talk to me about cluster feeding with a bottle

CTaylor315

Ok I understand the premise but my question is this: If my DD generally drinks 4-5 oz per feeding, and I want to cluster feed in the evenings in hopes of getting a longer stretch of sleep, obviously I cant offer her 5 oz every hour for 3 hours because she won't be able to drink that much. How much do you generally get your LO to drink per feeding during an evening cluster feed?

TIA

sap05e

Sometimes she just does it on her own.. 1.5-2 oz an hour. Normally takes 3 oz bottles. I never actually try to cluster feed though.

shawright13

I don't know that it's something you can make them do, it's usually something they decide they need to do. 

CTaylor315

shawright13:

I don't know that it's something you can make them do, it's usually something they decide they need to do. 

I'm  not planning to force a bottle on her, but to offer it to her more frequently in the evening to see if she wants it, rather than having her take a big bottle right before bed. But I understand what you mean.

bundymommy

Lurking a little...

What worked for us was to reduce the first bottle a little bit. When we started cluster feeding we did 4:30 and 6:30, with a dreamfeed at 9:30. For the 4:30 bottle we would only offer DD 4 oz, which she would always finish. Then when 6:30 rolled around she'd be able to take a full 5-6 oz. She never ate as much at her dreamfeed, generally 2-4 oz. Started STTN 7:30-7:30 (other than 9:30 dreamfeed) at 8 wks. We noticed that if she stuffed herself at 4:30 she wouldn't eat well at 6:30, and we had rougher nights.

txtwinmom

I wish mine would stop cluster feeding! They did it on their own. Mine sleep 10 hours a night minimum.  They take 4oz each bottle and eat 6 bottles a day, all in a 12 hour period.  It drives me crazy because feeding and burping both takes about 45 minutes (depends). I had just posted this for advice on the multiples board yesterday.  Is cluster feeding something babies typically do to sleep all night?  I thought mine just couldn't handle eating more than 4oz at once. There has been several times DD takes 4 oz and an hour and a half later takes another 4.

CTaylor315

bundymommy:

Lurking a little...

What worked for us was to reduce the first bottle a little bit. When we started cluster feeding we did 4:30 and 6:30, with a dreamfeed at 9:30. For the 4:30 bottle we would only offer DD 4 oz, which she would always finish. Then when 6:30 rolled around she'd be able to take a full 5-6 oz. She never ate as much at her dreamfeed, generally 2-4 oz. Started STTN 7:30-7:30 (other than 9:30 dreamfeed) at 8 wks. We noticed that if she stuffed herself at 4:30 she wouldn't eat well at 6:30, and we had rougher nights.

Thank you! Very helpful.