Here’s how to spot and respond to your baby’s hunger cues 

As natural as breastfeeding is, it’s also natural to have a lot of questions about it. And as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) with The Lactation Network, I love being a key support person for families as they navigate and fine-tune feeding their baby. For many families, the topic of feeding inherently includes many questions, and often a few concerns as well. As the gold-standard in lactation care, lactation consultants (IBCLCs) are an integral part of your medical team. We are here to address any feeding concerns you may have, answer all of your questions, and be a source of support you can rely on. 

As a new parent getting to know your little one, you may have heard that you should feed your breastfeeding baby “on demand”, and wondered how your little one will ask for a feed. It turns out babies are excellent communicators, and they have several ways of telling us when they are hungry. We refer to these collective signals as “hunger cues”, or sometimes “feeding cues”. 

What are baby hunger cues?

Learning this new language takes time, but it is an important part of establishing a strong bond with your baby. And your baby will come to trust that you will meet their needs. This creates an environment where the baby feels safe, and the parent feels confident. Over time, most parents find that they become more attuned to their baby’s hunger cues. They may even begin to feel predictable, and you may see patterns emerge.

Hunger cues typically start out less intense, and escalate over time if they are not responded to. We refer to the progression of these behaviors as early, active (mid), and late hunger cues. If you are nursing only when your baby cries, you’re most likely missing earlier hunger cues!

When possible, offer a feed at the first signs of hunger (aka, early hunger cues), instead of waiting until your baby gets increasingly upset. Catching your baby at the first signs of hunger when they are still calm is more likely to result in an enjoyable feeding experience for both parent and baby.

Early hunger cues

• Opening and closing their mouth
• Smacking their lips
• Putting their hands in their mouth
• Becoming more alert

However, it’s not always possible to catch a baby at the early hunger cue stage. For example, your hungry baby may wake up from a nap, and go right to showing these overt signals.

Active or “mid” hunger cues

• Rooting (opening their mouth and turning head in search of food)
• Sucking on their hands and fingers
• Moving their head and body toward the chest / breast of the person holding them
• Physically stirring 
• Starting to get fussy/vocal

Late hunger cues

• Crying/upset baby
• Clenching their fists
• Frantic movements

If your baby has reached this last stage, you may find it helpful to hold and calm them for a moment before offering the breast.

Just as babies tell us when they are hungry, they also tell us when they are full. Toward the end of the feed, you may notice the suck pattern slows down, the pauses between bursts of sucking and swallowing grow longer, their body becomes more relaxed, and that they seem happier and satiated. 

Frequently asked questions about baby hunger cues

Q. Is a hunger cue always a sign of hunger? 

Not always. As babies get older and gain more control over their movements, they intentionally put their hands in their mouths to explore, self-soothe, and for comfort when they are teething. They may also be fussy or upset for reasons other than hunger. If your older baby is showing signs of hunger (hunger cues), offering a feed and observing their level of interest is a reliable way to determine if they are hungry. You may notice that they seem disinterested in latching, turn their head away from your breast, or close their mouth. 

Q. Can a baby be hungry and not show hunger cues? 

Younger babies may be sleepy, and for a variety of reasons may not reliably demonstrate hunger cues. Talk to your pediatrician about the feeding plan for your baby. In the early weeks most parents are instructed to offer feeds at minimum intervals, and to feed on demand. If you are having difficulty latching or feeding your baby, or suspect your baby isn’t getting enough breastmilk, reach out to an IBCLC for breastfeeding support. 

Q. What does it mean if a baby is showing frequent hunger cues? 

Have you noticed that your baby is showing lots of hunger cues? Although it can be a sign that your baby needs more food, it’s not the only reason for frequent cueing. Your baby may be experiencing a growth spurt, cluster feeding, teething, tired, or just looking for comfort. 

Some parents are understandably concerned when their baby starts to “cluster feed”. Cluster feeding is when a baby asks an increased number of small feeds, spaced closely together. However, cluster feeding is a very predictable behavior, and isn’t a sign that feeding isn’t going well. Babies tend to cluster feed during growth spurts (short, intense periods of increased growth) to meet their nutritional and developmental needs. This often results in a boost to your milk supply, as well. 

An IBCLC can help you evaluate if your baby is getting enough breastmilk, answer your questions about hunger cues, and provide you with a plan of care for breastfeeding your baby.

Q. How do I best prepare a caregiver to feed my baby?

Hunger cues look slightly different from baby to baby. When someone takes care of your baby, don’t forget to let them know what signs your baby will use to let them know they are hungry. Knowing what to look for will create a more positive experience for the caregiver, and for your baby. 

It may take a little time, but as your baby gets older you’ll probably be surprised to see just how effectively they can communicate without words. Trust your intuition, and allow time for the understanding to grow. Soon you’ll be in sync with your baby’s needs, and you’ll both be speaking the same language.

A version of this story was originally published on Aug. 9, 2023. It has been updated.