Baby’s hunger signs. Cry or before that. When to feed my baby!

Little ones do not talk but they have a very interesting way of communicating their needs to their mother.

We have often heard about crying: A tool they use, to get what they need. To sleep, to get cleaned, to be held; they communicate all this by just crying and every mother understands what her child wants. Although this might take a little time for a mother to get used to.

It is often said ‘Baby’s are their best judge to know if they are hungry’. And hence, they reflect certain hunger signs, which help the mothers to understand that they are hungry.

What are the baby’s hunger signs ?

Hunger signs are divided into:

1. Early signs: Licking or smacking lips, moving the mouth (in search of milk), sucking on fingers or toys.

2. Active hunger signs: Rubbing against the person carrying him, responding to your touch, expecting milk from you when you touch.

3. Late hunger signs: Rapid movement of the head and crying out loud.

It is always recommended to identify the early signs and feed the baby before it is too late and the baby starts crying out loud.

We recommend responsive/ demand feeding (according to the hunger signs) rather than scheduled/ timely feeding.

Source:-
1. https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/infantandtoddlernutrition/mealtime/signs-your-child-is-hungry-or-full.html

2. https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-023-15325-3#:~:text=Infant%20hunger%20cues%20include%20putting,%2C%20and%20vocalizations%20%5B26%5D.