Your baby will let you know when they are hungry. Watch for your baby’s
feeding cues. Feed your baby whenever you see signs of hunger. Early
feeding cues include baby stirring, moving arms, mouth open, yawning or
licking, hand to mouth movements, turning head side to side and rooting.
Using a pacifier may seem like a good idea, but it can hide early signs
that your baby is hungry. You do not want to miss your baby’s early hunger
signs. Missing signs may cause you to make less breastmilk.
Crying is a late sign that your baby is hungry. If you wait for this late
sign you may find that your baby has more difficulty latching onto the
breast. If this happens, it is time to calm your baby. You can hold your
baby skin-to-skin. You can also cuddle, talk and stroke your baby. Once
your baby is calm, you can begin to breastfeed.
Review:
Baby Feeding Cues
(PDF 2.9MB)
Watch:
Baby’s Feeding Cues and Behaviours