How to know if your baby is still hungry

How to tell if your baby is hungry or full

When it comes to feeding infants, it’s important to look at the overall picture of how your baby eats and behaves.

As a general rule, you can think of it this way: as a parent, you offer breastfeeding/formula when your baby signals hunger, and your baby decides the amount and stops when they feel satisfied.

However, infants may sometimes want to nurse or eat very frequently, or even almost constantly, during certain periods. This is often referred to as cluster feeding. Babies may also want to feed frequently for other reasons, such as needing comfort or closeness.

To ensure they get enough nutrition, it’s important that the baby breastfeeds or drinks actively, sucking strongly with a good latch for a sustained period. The baby should also have enough energy to feed properly, be awake and alert at times, and pee, poop, and gain weight as expected.

Signs your baby is hungry

When your baby is hungry, they often signal this in certain ways. Offer the breast or bottle as often as your baby wants, responding to early signs of hunger.

• Early signs: Moving around, opening their mouth, rooting for something.

• Early to moderate signs: Sticking out their tongue, rooting (nuzzling with their head).

• Moderate to late signs: Becoming restless, making small sounds, making sucking motions with their mouth, sucking on their hands.

• Late signs: Becoming increasingly restless and making louder sounds, turning red in the face, starting to cry, crying intensely.

Signs your baby is full (when bottle-feeding)

When bottle-feeding, it’s recommended to let the baby’s appetite determine how much they want to eat. Pay attention to early signs of hunger and allow the feeding to take its time (around 20–30 minutes per feeding).

The amount the baby eats can vary greatly from one feeding to another. You don’t need to push the baby to drink more formula than they want.

Signs your baby is full:

• Closes their mouth

• Turns their head away from the bottle

• Relaxes their hands and body, and may even fall asleep

• Appears content and satisfied

Signs your baby is full (when breastfeeding)

When breastfeeding, it’s important to consider the overall picture. Here are common signs that your baby is full:

• Lets go of the breast

• Turns their head away from the breast

• Relaxes their hands and body, and may even fall asleep

• Appears content and satisfied

• Nurses for an extended time, falls asleep, and suckles lightly without swallowing

To ensure they get the nutrition they need, it’s important that the baby breastfeeds regularly, sucks strongly and rhythmically for a sustained period (at least 10–15 minutes), and swallows audibly.

It’s also essential that you, as the breastfeeding parent, have a good latch—ask your healthcare provider for advice on proper breastfeeding positions and techniques. Signs that your baby is getting enough nutrition include being alert and energetic at times, peeing and pooping normally, and following a normal growth curve monitored by your healthcare provider.

Breastfeeding vs. comfort nursing

If your baby has nursed actively for an extended period and then falls asleep with the nipple in their mouth, they may continue to “comfort suck” lightly while asleep, without swallowing. In this case, they are no longer drinking, and you can remove the baby if you wish.

To break the latch, gently insert your clean pinky finger into the corner of the baby’s mouth to release the suction.

Signs your baby isn’t getting enough milk

If your baby isn’t full after breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, it may show in various ways. Here are some common signs to watch for, but keep in mind that all babies are different, so other signals may also be important.

• Wants to eat or nurse again soon after feeding: Babies who aren’t full often show hunger signs and want to eat again shortly after a feeding. However, frequent feeding can also occur for other reasons, such as the need for closeness or comfort associated with nursing/feeding.

• Fussiness, crying, or difficulty calming down: A baby who isn’t getting enough may become fussy or frustrated while nursing and have trouble soothing themselves, but this can also stem from other causes.

• Frequent night waking: If your baby regularly wakes more often than every two hours at night, it may be due to hunger.

• Low energy: A baby who isn’t getting enough milk may appear tired, sluggish, and struggle to stay awake or nurse effectively. If you notice this, it’s important to contact your healthcare provider.

If you’re concerned that your baby isn’t getting enough to eat or notice they’re tired, sluggish, or struggling to nurse properly, always seek advice from a healthcare provider.

How to know if your baby is getting enough milk during breastfeeding

Your baby nurses regularly A newborn baby needs to nurse regularly, usually every 2–3 hours or even more frequently. As the baby grows, gains weight, and your milk supply increases, they typically drink more at each session and may go a bit longer between feedings.

Your baby nurses actively For milk transfer to occur, your baby needs to nurse “actively” during feedings. Active nursing involves a good latch and starts with quick sucking, which transitions into slow, rhythmic sucking. The sucking is strong, their temple moves, and if you listen closely, you can hear your baby swallow milk regularly.

Your baby should also nurse actively for a sustained period, at least 10–15 minutes, and not fall asleep a few minutes into the feeding.

Your baby has a good latch A good latch is crucial for effective milk transfer. The baby should take in a good amount of breast tissue, not just the nipple. Their chin massages the breast, lips are flanged outward, and their jaw moves. You shouldn’t feel pain (except perhaps briefly when the baby first latches), and your nipple should look normal afterward.

If you have difficulty breastfeeding, consult your healthcare provider, who can observe your nursing technique and provide guidance.

Your baby is alert and content Your baby has the energy to nurse actively and regularly for sustained periods. They are also awake and alert during their “wake time” and have enough energy to signal discomfort if they’re hungry or upset. They appear satisfied and relaxed at other times.

Your baby pees and poops For a newborn, the amount of pee and poop can indicate how much milk they’re getting.

• In the first two days after birth, the baby usually pees small amounts, often noticeable by the diaper’s “wetness indicator,” which turns blue when damp.

• The dark, tar-like poop that appears during the first day is called meconium. It was in the baby’s intestines at birth and isn’t related to feeding.

• By day three, the baby starts to pee more frequently and in larger amounts, often coinciding with the milk “coming in.”

• Around days 3–4, the baby’s poop changes color to yellow or yellow-brown as milk intake increases. By days 4–5, both urine and poop become more frequent and clear signs of sufficient milk intake.

Your baby gains weight as expected During the first weeks, your baby will be weighed regularly to ensure they’re gaining weight as expected.

It’s normal for babies to lose a bit of weight in the first days, but by around 7–10 days, their weight typically begins to increase. After that, they usually gain about 200 grams per week.

If you’re unsure whether your baby is gaining enough weight, consult your healthcare provider.

Cluster feeding

During certain periods, babies may want to nurse or bottle-feed more frequently, a behavior often called cluster feeding.

For breastfeeding babies, cluster feeding plays an important role in the interaction between the baby and the breastfeeding parent’s body, signaling the need for increased milk production. Frequent feedings may also occur when the baby is sick, experiencing discomfort, or seeking extra closeness and comfort.

Signs your baby is full when eating purées or finger foods

When your baby is 6 months or older, they begin eating purées or finger foods as part of their nutrition, though breastmilk or formula still makes up a large part of their daily needs.

Signs your baby is full:

• Pushes food away

• Closes their mouth when food is offered

• Turns their head away from the food

• Signals they’re full with their hands or sounds

For older babies, it’s important to distinguish whether they’re full or simply don’t like the food being offered.