Hunger is a common reason why a baby cries. However, many parents do not understand as know if the baby is hungry.
If you want to know more about as know if the baby is hungry, continue reading this article we prepared.
How do you know if your baby is hungry?
Communication with your baby is nonverbal. Your baby needs you to understand his or her signals. This works best if you watch your baby and react before he or she starts crying.
Of course, every baby is different, but many of the same hunger cues can be found in all babies. This type of communication is given to your baby so that he or she can make himself or herself understood. These include:
- Your baby moves his head to the side: this is how he searches for the source of food. If he is close to the breast, he will smell the milk and try to reach it.
- Your baby clenches his hands into fists
- Your baby keeps pushing out his tongue
- Your baby makes popping noises
- Your baby makes laughing noises
- Your baby is kicking his legs and arms eagerly
- Your baby puts his fist or fingers in his mouth and sucks on them
If your baby starts crying because he's hungry, you've already ignored the other signs. Babies use crying as a late sign of hunger. It's best not to let it get that far.
You can avoid this, for example, by offering your baby the breast repeatedly or preparing a bottle at the first signs of hunger.
The need for food intake in breastfeeding babies
If you are breastfeeding, you may have noticed that your baby doesn’t have a set schedule. Some days, your baby wants to breastfeed every hour, and other days, he only needs to breastfeed every few hours. This is quite normal and also depends on your baby’s stage.
If your baby is healthy and born on the right day, 8 to 12 breastfeeding feeds within 24 hours is normal and sufficient.
There is no clear schedule that can or should be followed. Sometimes babies want to breastfeed more often and then take a longer break.
Recognize the signs of saturation
One question that many parents have doubts about is regarding the baby's saturation, that is, how to know when the baby is satisfied with the amount of milk he receives.
Obviously, here you can't see how much your baby has already taken from your breast and therefore there is no way to estimate the amount. Therefore, recognizing the signs your baby gives is essential.
In fact, satiety signals are a special help in recognizing that your baby is satisfied after a meal. These include the following points:
- Your baby relaxes: While clenching hands into fists is one of the most common signs of hunger, relaxed hands and legs indicate that your baby is feeling full.
- Drink slowly: If your baby is slowing down and even dropping the breast a little, he may already be satisfied.
- Your baby falls asleep: Babies sleep very well when their tummy is full. If your baby falls asleep on the breast or bottle, this indicates a feeling of fullness.
- Your breasts feel lighter: It may be trivial, but the sensation of a lighter breast certainly indicates that your baby has had enough milk.
