Cluster Feeding

kalviest

My LO is 3 weeks old and seems to be cluster feeding. In the afternoons through early evening she wants to eat every 1.5 hours. She often doesn't seem hungry and she gets quite angry. I am not sure if she is this hungry or is it  for comfort? Is there a way to tell the difference? 

mnj05

DS went through a little growth spurt around 3 weeks and cluster fed a lot. As for distinguishing between hunger and comfort, I always listen and watch to see if he's swallowing. He also vibrates the paci/bottle (even the boob when I was BF) when he's comfort sucking, but his actual swallowing is much more pronounced than comfort.

karijohannsen

If you take him off the breast and put one finger tip in LOs mouth, if LO sucks forcefully he's likely still hungry. If not then just comfort. My LO is a soothe sucker so I often have to cut her off and give her a little time for her stomach to catch up with her head. My doctor told me to start using a pacifier and when she takes that I know she's not hungry.

Angela814

At this age I'm not sure if it makes a difference. Any time at the breast is good for establishing supply.

Right now DD3 usually nurses every 1.5 hours during the day with one longer stretch. When she cluster feeds, it's about every 45 min. She's also not a huge fan of the paci and prefers to comfort nurse.

Watch her to see if she's swallowing or not. If she's just comfort nursing, it will be more flutters.

 

Ready4theParty

mnj05:

DS went through a little growth spurt around 3 weeks and cluster fed a lot. As for distinguishing between hunger and comfort, I always listen and watch to see if he's swallowing. He also vibrates the paci/bottle (even the boob when I was BF) when he's comfort sucking, but his actual swallowing is much more pronounced than comfort.

This 100% this.

kalviest

Thanks everyone!