By Sr Teresa Hayward (RN, RM, Lactation consultant, Infant & Paediatric Nutritionist, Baby Sleep Consultant)
Something I see all the time in my Feeding clinic, is that parents are misreading their babies hunger cues, and this in turn is leading to overfeeding, excessive weight gain, reflux, cramps, constipation and sleep problems.
It is challenging to know how often and how much you should be feeding your newborn, as a new parent. Your baby not only communicates by crying but body language as well. They will show you signs of hunger via both crying and body language, and these are called hunger cues.
Aiming to understand these hunger cues, will allow you to feed your child when they are hungry and are still calm.
A babies hunger cues are specific to their need to feed and understanding how your baby is communicating this information is a vital skill to have as a parent. They will help you ensure your baby is being fed when they are hungry, and not when they have discomfort, lonely or bored, or even overtired or overstimulated.
It is typically thought that whenever your baby is crying, they are either hungry or have a dirty nappy, have discomfort or pain. It is also extremely common that moms think that crying is the only way they will show hunger, and well meaning friends and family are very quick to tell moms baby is hungry because they are crying.
Although crying can certainly mean they are hungry, it is actually a late cue and is usually the last cue your baby will give. Instead of jumping straight too hunger when baby cries, look at the body language you baby is showing prior to crying. Also picking the hunger cues before he cries, means you will be able to feed a calm baby instead of a frantically hungry baby. A baby who is calm will latch easily to breast or bottle and this in turn will reduce the amount of winds they suck in. They will also feed more effectively when they are aware and calm.
Common hunger cues
There are various phases in which you should be feeding your baby
· The perfect time to feed your baby · Hurry up and feed your baby · Feed your baby NOW!
1. The perfect time to feed your baby · Baby will bring hands to mouth – usually they will attempt to suck and then throw them away when nothing comes out. Often this cue is confused with self-soothing. With self-soothing they will happily suck their hands · Move their heads actively to look for food · Opening their mouths, smacking their lips
2. Hurry up and feed your baby · They become more alert and active when hungry · Squirming, fussing, wiggling around, rooting (open mouth like a hungry baby bird)
This is an indication that your baby is becoming very hungry
3. Feed you baby NOW! · Crying - baby will become distressed and crying – because it requires a lot of energy from your newborn, they also become tired. When they become distressed, frustrated and tired, feeding becomes increasingly difficult, and they will fuss at breast or bottle, leading to more winds
Signs of fullness in Newborns
Recognizing signs of hunger is extremely important but so is determining when they are full. Some babies, when they have had enough and are feeling full, may simply stop feeding or stop sucking. This is not always the case, as baby’s like adults, also feed for comfort.
Signs of fullness
· Relaxing their body · Turning face away from breast or bottle · Hands become soft and open and his arm will relax – if you lift the arm, it will fall in a Ragdoll effect · Start to fall asleep · When they have overfed, they often become fussy, due to cramps, reflux, or feeling bloated
If you are unsure if your breastfed baby is full, or if they fall asleep, try stimulating them by stroking their cheek.
Most newborns do show hunger cues frequently, but some may not, especially a very sleepy newborn. Just because they are not showing cues, doesn’t mean they are not hungry. If by 4hrs they are not showing signs of hunger, then wake them up and try to feed them.
Understanding when and how to feed your baby is so important, but it does require patience, attentiveness, and care. Knowing the common hunger cues can help you not only recognize that your baby is hungry, but also help to ensure that you are not feeding when they aren’t hungry.
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