Continuous feeding is normal
“Definitely wish I’d known about cluster feeding. I remember he was only a couple of weeks old and I was at my mom's house for a celebration and he wanted feeding every 30 mins/hour.
I had to listen to a few comments like 'feeding again?' ‘Surely he can't be hungry again?' but I was lucky that I had joined online breastfeeding groups and just carried on feeding him in the knowledge that he was going through a growth spurt or cluster feeding.”
It’s normal for a young baby to have a block in the day when they feed frequently – sometimes continuously. This is known as cluster feeding.
They may also be unsettled and seem frustrated at the breast (especially if they are tired). This can be a worrying time for parents but it can be reassuring to know that cluster feeding is doing an important job. It helps milk supply develop to reach your baby’s needs.
More frequent feeding sends messages to increase production. A baby feeding on an emptier breast is also getting higher fat content milk which may help them begin to sleep for longer intervals.
Cluster feeding is also an opportunity for closeness and comfort. It often happens at the end of the day when babies might feel tired or overwhelmed.
