Signs of Hunger in a Baby

For new parents, there are so many concerns to address when caring for a newborn, and many parents worry that they are not meeting all of their baby̵7;s needs. One common and pressing concern for a new parent is how to tell when their little one is hungry. Fortunately, there are some cues you can look for in trying to determine when you should feed your baby.

  1. Rooting

    • According to the Nemours Foundation, one of the indicators that a baby is hungry involves movement of the head. If your newborn is moving his head from side to side, he is probably hungry. The University of Rochester Medical Center echoes this advice. This behavior is also called the ̶0;rooting reflex.̶1; You can test this reflex by touching the baby̵7;s cheek, near his mouth, and observing if he turns his head toward the touched area and tries to find something to suck. So if you notice your little one shaking his head around, try to start feeding and see if he responds--if he accepts the feeding, you̵7;ll know that this is a behavioral sign you can look for in the future.

    Mouth Movements

    • Your baby may indicate that she is hungry by making a number of movements with her mouth, tongue and lips. These could include opening her mouth, sticking her tongue out, and puckering her lips as though she is trying to suck. If your baby shows these signals, attempt to feed her, and see if she accepts the feeding. Some experts warn, however, that this is not always a sign of hunger, but rather a manifestation of a baby̵7;s natural sucking reflex--a reflex that is triggered by touching the roof of a newborn̵7;s mouth with a finger, nipple or pacifier. Consequently, like other feeding techniques, this will require a little trial and error. After a few feedings, you will be able to identify your newborn̵7;s unique hunger signals, and know if your baby does or does not use mouth movements to let you know she is ready to eat.

    Other Signs

    • The Nemours Foundation adds a few more hunger signals that your baby may use to try to communicate with you, including nuzzling against his mother̵7;s breasts, or placing his hands or fists to his mouth. According to BabyCareAdvice.com, however, that this ̶0;hand-to-mouth reflex̶1; is usually not apparent until about 3 months of age, when a baby is old enough to control his arm movements. Therefore, using this behavior as an indicator of hunger before 3 months of age can be another process of trial and error.

    2. Previous:

    Next:

    • Fruits That Make Infants Poop
      Babies can suffer constipation formula is changed, they are just starting on solid foods or they arent getting enough fiber in their diets. Fiber is found in plant foods such as cereals, fruits and vegetables. Before adding more fruits to the diet, c
    • Top 9 Choking Foods
      According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), one child dies every five days from choking on food, making it the leading cause of death in children ages 14 and under. The AAP is calling for the food industry to change the design and labels o
    • Can Switching From Formula to Whole Milk Cause Constipation?
      When your baby celebrates her first birthday, it’s usually time to say goodbye to formula and make the switch to whole milk. If you notice changes in your little one’s stool pattern, it’s possible that the dietary change could be ca