Signs your baby is asking for a feed

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Nguyen Thi An - Pediatrician - Neonatologist - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Ha Long International General Hospital. He was former Head of Pediatrics Department, Quang Ninh Provincial General Hospital. He has successfully treated many preterm infants with low birth weight and gestational age from 800 grams and 28 weeks or more, severe respiratory failure requiring invasive mechanical ventilation.
There are many signs that babies “willfully” signal to let us know that they are hungry. Normally, mothers often breastfeed their babies when they are fussy. However, when the baby cries, it is too late to signal that the baby wants to eat.
Therefore, it is very necessary for mothers to recognize the early signs of the baby's demand for feeding, to promptly provide nutrition and relieve the baby's craving in time.

1. How to recognize a baby asking for a feed?

1.1 Baby's earliest feeding cues Licking lips Sticking out tongue Sucking lips, tongue, hands or licking hands and fingers Frequent opening and closing Mouth Turns head to either side looking. This is the baby's reflex to find the mother. In the first few weeks after birth, when the mother touches the baby's cheek, the baby will immediately turn its head to the cheek touched. 1.2 Baby's next feeding cues Burying head against someone's chest Attempts to get attention by pulling clothes Moves arms and legs, swings repeatedly Smashes arm or chest of the person holding it Crying Moaning, mumbling Constantly Moving eyes, if you see that the baby is still closed but the inside of the eyes is moving rapidly, it is a sign that the baby is demanding a feed, needs more feeding Wake up when is sleeping, and then immediately falls asleep very quickly After having finished the milk and the baby still wants to breastfeed, this is a sign that the baby is still hungry, and wants more. Over 4 months old, your baby may even smile while being breastfed. This means that the baby is very interested and wants to continue to breastfeed.

1.3 Baby's last cue to suckle Moving head repeatedly over and over again A fussy baby is the last sign for a mother to know that a baby is hungry. However, a crying baby can also be a sign of other problems in the baby. Hunger cries are usually quieter, shorter, and vary in volume. When the baby cries, the mother needs to calm down the baby before breastfeeding by holding the baby, rocking, cuddling, stroking, massaging the baby and then putting the nipple in the mouth for the baby to suckle. Because if the mother breastfeeds the baby at this time, the baby may refuse because of anger, this leads to the baby not being able to latch on well, making the mother prone to nipple pain. However, waiting until the baby stops crying to breastfeed can cause problems, causing stress for both mother and baby.

2. Things to note

2.1 When the baby is sleeping, wake the baby up to feed, when the baby shows signs of feeding See your baby's eyes moving back and forth, or other signs of feeding. However, many babies fall asleep in the days or weeks after birth and don't show any early signs of feeding demands that the mother can recognize. Newborn babies need to be fed as soon as they show signs of feeding, during the day at least every 2 hours and at night at least once. The mother can stop waking the baby, and let the baby adjust to his or her own bedtime routine once the baby has reached a good weight (for babies under 4 months old, 4 ounces = 114 grams per day). the week).
2.2 Is sucking a baby's thumb a sign that she's asking for a feed? Signs of baby sucking are usually only true for babies in the newborn period. After the infancy, sucking a baby's thumb is no longer a reliable sign of a hungry baby. Around the 6th to 8th week, your baby will begin to gain better control of his or her own hands, begin to "explore" his hands, and use his mouth to explore things. Babies also often suck their thumbs during the teething period. Teething symptoms can appear weeks or even months before the first tooth emerges.
It is very necessary for mothers to recognize early signs that their babies are demanding to suckle, to promptly provide nutrition and help relieve the baby's hunger. This will help the baby calm down and better latch on to the breast. When the baby has cried loudly is the last sign that the baby is hungry so it will make it more difficult for the baby to calm down and breastfeed.
As a key area of ​​Vinmec Health system, Pediatrics Department always brings satisfaction to customers and is highly appreciated by industry experts with:
Gathering a team of top doctors and nurses in Pediatrics : consists of leading experts with high professional qualifications (professors, associate professors, doctorates, masters), experienced, worked at major hospitals such as Bach Mai, 108.. Doctors All doctors are well-trained, professional, conscientious, knowledgeable about young psychology. In addition to domestic pediatric specialists, the Department of Pediatrics also has the participation of foreign experts (Japan, Singapore, Australia, USA) who are always pioneers in applying the latest and most effective treatment regimens. . Comprehensive services: In the field of Pediatrics, Vinmec provides a series of continuous medical examination and treatment services from Newborn to Pediatric and Vaccine,... according to international standards to help parents take care of their baby's health from birth to childhood. from birth to adulthood Specialized techniques: Vinmec has successfully deployed many specialized techniques to make the treatment of difficult diseases in Pediatrics more effective: neurosurgery - skull surgery, stem cell transplantation. blood in cancer treatment. Professional care: In addition to understanding children's psychology, Vinmec also pays special attention to the children's play space, helping them to have fun and get used to the hospital's environment, cooperate in treatment, improve the efficiency of medical treatment.

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