"Cluster Feeding”- “Is Your Baby Feeding Non-Stop"
"CLUSTER FEEDING " did you heard this before. Hello, my friends, today we are going to learn about a new topic, which is Cluster feeding. I know that many people may find this word new, or there may be some mothers who have heard this word but do not know what exactly cluster feeding is. So today we will learn a little about this topic. And I think it is mandatory for every mother to adopt this habit for her baby.
So, let's find out what exactly cluster feeding is? And does this thing sometimes appear in our motherhood's life?
First of all, let's know what cluster feeding is. Do you sometimes feel that even though you are breastfeeding your baby for hours, your baby keeps asking you for more milk. Sometimes you may also wonder whether your milk is not enough for the baby. Is your body not producing the right amount of milk? Some mothers may also feel that even at 7 pm, the baby is still attached to your breast, and even if you try to move him a little, he starts crying. And the mother also gets very tired after breastfeeding the baby. Her back and neck start to pain. Baby asking for milk continuously we call this process cluster feeding.
🍼 This Behavior is Common, Normal, and Usually Temporary
Cluster feeding is a very normal thing. There is no reason to be afraid of it. The baby's appetite suddenly increases, so this process occurs naturally to increase the mother's milk. This does not cause any problems for the mother to make milk as the baby's diet increases in the future. Cluster feeding is mainly seen in newborns to 6 months old babies.
- Cluster feeding is totally normal.
It’s not a sign that you’re doing anything wrong.
And best of all? It’s temporary.
Babies often go through short periods where they feed more frequently to help your body increase milk supply or to comfort themselves during a growth spurt. These intense feeding phases are part of your baby’s natural development.
So, What Exactly Is Cluster Feeding?
In cluster feeding, your baby demands to be feed every 30 minutes or every hour. This period can be even less than 30 minutes. And the baby breastfeeds for 20 to 25 minutes. This usually happens more in the afternoon or evening. You may have heard this from your grandmother or mother as the "witching hour". At such times, it is natural for a mother to doubt her ability to supply milk. But why does this happen?
There are some important benefits of cluster feeding.
Stimulating more milk production,
Baby Seeking closeness and comfort, or
Navigating a growth spurt or developmental leap.
Making a strong bond between baby and mother.
In short, your baby knows exactly what to do — and so does your body. 💪
READ MORE: BABY WEIGHT GAIN FOOD- MAKHANA
⏰ When Does Cluster Feeding Happen? And how do you know this?
We must have known the reason for this, but it is important for new mothers to know the timing. For example, a mother may think that the baby has eaten enough (drank milk) and will sleep after a while, but suddenly the mother herself feels the urge to feed the baby. Often this urge is not understood. But nature prepares both the mother and the baby for this cluster feeding.
🧒 1. During Growth Spurts
During growth spurts The journey of cluster feeding begins especially in the first week or month of your baby's life. This is a crucial time for a baby's development. And it is common for cluster feeding to occur during this period of rapid growth. Cluster feeding is only for a short period of time.
2 to 3 weeks
6 weeks
3 months
6 months
During these times, babies feed more frequently to signal your body to produce more milk to match their growing needs. It’s your baby’s way of placing a “milk order” for the days ahead.
🌇 2. In the Evening Hours (aka Witching Hour)
Cluster feeding usually happens in the afternoon or evening. This is what our grandmothers or mothers call the witching hour. After the afternoon, the mother's ability to produce milk decreases. Milk flow decreases at that time of the day. The baby is overstimulated and needs rest Both the mother and the baby feel natural fatigue.
After feeding the baby, the mother also feels very hungry in the evening. And if the baby demands milk at mother's mealtime, the mother also gets very irritated, and this is a normal thing. But this situation overcome with time.
💻 3. During Developmental Leaps
Although the baby's physical growth is not visible, cluster feeding plays an important role in the emotional and neurological development of the baby. Cluster feeding plays an important role when the newborn baby is trying to adapt to the situation and things around him.
❤️ 4. When Baby Needs Comfort, Not Just Calories
Cluster feeding is not just a process, it is the initial stage of saying "I need you, mother". Therefore, whenever the baby needs her milk, the mother should hold the baby close with affection and love. She should make him feel that he is safe. Often, the baby can feel the need of the mother for other reasons as well, such as, 1 The baby is sick 2 Teething period of baby. 3 He is irritated by warm clothes. Now, the mother should know which of these is the real reason. And this is called being a mother.
