machine or cell phone app, or from a fan, gently running water, or even a vacuum. You can also create your own white noise by holding your baby upright on your chest and humming in low tones.
• Hold them in different positions. They may be fussy because they’re uncomfortable or want a change of scenery.
• Sing peaceful songs, recite poems, or speak to baby in a soft, gentle voice.

It’s important to go to your baby’s recommended checkups or wellness visits so the doctor can keep track of growth and development. These visits are more frequent when your baby is first born, when tracking weight gain is vital.

Your doctor will tell you if they suspect your baby isn’t getting enough milk or if they aren’t gaining enough weight. More frequent feedings, fussiness, or breasts not feeling full don’t necessarily mean your baby isn’t getting enough milk.

Always call your pediatrician if your baby seems very sick, lethargic, or has trouble breathing.

Cluster feeding is normal baby behavior and can happen any time, though it’s most common with newborns and in the evenings. Researchers don’t totally understand why it happens, but it’s not a sign that there’s anything wrong.

You may need to reset your expectations for these periods but cluster feeding isn’t permanent and will pass eventually.

How to determine if the baby has enough milk?

Category: Breastfeeding.

A child who is breastfed should be applied to the breast at his request during the day, and at least 3 times at night, on average 10-12 times a day. Feeding on demand - this means that at the first sign of restlessness of the baby, it must be applied to the chest. In order for the child to be satiated, it must be correctly attached to the breast, it must suck rhythmically for about 5-20 minutes, swallowing movements should be heard during sucking (swallowing milk), a well-fed child can fall asleep under the breast, after feeding the breast should become soft. Signs of a hungry baby: opens her mouth wide, turns her head in different directions (looking for a nipple), whimpers, sucks her fist.

A child suckles at the breast not only to quench thirst or hunger, but also to calm down, comfort, it is easier to fall asleep, recover, and get gassies out. Newborns are not able to regulate their bowels, therefore, in order to push out gassies, they need a new portion of milk. Therefore, the younger the children, the more often they need to be applied to the chest. If the child is not capricious, gains weight well, neuropsychic development corresponds to age, this indicates that the body develops normally, it has enough food and enough milk, but this only applies to children under 6 months old. A child who is breastfed (up to 6 months) must gain weight at least 500 g per month, the upper limit of the increase for each child is individual. But if the process of eruption of milk teeth began earlier, then weight gain is possible and less than 500 g.

What should I do to get enough milk?

• Milk production occurs under the influence of two hormones, prolactin and oxytocin, which are produced in response to the suckling of the breast of a woman who has given birth. Therefore, in order to stimulate the production of milk, frequent stimulation of these two hormones is necessary, this implies frequent attachment of the baby to the breast (necessarily night attachments), proper breastfeeding.
• The exclusion of stress, tension, increased mental and physical tension, fatigue, these factors contribute to a decrease in the production of oxytocin and prolactin, and if they are not enough, the muscle cells will not be able to form and secrete milk, as a result of which the child will not be able to get the amount of milk he needs. Thus, all nursing mothers need: calmness, rest, calm environment, they should try to get a good night's sleep (daytime sleep is required, next to the child).
• Constant contact with the child (affects the production of hormones).
• A warm shower promotes better milk flow.
• Special lactogenic (better milk excretion) teas (sold in pharmacies) for nursing mothers.
• Lactic preparations, for example: Apilak.
• Walnut with honey also has a lactogenic effect, use honey with caution for mothers with children suffering from allergies.
• A nursing mother must follow a diet: eat on time, high-calorie food and rich in vitamins (it doesn’t matter if your weight changes or not), drink more fluids, forget about any diets.
• Under no circumstances should you smoke or drink alcohol.
• In case of insufficient milk production, it is urgent to seek help from a lactation consultant.

Breastfeeding pediatrician

The article was prepared by pediatrician Yulia Aleksandrovna Ermolaeva

Breast milk is a natural, complete food for babies. Breastfeeding up to 6 months of life fully satisfies the nutritional needs of infants, and half as much in the second half of life.

In this article, young mothers will find answers to all their questions!

It has been proven that 99% of women are able to breastfeed. True hypogalactia occurs in only 1% of women, but breastfeeding is also possible after cosmetic surgery, depending on the methods of surgery. A full consultation will be provided by the operating surgeon.

The list of contraindications for breastfeeding is very limited and includes the following conditions:

• HIV infection in the mother
• Open tuberculosis
• Children with galactosemia, phenylketonuria, maple syrup disease
• Taking certain medications (in each case, follow the instructions for the drug). The issue of stopping breastfeeding while taking medications is discussed in consultation with a doctor.

How to eat for a breastfeeding mother

Feeding a breastfeeding woman provides for a complete diet of protein products, vegetables and fruits (a source of vitamins, minerals, fiber), as well as an adequate drinking regimen.

The diversity of a mother's diet determines the taste preferences of her baby in the future. The water load for a nursing woman is 2-2.5 liters. Protein products are considered the main components in the diet, the daily intake of protein should correspond to 100 g.

Carbohydrates, in addition to bread and cereals, should come in the form of vegetables, fruits, greens. Easily digestible carbohydrates occupy only a fifth of all carbohydrates.

Fat requirements are lower and preference is given to vegetable oils and butter. The main reason for limiting the consumption of any products is their intolerance to the child.

Recommended food restrictions:

• grapes - causes flatulence;
• fresh garlic, onion - change the taste of milk;
• white cabbage, plum, prunes, apricot, figs can cause dyspeptic disorders, have a laxative effect.

To determine the tolerance of various foods, it is recommended to keep a food diary in which to record the foods consumed and the child's reaction. Any product in the presence of individual intolerance should be excluded.

If parents have allergies, the mother's diet is carried out from the first days of life for the purpose of prevention. When a mother is on a diet with the rejection of any food, it is necessary to contact a nutritionist for a diet that meets the needs of a nursing mother and child.

What should be eliminated from the diet?

Foods to be excluded from the diet include: smoked meats, coffee, strong tea, alcoholic drinks, carbonated drinks and drinks containing dyes. When on a diet, the question of introducing substitutes, biologically active substances to a child or mother is decided individually after consultation with a pediatrician. For example, if dairy products are excluded from the diet, an additional intake of calcium supplements is recommended.

Drinking alcohol is strictly contraindicated. Smoking is prohibited, including passive smoking.

Food supplements and vitamin complexes may be recommended in the presence of a balanced wholesome diet. Among this category of drugs, it is recommended to take only those forms that are designed specifically for nursing mothers.

Breastfeeding does not require supplemental water. Breast milk is 85% water and, when thirsty, the baby compensates for the need for water through breast milk.

Always feed your baby with clean hands. Washing the breast before feeding, and especially with the use of detergents, is unacceptable. During washing, the protective lubricant is washed off the nipples, preventing them from cracking. Breast washing is carried out only during the reception of a hygienic shower.

How often should the baby be fed?

Breastfeeding is recommended at the request of the baby, this mode helps to increase lactation and produce more protein, enzymes, vitamins, protective factors. It is very important to learn to distinguish between the feeling of hunger and the restless reaction of the baby for various reasons, including emotional ones.

A mother should not breastfeed at the first cry of her baby; she should feel and understand her baby. Toddlers have enough reason to express a negative reaction. The most common reason for crying can be called the increased demands of the child when he wants to be taken, shaken, carried in his arms, paid more attention and talked. Many babies require breasts not because of nutritional needs, but for the purpose of a constant feeling of maternal warmth and comfort. An attentive mother will always be able to determine the needs of her crumbs.

The duration of feeding is not clearly defined. Each child is individual and the time interval for complete saturation can be from 5 to 40 minutes. The same principle must be taken into account when calculating the number of feedings.

A newborn baby is more often applied to the breast, up to 10-12 times a day. As the child grows, the number of feedings decreases to 6-8. An individual feeding rhythm is developed by 1 month of life. Night feeding is a prerequisite for maintaining sufficient lactation, this is due to the daily rhythm of the production of prolactic, the hormone of lactation. You can determine the sufficiency of nutrition by the weight gain of the baby, the amount of urine and stool excreted. The normal frequency of urination is 20-25 times a day. A chair of a homogeneous consistence, yellow or sour-milk color, 4-8 times a day.

Early and late milk are distinguished by their composition. Early milk is less high-calorie and contains more water, trace elements, vitamins. Later milk is richer in proteins and fats. This fact determines the need for a child to receive both types of milk. For uniform milk production, it is necessary to follow the principle of alternating attachment to the breast. You can give both breasts for one feeding only in cases of complete emptying of the first breast for consumption by the baby and early and late milk. The intermittent nature of feeding does not provide the child with sufficient calories and can cause underweight.

How to properly feed a baby?

Correct attachment technique determines the success of breastfeeding. The criterion for a correct grip is the absence of a visible part of the areola. The first sucking movements are faster, then the rhythm slows down. The act of sucking should not be accompanied by noisy, gurgling sounds, the baby's breathing is calm during feeding, the cheeks are rounded, the lower lip should be turned outward, the baby is relaxed. Attachment to the breast is carried out until the moment when the baby independently releases the breast.

If the baby who has let go of the breast is in a state of anxiety, it is most likely that the technique of attachment is wrong and the baby is left hungry. In such a situation, you need to re-offer this breast, correctly attach the child. In the first month, sucking is possible at long intervals due to the formation of lactation.

Laktostasis, mastitis - how to prevent and cure?

One of the most common problems faced by new mothers is lactostasis, characterized by breast engorgement, soreness and fever. This condition occurs as a result of an imbalance between the baby's milk intake and its production.

From medical reasons, first of all, attention should be paid to the size of the frenulum of the child's tongue. A short frenulum prevents proper nipple latching and interferes with suckling technique. For this reason, an examination by a pediatric dentist is recommended at 1 month. In the absence of adequate therapy, lactostasis turns into mastitis, and later - into an abscess of the mammary glands. These manifestations can appear at any stage of lactation, but more often at 2-3 weeks after birth.

The only treatment for lactostasis and mastitis is to remove milk from the breast. The simplest and most effective way is to attach the child to the swollen breast, and only as an auxiliary method - pumping. Expression of milk is resorted to in cases where breastfeeding is not possible. The sucking function of the child in its strength exceeds the efficiency of modern breast pumps. Expression can be carried out both by hand and with the help of special devices - breast pumps. A wide range of these devices is on sale today. The effect, as a rule, occurs after 1-2 days, when the pain disappears, the temperature returns to normal, and the volume of milk produced corresponds to the needs of the baby.

Recommendations for treatment and prevention may include the following:

• regulation of breastfeeding technique;
• more frequent feeding of affected breasts;
• wearing comfortable clothes, underwear that do not interfere with the outflow of milk;
• correct body position during sleep with the exception of squeezing the mammary glands;
• etc.

The use of cabbage leaves has no evidence base! With an increase in temperature, pain, ibuprofen, paracetamol in medium doses is allowed.

Antibacterial therapy must be included in the mastitis treatment regimen. Weaning while taking antibiotics that are allowed for breastfeeding is unacceptable, since the main mechanism of treatment is the effective excretion of milk. In cases of abscess development, surgical treatment is required by incision with mandatory drainage of the cavity.

Can breast milk be stored?

If necessary, the baby can be fed with fresh and/or frozen expressed breast milk. Milk should be stored only in clean, and better - in sterile glassware or plastic bags, as well as bottles intended for storing mother's milk. Separate utensils or storage bags are used for each pumping. The volume of expressed milk should be on average 100-120 ml, which corresponds to a single feeding volume. The shelf life of expressed milk at room temperature is 3-4 hours, up to a maximum of 6 hours.

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