Ultimate Quick Guide to Newborn Hunger Cues.

Newborn Hunger Cues

Newborns can be quite a learning curve, which is something everyone can agree on. One common concern for parents of newborns is distinguishing between when a baby is hungry and when they are full. Recognizing hunger signals is crucial for new parents when they first bring their baby home. Newborn babies are usually fed on demand, ideally every 3 hours, which means they eat frequently. Anticipate feeding them 8-12 times daily. As you become familiar with your baby, you'll notice that crying is often the final sign that they are hungry. Recognizing your baby's hunger signals can greatly assist in preventing fussiness and ensuring smoother, more effective feeding sessions.

Early cues:

• Turning head

• Stirring

• Opening and closing their mouth

• Puckering lips

• Sucking on hands, fingers, clothing, etc.

Active Cues

• Stretching

• Positioning towards the chest of whoever is holding them

• Squirming Fussing noises Late feeding cues Clenched fists Moving head from side to side Agitated and crying

Late Feeding Cues

• Clenched fists

• Moving head from side to side

• Agitated and crying

If your baby is displaying late cues, make sure to soothe them before feeding, whether nursing or bottle-feeding. During the first few weeks of your baby’s life, they may be sleepy and not give you obvious feeding cues. It is important to ensure that they feed a minimum of 8 times (about every 3 hours) to ensure adequate milk intake and breast stimulation for building a plentiful milk supply. In this case, you may need to wake your baby to feed. Undress them, do skin-to-skin and gently wake them for feeding.