Newborn Cluster Feeding All Night? Here's What to Do

Struggling with your newborn cluster feeding all night and not sleeping? See how to make this stage easier and stay motivated to breastfeed.

As a first-time mom, I felt glued to my baby in the early weeks, resenting each time he cried to be fed. I wanted to ignore his hunger cues and convince myself and my husband that he was crying for other reasons like sleep or boredom.

It didn’t help that he’d nurse for long stretches—40 minutes at a time—only to want to eat again soon after.

Right on cue, he’d want to cluster feed from about 6:30pm through the late evening. If I put him down any earlier than that, he’d cry a few minutes later and wouldn’t stop until I fed him again. Even when I learned that this was a phase (often because of growth spurts), I didn’t know how long it would last.

Feeling this way is understandable, considering that the birth of a baby can come as a huge shock for new parents not used to nursing around the clock.

If you find your newborn cluster feeding all night, rest assured you’re not alone. More importantly, this feeding schedule is a phase that eventually peters out with time. In the meantime, what can you do to make them more bearable?

Take a look at these tips that helped me:

Table of Contents

1. Nurse lying down

One of the biggest roadblocks with cluster feeding is the sleep deprivation that goes along with it.

During the day, feeding constantly was a bit more bearable—after all, this is when we’re supposed to be awake. But I’d dread the nights when I knew I’d be battling my own sleep needs with the baby’s frequent wake ups.

An easy hack? Nurse lying down. This allows you to rest while the baby is feeding instead of having to sit up in bed. Even if you don’t co-sleep with the baby (I didn’t), you can still nurse lying down to make yourself a bit more comfortable during the feed.

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2. Get others to do what you can’t

Dishes piled up, dinners unprepared, the houseplants drying up… these are enough to make any parent feel overwhelmed. Imagine keeping a running tally of all the things you still have to do, except you’re stuck feeding the baby.

Since you’re the only one who can nurse the baby, hand these undone tasks to other people. Your partner can change diapers, your mom can burp the baby after you breastfeed, and even your 3 year old can put the toys away.

Another option is to outsource these tasks as well. While I’m not one to spend money frivolously, sometimes you simply need the extra help. This might mean ordering food for pick up, hiring a cleaning service, or getting your groceries delivered.

Give yourself permission to do very little so you can focus on your baby’s feedings. To help you feel better about devoting so much time to her, get others to fill in and do what you can’t.

3. Make sure your baby is actually eating

See if this behavior sounds familiar: You fed your baby for nearly 40 minutes and put her down in the crib… except she woke up and acted like she hadn’t just eaten.

How can she be hungry again?! you wonder.

Sometimes, she’s not eating the whole time she was on your breast. She could’ve been comfort nursing to soothe herself to sleep by sucking. According to Catherine Crider on Healthline:

“Both infants and toddlers can desire comfort nursing when they’re going through periods of exceptional growth, are in pain, struggling to fall asleep, or just seeking connection.”

That’s why, when you finally put her down, she’s still hungry. That’s because she didn’t actually eat.

The next time she nurses, make sure she’s awake and eating. Listen for sucking sounds that indicate she’s taking in the milk. Look at her throat to see if it moves—this is another sign that she’s swallowing. And keep her awake, even slightly so, while she nurses.

There’s nothing wrong with comfort sucking, but if you’re wondering why she seems hungry after all that time, she might not have actually been eating.

4. Make the most of it

Sometimes all it takes to turn things around is a simple change in perspective. Sure, you can list several problems with nursing all evening, but you can also probably find creative ways to make the most of it as well.

See this not as a time you’re “stuck” with the baby, but as a chance to read a book, catch up on emails, or watch your favorite shows. Consider this your excuse to not have to do so many chores, or to take a much-needed break. Come prepared with plenty of snacks and water nearby, and try to enjoy the moment.

Remind yourself of the benefits of these cluster feeding sessions, too.

Many moms have reported that their breastfed babies slept longer stretches after a cluster feed. The stimulation of nursing can increase your milk supply the longer you feed. You’re providing your baby with antibodies to protect against illness and ensuring that she’s getting enough calories.

And know that the challenges of a newborn are temporary.

For the first month after my babies were born, I made it a point not to leave the house, other than for doctor appointments. Giving myself that month reminded me that this truly is the time to take it easy, not to get back to normal life. It’s easier to tough it out when you know it won’t last forever.

5. Take care of your breasts

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There’s no getting around it: constant nursing can take a toll on your breasts. We’re talking cracked, bruised, or bleeding skin, all while your baby is tugging at them. It’s hard to enjoy the moment when you’re in serious pain.

That’s why it’s important to take care of your breasts and not just try to weather the pain. Reach out to your doctor if the pain is unbearable since you might have an infection that could only be remedied with a prescription.

Then, do your best to nurse them back to health. You can:

Use lanolin cream before and after breastfeeding
Air dry your breasts, either by not wearing a top or using breast shells
Use compresses like these

The quicker your breasts can heal, the more comfortable nursing your baby for long stretches can be.

Conclusion

Struggling with cluster feeding is no joke. You’re sleep-deprived, delirious, and downright exhausted from the constant nursing.

Rest assured that you can still do plenty to make this phase go by more smoothly. Nurse lying down so that you have one less obstacle—sitting up—during those nursing sessions. Recruit others to tick off tasks you can’t do so that you’re not itching to do them yourself.

Check that your baby is eating—comfort nursing can trick you into thinking that she’s full when she hasn’t been eating all that time. Make the most of your nursing sessions, from watching movies to reminding yourself of the benefits you get out of them.

And lastly, take care of your breasts, making sure to reach out to your doctor and use home remedies to ease the discomfort.

Hang in there, mama. What you’re experiencing is normal—down to those predictable hours in the evening when your baby starts cluster feeding.

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