Health and Me

Ishita Roy

How To Tell If Your Infant Is Hungry?

Infants cannot speak, so how do new parents know if their babies are hungry? 

Picture this. You have just changed your baby's diaper, and went to bed, to finally rest. Suddenly, you hear a loud wail. Your baby is crying, again! This time, it is the hungry cry.

But what if we tell you that you no longer have to disrupt your rest with your baby's cry for hunger? This is only possible when you already know when to feed your baby. Babies cannot tell when they are hungry, so more often than not, parents may miss to understand they are hungry, until the hunger cry starts. But there are some cues you can look for to feed your baby!

Read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/parenting/are-indians-pressure-cooker-parenting-their-kids-gurugram-ceo-raises-questions-article-153595300" data-type="tilCustomLink">Are Indians 'Pressure Cooker' Parenting Their Kids? Gurugram CEO Raises Questions</a>

Your baby might become more alert and active. Thinking about food can make babies excited, so you may notice them moving around more than usual.

Babies often turn their heads from side to side as if searching for food.

Look for signs like opening and closing their mouth, resembling a tiny bird waiting to be fed.

Turning their head toward the breast, chest, or bottle is a classic hunger cue.

Babies may make sucking motions with their mouths, even if they don’t have a pacifier or bottle nearby.

Increased drooling, lip-smacking, or sticking out their tongue are all signals they’re getting ready for a meal.

Your baby might start sucking on their fingers, hands, or even their clothes as a sign of hunger.

Watch for little fists clenching in frustration and impatience.

Babies who recognize their primary feeder might stare and follow you around the room with their eyes.

A furrowed brow or a distressed look might be your baby’s way of saying, “When’s the next meal?”

According to Dunstan baby language, the sound “neh” just before crying often means hunger.

Also remember that hunger pangs are strong enough to wake most babies, even from deep sleep. However, if your baby consistently sleeps for extended periods, it’s important to ensure they’re feeding frequently enough for their age.

For newborns, it’s generally recommended that they don’t regularly sleep longer than 4 hours at a stretch. Occasional long naps are fine—especially if they give you a much-needed rest! However, if your baby frequently sleeps through feeding times, consult your pediatrician to determine if gentle wake-ups for feeding are necessary.

<h2>How do you know your baby is feeding well enough?</h2>

It can be difficult to ensure that your baby is well fed, especially if you are breastfeeding, or when your baby is not of the age when he can talk. However, there are signals too for this, in fact your baby also learns how to signal that they need more milk or food.

It also depends on the age. For instance, a newborn will feed often, usually every 2 to 3 hours and sometime smore often. They feed up to 12 times every 24 hours. As your baby grows, their tummies grow too, in fact the tummy grows form a size of cherry at birth to walnut in 3 days. In a week, it is at the size of plum and in a month, it is of the size of a large chicken egg.

<h3>The "I am not hungry right now" signs for babies are:</h3>

<ul><li>releasing or pushing away the breast or bottle</li><li>closing their mouth and not responding to encouragement to latch on or suck again</li><li>open and relaxed hands (instead of clenched)</li><li>relaxing their body and even going a little limp</li><li>looking around and showing interest in playing or other things</li><li>looking content and maybe even smiling</li><li>appearing happily drowsy and ready to go back to sleep</li></ul>

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Infants cannot speak, so how do new parents know if their babies are hungry? Picture this. You have just changed your baby's diaper, and went to bed, to finally rest. Suddenly, you hear a loud wail. Your baby is crying, again! This time, it is the hungry cry.But what if we tell you that you no longer have to disrupt your rest with your baby's cry for hunger? This is only possible when you already know when to feed your baby. Babies cannot tell when they are hungry, so more often than not, parents may miss to understand they are hungry, until the hunger cry starts. But there are some cues you can look for to feed your baby!Read: Are Indians 'Pressure Cooker' Parenting Their Kids? Gurugram CEO Raises QuestionsHunger Cues In Your BabyIncreased ActivityYour baby might become more alert and active. Thinking about food can make babies excited, so you may notice them moving around more than usual.Head-TurningBabies often turn their heads from side to side as if searching for food.Mouth MovementsLook for signs like opening and closing their mouth, resembling a tiny bird waiting to be fed.Rooting ReflexTurning their head toward the breast, chest, or bottle is a classic hunger cue.Sucking MotionsBabies may make sucking motions with their mouths, even if they don’t have a pacifier or bottle nearby.Lip Smacking or DroolingIncreased drooling, lip-smacking, or sticking out their tongue are all signals they’re getting ready for a meal.Sucking on Hands or ClothingYour baby might start sucking on their fingers, hands, or even their clothes as a sign of hunger.Clenched FistsWatch for little fists clenching in frustration and impatience.Focused Eye ContactBabies who recognize their primary feeder might stare and follow you around the room with their eyes.Facial ExpressionsA furrowed brow or a distressed look might be your baby’s way of saying, “When’s the next meal?”The “Neh” SoundAccording to Dunstan baby language, the sound “neh” just before crying often means hunger.Also remember that hunger pangs are strong enough to wake most babies, even from deep sleep. However, if your baby consistently sleeps for extended periods, it’s important to ensure they’re feeding frequently enough for their age.For newborns, it’s generally recommended that they don’t regularly sleep longer than 4 hours at a stretch. Occasional long naps are fine—especially if they give you a much-needed rest! However, if your baby frequently sleeps through feeding times, consult your pediatrician to determine if gentle wake-ups for feeding are necessary.How do you know your baby is feeding well enough?It can be difficult to ensure that your baby is well fed, especially if you are breastfeeding, or when your baby is not of the age when he can talk. However, there are signals too for this, in fact your baby also learns how to signal that they need more milk or food.It also depends on the age. For instance, a newborn will feed often, usually every 2 to 3 hours and sometime smore often. They feed up to 12 times every 24 hours. As your baby grows, their tummies grow too, in fact the tummy grows form a size of cherry at birth to walnut in 3 days. In a week, it is at the size of plum and in a month, it is of the size of a large chicken egg.The "I am not hungry right now" signs for babies are:releasing or pushing away the breast or bottleclosing their mouth and not responding to encouragement to latch on or suck againopen and relaxed hands (instead of clenched)relaxing their body and even going a little limplooking around and showing interest in playing or other thingslooking content and maybe even smilingappearing happily drowsy and ready to go back to sleep