Newborn Cluster Feeding: What to Expect & How to Manage

In this blog we’ll talk about cluster feeding being a highly effective tool a baby can use to increase their mothers’ supply of breastmilk.  Cluster feeding is normal and common – it can be an indication of growth spurts or low supply but if your baby is cluster feeding for prolonged periods it may be a baby’s way of soothing, when something else causes them discomfort.  We’ll talk about when cluster feeding most commonly occurs, the most common ages and one of the most common questions I get as a paediatrician – how do I know if my baby is getting enough breastmilk?  

What is cluster feeding?

Cluster feeding is when your baby’s feeds are very frequent or ‘clustered’ together. 

During these periods, your baby seems to feed almost continuously over several hours, often in the evening or the early hours of the morning, and may not settle to sleep easily. This can be normal in the first four weeks of life (and beyond), as your baby intentionally increases your supply to meet their calorie needs. It can also be associated with low supply or sometimes comfort feeding, masking the true cause of unsettled behaviour.

If cluster feeding is happening regularly and your baby is frequently unsettled, it’s worthwhile investigating further with your maternal nurse, local doctor, lactation consultant or pediatrician.

When does cluster feeding start?

The most common times I see cluster feeding is with newborns, in the first few days cluster feeding can be intense, it may only last for 8 hours but if you’re feeding nearly constantly from say midnight to 8am it will feel like an eternity. 

Work with your midwives, maternal child health nurses and lactation consultants.  Poor attachment and the associated damage to nipples are the most common issues I see. My number one piece of advice is to seek out help and support early. 

What are the other common cluster feeding ages?

After the newborn phase cluster feeding can happen:

6-16 week growth spurts: 

• Normal Cluster feeding can last a few days during growth spurts
• Take a look at ways to increase your supply during these periods below

 

4 months: This is a time of rapid development for you baby

• Big changes like rolling and the associated unswaddling … and a big growth spurt, often requiring more calories 
• If your baby has become increasingly fussy around this age, see my blog on 4 Month Sleep Regression – Expert tips to help baby sleep for more on this topic

 

After 6 months: Cluster feeding usually decreases as babies start eating solid foods

• I like parents to be on the lookout for signs of readiness for solids from 4 months
• See my blog Baby’s First Foods – Starting Solids & Testing Allergens 

Early evening 

• see my blog on witching hour for more on why this can be a particularly unsettled time for young families.
• In the setting of an exhausted breastfeeding mother this can often be the time when your supply is at the lowest of the day.
• Once you read the witching hour blog you’ll quickly realise if you have a fussy baby in the early evening a baby carrier is going to be your best friend! 

 

Supply and demand of breastmilk 

For most breastfeeding mothers’ after 4–6 weeks your milk is considered “mature” this is another way of saying your milk production should be aligned with your baby’s needs.

Your breasts will start to feel softer between feeds. Mothers often report at this time that they’re worried they’re not producing enough milk, but this is usually not the case, and it’s all due to a normal physiological change. 

 

Cluster feeds happen during baby growth spurts

After 4-6 weeks for the next few months, your baby will take a similar volume of breastmilk each day, with occasional growth spurts and increased appetite causing temporary increases in volume, follow your baby’s lead on these…  and don’t forget…the most important thing to remember during these often exhausting periods is if your baby starts to cluster feed it will only be temporary!

How long does cluster feeding last?

Cluster feeding or frequent feeding can go on infinitely if:

1. Your supply is not building to match your babies demand for calories 
2. Your baby is comfort feeding to mask another reason driving discomfort 

As a general rule if cluster feeding is lasting more than a day or two start to dive into ways you can increase your supply or other reasons that might be causing you baby to be unsettled and feed frequently.

How to stop cluster feeding 

The primary reasons babies cluster feed are:

1. To increase a mothers’ breast milk supply
2. To distract themselves from something else driving discomfort 
3. Comfort feeding

Cluster feeding babies are exhausting so if you’re looking for a way to stop that’s a perfectly normal response.

If you are wanting to stop cluster feeding the key questions to ask yourself before stopping are:

Question 1: Is my baby getting a sufficient volume of milk? if no then ask yourself 

• Have I done everything I can and want to do to increase supply?
• Is it feasible or practical for me to make the correct volume of milk for my baby?
• Notes below to help guide you through all of these questions

Question 2: What else could be driving discomfort 

• Your baby may not be hungry but you may be drinking regularly to distract them from something that is upsetting them or making them uncomfortable 
• It could be as simple as an itchy tag or being too hot, trapped wind… or more complicated like intolerance or eczema, whatever it is it’s important to try and unpack why it might be happening
• My blog on colic might be helpful

Question 3: Is my baby just using me as a human pacifier? 

• Sometimes it’s not about volume or discomfort …it’s just about comfort 
• If you’re happy with this then play on 
• If you want to stop comfort feeding (which is probably why you’re reading this section)  then one of the best things you can do is go away for a day and/or night (continue to pump while you’re away to maintain supply). Someone else can feed your baby, depending on the age limiting the feeds to every 3-4 hours during the day will ensure they get deep full feeds and break the habit of snacking – annoyingly it’s really hard to stop these comfort cluster feeds if you’re around, every hormone/bone in your body will encourage you to feed your baby, it’s an incredible built in protective measure 
• Again if these aren’t a worry for your family then they aren’t a worry

How do I know if my baby is getting enough milk?

This is one of the key advantages of bottles… you know exactly how much milk your baby is receiving!! 

In the context of a breastfeeding baby, one way to know if your baby is receiving an adequate supply of breastmilk is via their nappies or diapers. 

By day 4–5, you should have at least five heavily wet nappies or diapers in 24 hours (light coloured urine). 

Healthcare professionals will look at this – in combination with baby’s weight changes, examination findings, jaundice levels and feed frequency – to determine whether the supply is sufficient.

Below is a guide to how much breastmilk your baby will drink from birth up until six months. 

Keep in mind these are average amounts that vary considerably throughout the day and night. Age, size and feed frequency must also be taken into consideration.

Age	Amounts per feed
First 24 hours	2–10 mL (0.067–0.33 fl oz)
Day 2	5–15 mL (0.17–0.5 fl oz)
Day 3	15–30 mL (0.5–1 fl oz)
Days 4–7	30–45 mL (1–1.5 fl oz)
1–2 weeks	45–60 mL (1.5–2 fl oz)
2–4 weeks	60–90 mL (2–3 fl oz)
1–6 months	60–120 mL (2–4 fl oz)

 

If you feel you have low milk supply, please discuss this with your health nurse, lactation consultant or local doctor.

 

You could also try these tips to build up breast milk supply:

Tip 1: Offer both breasts at each feed. 

• Return your baby to the first breast if they are still hungry.

Tip 2: Try switch feeding

• Five minutes at each breast, twice or more. 
• This increases the number of ‘letdowns’ you have. Only do this if supply is low, otherwise you risk moving baby when there is still hindmilk to remove. This can cause lactose overload. 

Tip 3: Ensure your baby is correctly attached

• as the breast will be drained more effectively.

Tip 4: Express milk after feeds.

• This will produce more milk at every feed slowly building how much you make 

Tip 5: Ensure you are eating well and drinking enough water. 

• Your body will produce more milk when you look after yourself properly.

Tip 6: Rest and relax as much as you can, especially during a feed.

 

Tip 7: Breast compression or massage prior to and during a feed trigger ongoing letdowns 

• assisting your baby to remove the milk more efficiently.

Tip 8: Enjoy as much skin-to-skin contact with your baby as possible. 

• This is great for both breastmilk supply and bonding.

Tip 9: Increase your intake of galactagogues 

• These are foods, herbs or medications that increase milk supply E.g.  as wholegrains (especially oats), dark leafy greens, fennel, chickpeas, nuts (especially almonds), seeds and proteins.

 

A note to all breastfeeding mothers – particularly those managing low supply:

Not every mother is destined to exclusively breastfeed a baby; some not even for the first week. If you’ve tried these techniques and supply or attachment concerns remain, I urge you to speak to a lactation consultant – they are magicians and with early intervention and a myriad of tips and tricks can turn things around, but if you’ve done all this and supply is still an issue I want you to also consider that mix-feeding or exclusive bottle-feeding may be a more suitable option for you. 

Remember, if it feels right, then it is the right option for you.

So what’s the verdict on cluster feeding from a paediatrician?

Cluster feeding is an extraordinary tool your baby has to help their breastfeeding mother make more milk.  If it’s lasting longer than a couple of days and it’s not something you want, then I urge to investigate further.