cluster feeding

[meltown]

I don't know if this was asked before.  I couldn't find it in the FAQ's or anywhere, how to do cluster feeds.  I was wondering if you do them, when do you stop and also is it normal for the baby to only eat for about 5 minutes or so?  I was trying ti out with my 11 week old and he only ate for 5 minutes and then was done.  I got on here and read that it says to only do them to 8 weeks.  so I shouldn't be doing them now???  if not, can I do the dream feed 2 hours from last feeding and it would be ok?

[catz]

Tracy does mention not to cluster feed past 8 weeks but I have read on other posts that some moms didnt even know this and have continued cluster feeding and it has worked well for them.  My LO has always been a fast eater and would mostly only feed for 5-10 minutes. 
I dont do the cluster feeding anymore, my son is 16 weeks old now, he has his last feed at 6.30pm and I give a dream feed at 9pm, I have found that if I give him one at 10pm he wakes up at 2am, so you will have to see what works for you, and I far as I can remember you start dropping the dream feed at 7 months. 
Good luck

[NikiJ]

Hi Melissa

You might post your routine (include night feeds) & we'll take alook.

Cat is right about the cluster feeding but its what works for you too.  My dd started cluster feeding all by herself at birth & continued until 16 week & had a dream feed until she was 14mths but thats what worked for us.  She has never woken for a night feed so it was ok by me kwim.

Niki

[meltown]

2 days ago I tracked the feedings and this is what happened. 

Eat:
7:15, 9:45, 12:13, 2:55, 6:23, 9:00

Activity time:
varied acording to sleep

Sleep:
7:25, 9:56, 2:05, 4:45, 8:15, after 9:00 feed Bath then bed
Didn't wake until I woke him at 6:45am

Last night I feed last at 9:30 then bed and he woke at 6:00am.  I cluster feed him last night at 7:30 and 9:30. 

He has always slept really well at night but I am trying to get a bit more consistancy to his schedual right now it is just following E A S Y but not like a set wake up time or anything. 

[NikiJ]

Hi Melissa

At Braxton's age, he should be on a 3 hour E.A.S.Y.

Ideally he would be going for an 1.5 hr nap 1.5hr after waking i.e if he wakes & feeds at 7am, he would go for a nap at 8:30 for an hr & a half.  This would go on all day until about 5/6 pm where you would only allow him to have a quick catnap of 40mins.  Then feed at 7pm, have quiet activity like bath & then bed at half 7.  Then rather than cluster feed, you would dream feed at 10 or 11.

I noticed you don't have dreamfeed on your schedule.  Do you not df?  Would he normally sleep through without the cluster feed?  When my lo was Braxton's age, we used both cluster & df but if Braxton is sleeping without one of them, then it would be recommended to do a df.  If you are choosing cluster over dream can I ask why?

I also used a 3hr E.A.S.Y without using a specific getting up time so the above is only written as an example schedule btw.