I remember when I brought my newborn back home with me from the hospital as a really confusing time. I remember being anxious about every detail of his life. One thing that really confused me was when he needed to eat. I was confused at how much/long I should be feeding him. With no help around I started looking up articles and opinions online. I got to a point where I had to give up and give into this motherly instinct that was in me. Paying attention to hunger cues, I just fed him when he was hungry and let go of any idea of a schedule. In an attempt to try to understand it all, maybe you find yourself in a spot of wondering how do you know your baby is crying because they are hungry or
because of something else?
Your baby is really not on anyone’s schedule but their own. They have no idea what this concept of time really is. They are just happy when they are happy and when they are not they cry about it. When they are hungry they will let you know with special movements and sounds. If it has been too long since the last feeding, your breasts will let you know that there is a feeding coming up simply because you will start to leak. So what are some of those baby signs?
Opening the mouth and sticking out the tongue
Most babies have this reflex. They are signaling to you that a feeding is about to happen. Sometimes it is in between naps so they might go back to sleep. When they wake up, most of the time they go onto more intense cues. Watch your baby next time they are sticking out their tongue and see if the cue intensities into other cues. They may make a sucking movements and noises right after opening their mouth as well.
Turning head towards breast (rooting)
It is hard to ignore this one. It is almost like they know there is something out there and
they are trying to find it. They have their mouths open and are on the search for the
breast. If you have them on your chest it may seem like they can smell the milk and are not even aware that it is behind clothes.
Moving hands towards mouth
Newborns have no idea what is going on with their limbs. So when they are hungry and a hand moves towards their face they might start sucking on it. Sometimes it might just turn into a nap again. The baby might also use the rest of their limbs to move as if they are trying to crawl towards the breast. A midwife once told me that with hands towards the mouth and a clenched fist means your baby is hungry.
Crying
Some people say that this is a late sign of hunger. But some babies just wake up from a nap and they just start crying for their food. It is a place of comfort for them. With crying babies, it is sometimes hard to tell what is wrong after you have fed them.
There are plenty of other reasons why babies cry such as:
• Needing to be held
• Tired
• Need a diaper change
• Over stimulated
• Feels too hot or cold
• Needs to burp
• Has an illness
So if you have fed your baby already and they are still crying, you can start your
investigation work into other areas. It is all about just trying it all out and then bam you have the answer with one.
When is your baby full?
When your baby’s hands are relaxed and not tense is a way to let you know that the milk tank is full. Sometimes when babies have had their share of milk, they turn away from your breast even if you offer it to them again. After your baby is done nursing then they will turn away and fall asleep. Most of the time you can tell if your baby wants more or is full, if they are not full they will let your know using cues.
From time to time when I am planning on going somewhere and my baby was just fed, I tend to refill them a little more in order for their milk tank to be a little more full before putting them into a car seat. This would help me avoid stopping somewhere on the side of the road to feed my baby (only if it is a short drive).
I hope some of these have been helpful to you in identifying your baby feeding cues. If your baby seems full and is not comforted in other ways then please contact your pediatrician.
I would love to hear which one of these do you notice the most in your baby?
Much love,
Krystina
