How to Know When A Baby Is Hungry
Understanding when your baby is hungry can sometimes feel like untangling a complex code, especially for new parents. Recognizing newborn hunger signs involves a combination of understanding general hunger signs, such as rooting and sucking on hands, learning to interpret more subtle cues and sounds, and getting to know your unique new baby.
You can ensure your little one is well-fed and content by staying attuned to these signals and monitoring your baby’s growth.
Whether you're a first-time parent or looking to refresh your knowledge, my goal here is to provide a comprehensive guide to help you identify the signs that your baby is hungry and needs to eat. Let’s jump in!
Recognizing Newborn Hunger Cues
Newborns have unique ways of signaling hunger, and being attuned to these signs can make feeding times smoother and more enjoyable. Most newborns need to eat about every 2-3 hours or about 8-12 times per day for the first few months, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Here are some common newborn hunger cues to look out for:
1. Rooting Reflex: One of the earliest signs of hunger in a newborn is the rooting reflex. This instinctual behavior occurs when a baby turns their head and opens their mouth in search of a nipple or bottle, not unlike a little bird. It’s their way of signaling that they’re ready to eat.
2. Sucking on Hands or Fingers: If you notice your baby sucking on their hands, fingers, or even clothing, it’s often a sign that they’re experiencing hunger pangs. This self-soothing behavior can indicate that your little one is looking for a feed.
3. Smacking or Licking Lips: Smacking or licking lips is another subtle hunger signal. If the baby isn't fed, this behavior can quickly ramp up to more intense hunger cues.
4. Fidgeting or Restlessness: A hungry baby might become fidgety or restless, making it difficult for them to settle. They might wiggle or squirm, signaling their need for a feeding.
5. Crying: While crying is a more intense sign, it is often the last resort when other hunger cues are not addressed. Crying can be a sign of hunger, but it’s also important to check if there are different needs, illnesses, or discomforts.
Understanding the Dunstan Baby Language
The Dunstan Baby Language is a popular method among parents for interpreting their baby’s cries. According to this approach, babies make distinctive sounds that can be interpreted to determine their needs, such as hunger, discomfort, or tiredness. The sounds are thought to be universal, meaning that they are not specific to any one culture or language.
Babies exhibit five basic sounds according to this method. For instance, a cry that sounds like “neh” is often associated with hunger. It is described as a “ne-ne-ne” sound made when the baby searches for a nipple or bottle.
While many parents have found the Dunstan Baby Language helpful, it is worth noting that scientific research on the method is limited. It is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Babies may have unique ways of expressing needs, so use this method as a guide rather than a strict rule.
Importance of Monitoring Baby Weight
Weight gain is one of the critical indicators of healthy growth and development in infants. Regular weight checks help ensure that your baby is growing at an appropriate rate according to established growth charts.
Pediatricians use these charts to compare your baby’s weight to that of other infants of the same age and sex, helping to identify any deviations from expected growth patterns. Infants typically triple their birth weight during the first year of life. Sudden weight loss during infancy or failure to gain weight can be signs of underlying health problems or medical conditions, such as infections or metabolic disorders.
Regular weight measurements and consulting with your health care clinician can help assess whether a baby's feeding schedule and methods are effective. If weight gain is slower or more rapid than expected, talk to your doctor. It might be a good idea to make some feeding-related changes, whether breastfeeding or formula feeding.
Typical Baby Feeding Schedule
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months. If you choose and are able to breastfeed your baby, it’s best to feed on demand and according to their hunger and fullness cues. It's common for breastfed babies to take smaller feedings and to feed more often.
Breastfed babies typically don’t follow a regular schedule, though most eat at least every 1-3 hours in the first few months. According to the La Leche League, exclusively breastfed babies feed about 8 times per day. However, it can range between 4 to 13 nursing sessions a day, depending on how efficiently a baby feeds, as well as the mom’s milk supply.
Formula-fed babies usually bottle feed about every 3 to 4 hours over a 24-hour period. Babies can regulate their own hunger, so they may not want the same amount each day.
A typical feeding schedule for formula-fed babies or those taking expressed breast milk (or a combination of both) often looks something like this:
Newborn (first week): 1-2 ounces per feeding
1-month-old: Gradually increase formula until the baby is taking 3 to 4 ounces per feeding with a maximum of 32 oz per day
2-5 months old: 3-6 ounces per feeding with a maximum of 32 oz per day
6 months old+: As babies get older, they can eat more per feeding and less often; at 6 months of age, formula-fed babies can drink about 6 to 8 oz per feeding at 4 to 5 feedings per day
How Much Food Does a Baby Need?
At around six months old, when baby is showing signs of being ready to start solids, complementary feeding should start to include baby-friendly versions of whole grains, iron-rich protein foods (i.e., lean meats, poultry, or plant protein), dairy foods (i.e., yogurt, cheese), fruits, and vegetables.
At around six months old, when baby is showing signs of being ready to start solids, complementary feeding should start to include baby-friendly versions of whole grains, iron-rich protein foods (i.e., lean meats, poultry, or plant protein), dairy foods (i.e., yogurt, cheese), fruits, and vegetables.
Some common signs that a baby is interested in eating foods include:
Staring intently at food
Leans toward food
Opens mouth wide
Reaches or points to food
Gets excited about food
Uses sounds to indicate a desire for food
While each baby may vary in feeding times and amounts eaten per day, here is a general guideline to help you as you start to feed baby more solid foods and milk feeds.
6-7 months old: about 1-2 meals per day + around 4 milk feeds (maybe more if breastfeeding)
8-10 months old: about 3 meals per day (while the number of milk feeds varies, but typically still around 4 milk feeds)
11-12 months old: about 3 meals + maybe 1 snack per day (the number of milk feeds will vary)
As a pediatric dietitian in private practice, I actively advocate for responsive feeding practices, which guide parents in detecting and responding to their baby’s appetite signals. Responsive feeding also provides opportunities for your baby to practice self-feeding skills.
Babies are excellent at self-regulating their food intake and know how much their bodies need. All we need to do as caregivers is offer a variety of healthy, balanced food choices at regular intervals and let them decide whether and how much to eat.
Below is a short list of some common cues that likely mean a baby feels full:
Spitting out food
Throwing or pushing food or bottle/breast away
Closing mouth when food or milk is offered
Getting distracted easily
Turning head away or shaking head “no”
Playing with food or bottle/breast rather than eating/drinking
Final Thoughts…
Every baby is different, but by paying close attention to the baby hunger cues and signs your little one provides, you can respond promptly to their needs and foster a positive feeding experience. Remember that newborn hunger cues can evolve over time, so staying observant and adaptable is essential.
If you’re getting ready to start your baby on solids, download my FREE Baby-Led Feeding Essentials Checklist to make sure you have everything you need to get started. You might also want to check out my online course for parents, which will walk you through the whole process of starting solids using a baby-led approach.
If you prefer books and want help with starting solids, finding recipes the whole family (baby included) can enjoy, and navigating food allergy prevention during infancy all at the same time, check out my new cookbook and guide to starting solids and introducing allergens! It gives you the latest research on safely introducing all top 9 allergens and lots of recipes and tips to continue offering them consistently.
Feel free to share your tips or experiences with recognizing hunger cues in the comments below! Thanks for reading :)