Scheduled feedings, as indicated by your pediatrician, are best for children born prematurely or with medical issues. Check your baby for hunger cues (instead of the clock) if the baby is a healthy and full-term infant. This type of feeding is called “feeding on demand” or “responsive feeding”.
When a newborn is hungry, he or she often cries. However, it’s ideal to keep an eye out for hunger cues before the baby starts wailing, as this is a late sign of hunger that makes it difficult for them to settle down and eat. Here are some cues to look for:
– Licking lips
– Sticking tongue out
– Rooting (moving jaw, mouth, or head in quest of the breast)
– Putting a hand to mouth repeatedly
– Opening her mouth
– Fussiness
It’s crucial to remember that your baby’s cries and cues aren’t always due to hunger. Sucking is done by babies for a variety of reasons, including hunger and comfort; parents may find it difficult to distinguish between the two at first. It’s also possible that your infant may not be actually hungry and simply require a snuggle or a diaper change on occasion.