Hungry Or Full?

Your baby will tell you with these cues!

Your baby will use several cues at the same time to show you when they are hungry and when they are full.

When your baby is hungry, they may…

•  Keep their hands near their mouth

•  Bend their arms and legs 

•  Make sucking noises 

•  Pucker their lips

•  Search for the breast (root)

When your baby is full, they may…

• Suck slower or stop sucking
• Relax their arms and legs
• Turn away
• Push away
• Fall asleep

Tips for Success 

• Watch your baby, not the clock. Follow your baby’s hunger cues instead of a strict schedule.
  
• Watch for multiple cues at a time. Your baby will combine several cues together to show you they are hungry or full.
• Try to respond to hunger cues before your baby starts crying. They will show hunger cues before they start to cry. If they start to cry, you may need to calm them down before feeding them.
• Crying does not always mean hunger. If your baby is crying, but not showing hunger cues, they are probably not hungry. A crying baby who is hungry will show these cues, even after they start to cry. 

Recommendation

Download this printable guide to hunger and fullness cues.