bedtime routines + cluster feeding

CTA7

Pretty much since birth DD has cluster fed in the evenings before she goes down for the night.  Her cluster feeding is a little erratic, though, and I never know if she'll want to nurse 2, 3 or 4 times.  On her final nursing she'll fall asleep at the breast and I just transfer her to her crib. 

Is anyone else experienceing this?  If so, do you have any tips on how I start implementing a bedtime routine when I don't know which feeding is her last?  I don't want to discourage DD from feeding as much as she wants since I think it helps her sleep longer once she does go down.  I'm also wondering if any routine is necessary since she doesn't have any trouble falling asleep once she's done nursing.  TIA!

august282005

At 1 month old she's a bit too young to establish a bed time routine with any consistency, I don't think we got DS#1 into a routine until four or 5 months.  If you want to set the groundwork, I would follow the same routine every night when you notice the cluster feedings start, but nothing more than that.  And since she's knocking herself out nursing I wouldn't monkey with it right now - enjoy the sleep!

NicoleR524

you'll want a routine for yourself if not for her, especially if you are going back to work.  if not, and you don't mind the inconsistency then i say don't worry about it for now, wait until the cluster feedings stop.  if you do want to get her on a routine then I would start implementing a process of events before her typical last feeding (exact timing is not necessary just an approximate time to get her used to the routine) - bath, massage, nursing...bed.  I would do the bath with minimal lighting, then do the massage, dressing and nursing all in the same location with very low lighting.  Something like this is what we do with our son just because it worked out that way from the start and he has no problem going to sleep, staying in the bassinet and is sleeping for very long stretches of time.

cynsully

softskate31:

My dd clusters too. The only routine we have is to change her into her pajamas / sleep sack at about 11pm and see what she does next...sometimes feed sometimes sleep.

 

We pretty much do this too. We give her a bath on some nights. My DD cluster feeds several times with her last being anywhere between 11pm and 1 am. She will usually sleep until atleast 4am depending on when she fell asleep. She has even slept from 12:30 til 6:30...loved that night. I don't know what it will be like when I have to return to work in a couple of weeks. Not looking forward to that.

jjgal

My DD cluster feeds before bed too.  The only routine we have so far, is that I will change her diaper one last time, put on her white onesie.  Then I  will usually nurse her in my bed, swaddle her and put her in the cradle.  Sometimes I don't nurse her in the bedroom b/c she's already sleepy enough to be swaddled and put down.  I think if your baby's not having any trouble falling asleep and/or staying asleep, don't worry about the routine just yet.  For me I know the routine will change once she's in her crib in the nursery.  

willisbf

We're trying to get some kind of routine going, but my LO is still really young. What seems to work best is bath (dimly lit), story, swaddle, feed, bed.

MWoodside

My pedi said cluster feeding is totally normal in the evening for babies.  It helps them get a longer sleep period.

We have a routine, but it's not timed- if that makes sense.  We usually get her ready for bed around 9-10 & then she BFs as long as she wants. 

doremi29

My DS clusterfed until he was about at the 2 month mark.  Now he just eats 1 times around bed time and goes in his crib.  I think it is just something that some babies need to do. 

Artemis0685

My DD also cluster feeds at night time, I just let her run the show for now since she's so young and she's telling me what she needs. Normally she eats every 2 hours during the day and at night it's every hour and sometimes every 45 min. My nipples are always super sore at night. But eventually she does go to sleep and stays out for a good 3-4hours. Just follow her cues, she'll let you know what she needs, you'll get a routine eventually. GL!