Your Guide to Feeding Cues: Recognizing and Responding to Your Baby’s Needs

Whether you’re currently pregnant or you’re home with your newborn and experiencing some confusion knowing when to feed, I’m so glad you’re here!

Feeding cues: what they are, why they matter

Understanding your baby’s cues can improve your breastfeeding relationship and help you to feel in tune with their needs. Current research shows that babies need to be fed a minimum of 10-12 times in 24 hours. When you feed your baby will be determined by the cues they exhibit. Babies are intelligent, and they are born capable of communicating their readiness to feed, it is up to us to observe and act on their subtle cues. Keeping baby close allows more opportunities for these cues to be observed.

Becoming familiar with feeding cues is one way you can get breastfeeding off to a great start. Let’s begin with getting rid of feeding schedules. Every baby is unique and expecting your little one to follow a schedule can harm your breastfeeding relationship. Many common breastfeeding problems can stem from misinterpreting your baby’s cues or attempting to follow the clock instead of your baby. By now you are probably wondering what cues you should be looking for. Let’s explore what these cues look like, and soon you will be fluent in your little one’s language.

1. REM Sleep

An often underrecognized feeding cue is increasing alertness, which may first be observed as rapid eye movement under closed eyelids. While REM is known as a deep sleep state for adults, it is a light sleep state for infants. Infants may pass from REM to more obvious cues or even crying in a short span of time. In the early days, REM is an ideal time to bring baby to breast to practice feeding as babies in this state are generally more content and willing to work collaboratively with their parent to fine tune their latch.

Bonus tip: The slower flow of colostrum during the first days of life is a great opportunity for baby to practice their latch and coordinate sucks and swallows before the more rapid flow of mature milk begins. Frequent nursing allows many opportunities for both members of the dyad to practice their new skills! Colostrum is the perfect food, and in the perfect quantity for tiny newborn tummies. What a wonderful example of how intentionally designed our bodies are.

2. Rooting & Body Movements

Rooting is another early feeding cue that can be observed as baby turning their head in search of the breast or bottle, often accompanied by searching movements of the mouth, and subtle body movements. As baby becomes hungrier, these movements may become more obvious and include flexing of their limbs, and bringing a hand to their mouth while making suckling motions.

3. Clenching Fists

Babies who are ready to feed often display tightly clenched fists that relax and open as baby becomes satisfied at the breast/bottle. If your baby nurses on one breast and one fist remains clenched, don’t be surprised if they soon request the second breast!

Notice this baby's clenched fist and flexed arm?

4. Suckling

Suckling on fingers or fists is another sign your baby may be ready to feed. If you are unsure if what you are seeing is a feeding cue, it doesn’t hurt to offer the breast. It is hard to overfeed a baby fed directly at the breast, as they are excellent regulators of their intake.

5. Crying

Crying is a late feeding cue, and signals that baby’s more subtle cues have been missed or misinterpreted. If your baby is crying, start by calming them before attempting to nurse. A frantic baby may fret more at the breast or refuse to latch. An optimal latch is achieved when baby is calm and ready to feed. An optimal latch increases the flow and transfer of milk, further supporting mom’s milk supply. Skin to skin, rocking, patting or singing may all help your baby return to a calm state. If your baby is inconsolable, contact your pediatrician.

A crying baby should be calmed before attempting to feed. Did you notice this baby's clenched fists? 

Still have questions?

While breastfeeding is instinctive for babies, it a learned skill for parents, one that often requires some practice. It is normal to have questions before and after your baby is born. A lactation counselor can help both prenatally and during the postpartum period. All parents desiring to breastfeed deserve adequate and compassionate support. Keep in mind that common complaints such as nipple pain, even in the early days are not normal, and an in depth feeding assessment with a lactation professional can often help resolve the issue. Reach out as soon as you have concerns! For further support, or to schedule a prenatal preparation session or an in home feeding assessment, contact me!

If you are a visual learner and would like to see images of each feeding cue, check out this helpful chart!

Medical Disclaimer

The content provided here is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended as medical advice. It does not take the place of medical advice or treatment from a physician. Readers should consult their own doctor or a qualified health professional for specific health concerns or questions.