Is cluster feeding normal?

Why evenings, and why it's not a supply problem

Evening cluster feeding is near-universal in young babies: milk flow is naturally a little slower at the end of the day, babies are tired and want comfort as well as calories, and frequent feeding is exactly how a breastfed baby places tomorrow's milk order. A baby who cluster feeds in the evening and then settles is doing normal newborn behaviour — it is not evidence you "don't have enough milk", which is the worry that most often derails breastfeeding in weeks two to six.

Surviving it

• Plan for it: eat, hydrate and go to the loo before 5pm, then set up somewhere comfortable with water, snacks and something to watch.
• Hand over everything else — evenings are for feeding; someone else owns dinner and older children.
• A carrier or partner cuddles can buy breaks between waves.

When to check in

If cluster feeding runs around the clock rather than in an evening block, nappy output drops below six wet in 24 hours, or feeding hurts throughout, see your midwife, health visitor or a breastfeeding drop-in — those are fixable feeding issues, not normal clustering.