If you’re a new mom and wondering what are the signs and cues that your baby is hungry. You are totally in the right place! I’m going to share with you the different ways to know if your baby is hungry. That way you won’t miss a feeding. You might think crying is the only hunger cue, but you’ll be surprised to know that it’s not!
When I was a first time mom, I thought that when my baby would cry, it meant that she was hungry. But, later on I figured out that she was also giving me other signs and cues to let me know that it was time for a feeding. It’s so amazing how babies can naturally signal us that they are hungry without even speaking!
The baby stage is so amazing, you’re learning what it’s like to be a mom, you’re also learning about your baby. Keep in mind that no baby is the same, meaning they all have different personalities. But, babies do have things in common, like the signs and cues that will let you know they are hungry!
5 Important signs and cues that your baby is definitely hungry
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1.Crying
Crying is one of the first signs that your baby is hungry. This may seem obvious but, did you know your baby cries can tell a lot? If your baby is hungry, his cries will most likely be short. Meaning, there will not be long periods of crying. Also, the pitch of his cries will be low and it will rise and fall.
Now, if you’ve missed all of the hunger cues from down below. Your baby will start to cry in a high pitch!Crying does not only mean that your baby is hungry, it can also mean that she is tired, sleepy or in pain!
Related article:
8 common reasons why your baby is crying
9 things first time moms should know about newborns
2.Your baby is fussy
Another way to know if your baby is hungry. Is that she is getting fussy and uncomfortable. She may be moving around, being fidgety and stretching her arms and legs.
If your baby just woke up from a nap or from his bed time and you notice that he is making cooing sounds and making faces. He is hungry and needs a feeding.
Related article:
10 easy ways to soothe a fussy baby when nothing seems to work
7 sure ways to help your baby with colic feel better
3.Sucking fist/smacking sounds
One way that I knew my kids were hungry, was that they would start sucking their fists. If you find your baby sucking on his fingers, toes and even tries to suck on his clothes. He is hungry!
Your baby is also going to make smacking sounds while sucking. That my mama friend is your cue that it’s time for a feeding.
Related article:
10 must haves diaper changing essentials for new moms
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4.Moving head side to side
Is your baby moving his head to the side and starts to open his mouth? Then, he is searching for a nipple to suck on. Whether you are bottle feeding or breastfeeding your baby. He will start to get comfortable in the feeding position to start feeding!
I loved using a boppy pillow when feeding all three of my kids when they were babies. Life saver! Having a rocking chair, also made my life as twin mother so much easier. It soothes them to feed and fall asleep 🙂
5.Opening mouth
The last tip on how to know if your baby is hungry, is to notice if your baby is opening his mouth. If he is, most likely it means that he is hungry mama! Feed your baby!
I loved these Playtex baby bottles because it resembled an actual nipple and it’s also anti-colic which was great!
Quick tip:
There are a lot of babies who just rather sleep than be fed. If you notice that your baby is sleeping a lot and is not showing any signs of being hungry. It’s always best to wake her up to feed.
It is recommend to feed a newborn baby every 3 hours or so, if your baby haven’t woken up during that period of time, then you should definitely wake her up and feed her.
There you have it mama, the important signs and cues that will tell you if your baby is hungry! Having a hungry baby is not fun at all, but the good part is that your baby will naturally let you know that she is hungry. Nature is a beautiful thing, isn’t?
Do not feel bad if you may have missed a couple of these hungry signs before. After all, being a mom is all about learning as you go. Now that you this information and know the signs and cues of a hungry baby. You’re now a pro at knowing when to feed your precious child.
