Understanding Newborn Feeding Cues: When and How to Feed

Feeding newborns can be one of the most intuitive stages of raising a baby, but knowing and understanding their feeding signals is very important to give the baby the nutrition and care he/she needs. Every baby, indeed, has a unique way of showing that he/she is hungry, and the parents’ role is to realize the baby’s cues on time and start the feeding procedure. Whether you are a new mom or dad or you want to refine your feeding skills, the knowledge of the baby’s feeding clues will serve as a really good guideline, and feeding will be a more successful and enjoyable experience.

This post is dedicated to learning the process of identifying the hunger of a baby, outlining a proper reaction to the child’s signals, and offering practical suggestions that will assist you in handling the baby’s feeding time comfortably. Let’s get started with the way new parents can get to know when and how to feed their newborn.

Understanding Newborn Hunger Cues

Newborns have natural signs that trigger food intake, but it’s not always easy to interpret what those signs really are. Usually, babies show early signs of hunger when they are still quite and not too much crying. If you respond promptly to these signs you can avoid your baby to be very distressed so his/her feeding will be an easy matter.

Here are early cues of hunger in a newborn that parents should be aware of:

1. Rooting Reflex: When the touch is on the cheek or chin of a baby and he/she makes a head-turning, it simply means that the child is ready for feeding. This is one of the natural reflexes to his/her growth which will enable him/her to suck the breast or bottle.
2. How to Recognize the Cues of a Hungry Baby: Quite often babies will bring their hands towards their mouth and suck on them when they feel hungry. This is a clear signal of their readiness to eat.
3. Lip Smacking or Mouthing: Babies can make lip-smacking sounds or pretend to suck something when they are hungry even when the mouth is empty.
4. Fussing or Whimpering: Fussing and whimpering are very gentle signs of hunger in your baby if still peaceful. If you deal with the first signs, the baby will hardly feel anxious while feeding.
5. Clenched Fists: If your baby’s hands are shaped like a fist, especially when they are near to the mouth, it could be a hunger sign from the baby.

The foundation of successful feeding is finding these signals as early as possible so that you can satisfy your baby’s needs before they get too hungry or upset.

Importance of Feeding upon Request

Newborns are definitely more flexible than adults when it comes to food. They eat when they feel hungry, and not when you tell them it’s time to eat. The feeding on demand system allows mothers to feed their child only when they show signs of hunger, and not by forcing them to follow a certain schedule. This system not only ensures the intake of the necessary food but also contributes greatly to growth and development.

Mother’s milk is also improved by this habit of breastfeeding on demand (fed satiation). A newborn who consumes milk frequently sends the body a signal to produce milk more, hence, the breast is guaranteed to be full. If a baby is fed with a formula, they, based on their hunger, and not according to the timetable of their mother, also benefit from demand-feeding which may not though be as frequent as that of a breastfed baby.

How to Feed Your Newborn

After you have identified the feeding signals, the next thing that you must be familiar with is how to react properly. This article will help you to understand how you can feed your baby in an effective way.

1. Using the milk from the mother:

• Positioning: Always check if the baby is well attached to your breast. They need to look at your face with their wide open mouth, and their lips should be flanged out. Should their latch be incorrect, the act of breastfeeding might be painful to them and there might be insufficient milk for them to consume.
• Avoid Rushed Feedings: Let your baby have as much time as s/he wants to feed and ensure they have got both foremilk and hindmilk (the milk that comes after the initial let-down).
• Switch Sides: Present each breast to your baby in your nursing session. It happens that one of the babies will probably have a preference for one side. But keep in mind that you must make sure that the two breasts are emptied in order to maintain the milk supply.

2. Formula Feeding:

• Preparation: Be sure that you have followed the guidelines given on the packing of your formula so that the preparation is correct and over-concentration or under-concentration are avoided.
• Feeding Positions: Sit comfortably with the baby in an upright position and raise his/her head slightly. The bottle should be held at an angle such that the nipple is full of milk at all times to avoid aerophagia.
• Paced Bottle Feeding: To promote breastfeeding in baby form, calm down with paced bottle feeding. Now, lay the bottle on its side and let the baby drink according to his own rhythm.

How Often Should You Feed Your Newborn?

Babies begin to need to sleep every 2 to 3 hours during the day, but the amount of time one spends asleep can vary a lot for a lot of reasons. Some babies may require more frequent feedings, while others may need less frequent ones. The key is to be able to notice and be responsive to your baby’s needs for food and hunger.

Gradually, as your baby gets older, his/her routine starts to become more predictable and you may find that he/she can go a little longer between night feeds. When your baby reaches 3-4 months old, and possibly even earlier, there is a chance he/she will take even 8-hour sleeps.

Way To Understand That Your Baby Is Full

Just like the babies give signals when they are hungry, they also give signals when they’ve had enough. Some of the common signs that show your newborn is full are the following:

• Turning away from the breast or bottle: If your infant turns his/her head or does not want to latch, he/she may be indicating he/she is full.
• Relaxed Hands: Frequently, babies with open, relaxed hands are content.
• Decreased Sucking: The baby may slow down or completely stop sucking, indicating that he/she already had enough.
• Falling asleep: After a full feed, it is common for many babies to fall asleep.
  If your child is displaying these signs, do not push them to eat more, as doing so will only make them uncomfortable or overfed.

Common Problems Encountered and Solutions

Although feeding your newborn might appear to be simple and smooth, it can be difficult sometimes. Here are some of the common challenges and the most suitable ways to solve them:

1. Cluster Feeding: Some babies go through periods when they have the desire to nurse frequently. This is usually not a long-term issue and often coincides with a growth spurt. It is very important to react to cluster feeding, because your child is probably trying to intensify the breast milk supply.
2. Colic and Gassiness: Babies can experience gas or colic that may cause gassiness during a feeding session. Hold the baby upright and burp the baby throughout and after feedings to help pass the air out of the baby’s body.
3. Slow Weight Gain: If your baby is not growing in weight according to the expected pattern.

The importance of recognizing the infant’s feeding cues and satisfying them in a timely manner cannot be underrated, as it not only benefits the child but the parents as well. It is also important to learn to recognize the signs of early hunger and to feed the baby when it is truly hungry to form a strong parental bond and to secure the baby’s growth and development. Just like the rest of your baby’s care, don’t expect you to get everything right from the start. As you go on, you will be able to know your baby’s signals and feeding will be very easy for you.