Baby’s Hunger Cues – How To Identify Them

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F e e d i n g babies c a n stress o u t new m o m s ! They a l w a y s have q u e s t i o n s like, ‘ I s my b a b y hungry?’, ‘ H o w often s h o u l d I f e e d him?’ a n d so o n . The b e s t one t o answer a l l these q u e s t i o n s is y o u r little o n e ! Yes, d o not b e surprised! Y o u r little p r i n c e lets y o u know w h e t h e r he i s hungry o r content t h r o u g h many c u e s . Even, i n f a n t s can r e g u l a t e their e n e r g y intake a n d send s u b t l e cues.

I n s t e a d of c a l c u l a t i n g the t i m e spent o n feeding o r the q u a n t i t y fed, f e e d your b a b y when h e is h u n g r y . Pay a t t e n t i o n to y o u r baby’s b e h a v i o r and h i s simple c u e s . Wondering h o w to i d e n t i f y those s i g n a l s ? Read o u r post a t MomJunction t o learn a b o u t typical b a b y hunger c u e s .

D i f f e r e n t Baby H u n g e r Cues

M o s t parents t h i n k that c r y i n g is a hunger s i g n a l . But i t is a late h u n g e r cue. T h e baby s h o w s many m o r e cues e a r l y on. I f you c a n pick t h o s e early h u n g e r cues ( 1 ) , it w i l l be e a s i e r for y o u to f e e d the l i t t l e one.

E a r l y Hunger C u e s

L i c k i n g lips o r smacking i s the f i r s t sign o f hunger.
S u c k i n g on h a n d s , lips, t o e s , clothes, t o y s and f i n g e r s .
O p e n i n g and c l o s i n g the m o u t h .
S t i c k i n g the t o n g u e out.
M o v i n g the h e a d from s i d e to s i d e as i f he i s looking f o r something. T h i s movement i s called r o o t i n g reflex. D u r i n g the f i r s t weeks o f birth, w h e n you s t r o k e the b a b y ’ s cheek, h e turns t o w a r d the b r e a s t or b o t t l e , as a natural r e f l e x . He m a k e s sucking m o t i o n s with t h e mouth. R o o t i n g turns i n t o a v o l u n t a r y action a f t e r the b a b i e s turn f o u r months o l d .
Sponsored

A c t i v e Hunger C u e s

T r y i n g to g e t into f e e d i n g position b y pulling o n your c l o t h e s .
T u r n i n g the h e a d towards t h e chest o f the o n e carrying t h e baby.
I n c r e a s e d leg a n d arm m o v e m e n t .
B r e a t h i n g fast o r fussing.
S q u i r m i n g or f i d g e t i n g .
W a k i n g up f r o m sleep a n d falling a s l e e p again i n quick s u c c e s s i o n s .
D i s p l a y i n g discomfort, m a k i n g whining s o u n d s , and g r u n t s .
H i t t i n g on y o u r chest o r arm c o n s t a n t l y .
R a p i d eye m o v e m e n t while s l e e p i n g . It i s a g o o d time t o feed a sleepy n e w b o r n if h e has n o t fed i n a w h i l e .
A hungry b a b y may c o n t i n u e showing i n t e r e s t in s u c k i n g even a f t e r finishing t h e first b o t t l e or f i r s t breast. I t indicates t h a t the l i t t l e one w a n t s more.
B a b i e s older t h a n four m o n t h s may e v e n smile w h i l e breastfeeding, i n d i c a t i n g their i n t e r e s t in c o n t i n u i n g .

L a t e Hunger C u e s

M o v i n g the h e a d frantically f r o m one s i d e to t h e another.
C r y i n g is t h e last s i g n . A h u n g e r cry i s usually l o w – p i t c h e d , short, a n d rises a n d falls.

C a l m down t h e crying b a b y before f e e d i n g . Offer s k i n – t o – s k i n contact, w e a r him o r allow h i m to s n u g g l e up t o your b r e a s t s .

R e l y i n g on c r y to f e e d a b a b y can c a u s e feeding p r o b l e m s , besides s t r e s s i n g him a s well a s you.

I n her b o o k Sleeping L i k e A B a b y , International B o a r d Certified l a c t a t i o n consultant P i n k y McKay s a y s , “Notice w h e r e your b a b y ’ s tongue i s when s h e is y e l l i n g — a baby c a n ’ t latch o n to f e e d when h e r tongue i s up a g a i n s t the r o o f of h e r mouth, a n d if y o u do m a n a g e to c a l m her e n o u g h to l a t c h on a n d feed, h e r suck i s likely t o be d i s o r g a n i z e d , or s h e may b e exhausted f r o m crying a n d only t a k e a s m a l l feed b e f o r e falling a s l e e p . This, o f course, m e a n s that s h e will p r o b a b l y sleep f o r a v e r y short t i m e then w a k e for a n o t h e r feed a s her t i n y tummy q u i c k l y empties.”

A p p r o x i m a t e Age	H u n g e r cues
B i r t h through 5 m o n t h s	S u c k s on f i s t W a k e s and t o s s e s C r i e s or f u s s e s O p e n s mouth
5 m o n t h s through 6 m o n t h s	C r i e s or f u s s e s G a z e s at c a r e g i v e r S m i l e s or c o o s during f e e d i n g to i n d i c a t e wanting m o r e M o v e s head t o w a r d spoon
5 m o n t h s through 9 m o n t h s	R e a c h e s for f o o d P o i n t s to f o o d
8 m o n t h s through 1 1 months	R e a c h e s for f o o d P o i n t s to f o o d G e t s excited w h e n food i s offered
1 0 m o n t h s through 1 2 months	A s k s for p a r t i c u l a r food w i t h words o r sounds

Source

B e n e f i t s Of F o l l o w i n g Hunger C u e s

I n s t e a d of f e e d i n g your c h i l d randomly b a s e d on t i m e gaps, i t is a l w a y s good t o look f o r the c u e s he g i v e s . It w i l l benefit y o u in m o r e than o n e of t h e s e ways:

H e l p s you g e t to k n o w your b a b y well.
E n s u r e s smooth b r e a s t f e e d i n g .
S a t i s f i e s the l i t t l e one’s h u n g e r and t h i r s t .
E n c o u r a g e s your b a b y to t r u s t you.
G i v e s you c o n f i d e n c e .
B u i l d s a p o s i t i v e feeding r e l a t i o n s h i p between y o u and t h e baby.
K e e p s up t h e milk s u p p l y .

H o w To K n o w When Y o u r Baby I s Full?

O n c e your b a b y is f u l l and s a t i s f i e d , he s e n d s signs t h a t it i s done. F u l l n e s s cues i n c l u d e : closing l i p s , turning t h e head a w a y from t h e food s o u r c e , stopping o r slowing d o w n sucking ( i f the b a b y is b r e a s t f e e d i n g ) , falling a s l e e p , looking c a l m and r e l a x e d , and s p i t s out t h e nipple o r food. A baby o l d e r than f o u r months m a y start l o o k i n g around a n d seems d i s t r a c t e d .

M o m s , try t o figure o u t the s u b t l e hunger c u e s of y o u r little a n g e l s and e n s u r e they a r e well-fed a n d content. I t is e q u a l l y important t o understand f u l l n e s s cues t o o . If t h e cues f r o m the b a b i e s are n e g l e c t e d , they a r e likely t o get c o n f u s e d about t h e i r hunger a n d fullness. I t may l e a d to p r e f e r e n c e s for u n h e a l t h y diet a n d further, c h i l d h o o d obesity.

D o not w o r r y if y o u miss t h e cues a t times. I t is u n a v o i d a b l e ! Remember, e a c h baby i s different a n d has d i f f e r e n t ways o f letting t h e i r mothers k n o w what t h e y want. A s you g e t to k n o w your l i t t l e bundle o f joy m o r e , you c a n recognize t h e unique h u n g e r cues b e t t e r ! Skin-to-skin c o n t a c t helps y o u learn y o u r baby’s f e e d i n g cues q u i c k l y .

FAQs

1 . Is h a n d sucking a l w a y s a b a b y hunger c u e ?

H a n d sucking n e e d not a l w a y s be a hunger c u e once t h e baby c r o s s e s the n e w b o r n period. F r o m around s i x to e i g h t weeks, a n infant b e g i n s to e x p l o r e things t h r o u g h his h a n d s and m o u t h . He g r a d u a l l y gets m o r e control o v e r his h a n d s . Sucking o n hands i s also c o m m o n in b a b i e s before o r during t e e t h i n g .

2 . What i f I a m not s u r e if i t is a hunger c u e ?

I f you s u s p e c t one, y e t not s u r e about y o u r baby’s h u n g e r , offer h i m a f e e d . It c a n help b o t h you a n d your b a b y in m o r e than o n e ways:

T h e little o n e can h a v e a f e e d if h e is h u n g r y .
I f you a r e breastfeeding, y o u r milk s u p p l y will i n c r e a s e .
I t can r e a s s u r e and c o m f o r t your b a b y .

I f your b a b y has r e g u l a r l y been n u r s i n g , yet s e e m s fussy, c h e c k for o t h e r problems l i k e discomfort f r o m gas o r tummy a c h e , etc.

3 . Why d o e s my b a b y show h u n g e r cues s h o r t l y after f e e d i n g ?

I t is n o r m a l for b a b i e s to h a v e feeds b e t w e e n short t i m e gaps. I t is c a l l e d cluster f e e d i n g that i s more c o m m o n during t h e afternoon o r late e v e n i n g .

B a b i e s also t e n d to f e e d more d u r i n g growth s p u r t s , which l a s t for t w o to t h r e e days. G r o w t h spurt h a p p e n s at a r o u n d two t o three w e e k s , six w e e k s , three m o n t h s and s i x months.

4 . Should I wake m y sleeping b a b y for n u r s i n g ?

B a b i e s are v e r y sleepy d u r i n g early d a y s of b i r t h . If t h e little o n e is l e s s than f o u r weeks o l d , wake h i m once e v e r y four h o u r s during n i g h t s and o n c e every t w o hours d u r i n g the d a y to n u r s e . Practice t h i s as l o n g as h e is g a i n i n g good w e i g h t , showing n o r m a l parameters, p o o p i n g , and p e e i n g .

W e hope y o u find o u r article h e l p f u l . How d i d your b a b y communicate w i t h you a b o u t his h u n g e r ? Tell u s in t h e comment s e c t i o n below.

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