There’s a learning curve to being a new mama, especially when it comes to learning all of your baby’s secret signs and signals. Believe it or not, a baby’s nonverbal cues can contain very specific meanings, and it will be your role to begin to interpret, so you can help your little one get what she needs when she needs it. Luckily, many of the gestures, sounds, and expressions babies make when they are hungry are universal, which means that anyone who helps to feed your baby can start to learn and respond to their hunger cues.
Because experts today recommend what’s called “responsive feeding” ⸺which means feeding babies when they are hungry, rather than on a schedule⸺it’s more important than ever that caretakers know how to recognize when baby is hungry and when he is full. This will help your baby develop into a healthy eater who is able to respond to their own internal cues of hunger and satiety. Here are some of the things to look for to know that your baby is ready to feed.
Mouth and hand movements
When baby starts opening his mouth, sticking out his tongue, or smacking his lips, that’s a clear signal that he may need to feed. Baby may ball his hands into fists right next to the face or start trying to eat their own fingers⸺or yours!
Searching and rooting
If you breastfeed your baby and they are near you, they may begin turning their heads towards your chest, opening their mouths, and searching and rooting for the nipple.
General fussiness
When a baby starts bobbing their head around, wiggling their body, or showing signs of general fussiness, that can often be a sign of hunger, especially if it’s been a few hours since their last feed.
Vocalizing
According to baby whisperer Priscilla Dunstan, when babies are engaging the sucking reflex, they make a sound that sounds like the word “neh,” signaling the need for milk.
Crying
If baby’s hunger cues are not recognized earlier in the process, they may begin crying to signal that they need to eat. At this stage, you may need to calm baby down before they are able to latch properly and engage in the feeding process. Of course, babies communicate many different messages through crying, so you might try feeding them only to find that something else is needed. Go easy on yourself, and don’t fret too much if you didn’t get the right memo.
Signs of satiety
Babies have a good sense of how much to eat, and you can learn to recognize the signs that they are full, too. These could include: turning away from the bottle or breast, falling asleep, or starting to dribble milk or lose the latch. Lactation specialists advise following your baby’s lead and not forcing them to take all of the milk available, even if that means pumping, storing, or discarding the rest of a bottle.
Considering context
Remember, when you’re learning to read your baby’s signals, context matters. If they’ve recently been fed and are experiencing other sources of discomfort, their crying or fussiness could be about something else. Take the big picture into consideration and use your best judgment.
You won’t always get it right mama, and guess what? You don’t have to! What matters is that you do your best and reach out when you need help or support. The Bébé Bru Cru is here for you, and we can show you how to nourish your baby with breast milk anytime, anywhere. Find out how at thebebebru.com.
