How to Know When Your Baby is Hungry: A Guide to Reading Your Baby’s Hunger Cues with Confidence
By: Natalie Jarrett, MSN, IBCLC
When your baby is hungry, they let you know – just not with words. Instead, they rely on subtle body language, reflexes, and behaviors to communicate their needs. These cues might seem mysterious at first, but with a little time and observation, they’ll start to feel like second nature. By responding to early signs of hunger, rather than waiting until your baby cries, you can help make feedings go more smoothly and reduce stress for both you and your baby. Responding to early feeding cues is also a helpful way to support your milk supply and your baby’s feeding rhythm. An easy way to remember early hunger cues is the acronym F.A.S.T.
F - Fists to Mouth
Babies often start to show signs of hunger by bringing their hands to their mouth. This may look like sucking, gnawing, or simply rubbing their fists near their lips. If your baby is doing this, it’s a good indicator that they are almost ready to feed. Try to get situated before they become too frustrated. If their hands are making it harder to latch, gently guide them away to help your baby find your nipple more easily. This is especially common in the early newborn days, when babies rely heavily on their rooting reflexes and instinctive hand-to-mouth motions.
A - Awakening or Stirring
One of the earliest and easiest-to-miss signs of hunger is when your baby begins to wake up or stir from sleep. You might notice subtle movements like stretching, fluttering their eyes, or shifting their body. These little motions are often their way of signaling they’re ready to eat before they’re fully awake, especially if they have been sleeping for a few hours.
Rather than waiting for crying, try getting everything ready to start breastfeeding or offer a bottle when you see your baby stirring. That early timing can make a big difference in how calm and successful the feeding session is. As a tip: use this time to grab anything you might need—your water bottle, a snack, a burp cloth—so you’re prepared to sit for a bit.
S - Smacking Lips
Lip smacking, tongue movements, or even little sucking sounds are common feeding cues—especially if your baby hasn’t eaten in a while. These signs can happen on their own or alongside other cues like rooting, stirring, or turning their head side to side.
It’s important to read these signs in context. Babies may also smack their lips when they’re tired or self-soothing. If your baby is also yawning, rubbing their eyes, or pulling at their ears, they may be ready for a nap instead of a feed. In those cases, it’s okay to try a few gentle soothing techniques before offering the breast or bottle.
T — Turning Head Side to Side (Rooting Reflex)
Rooting is one of the most recognizable feeding cues. If your baby is turning their head from side to side, especially after their cheek has been touched, they’re likely looking for a nipple to latch onto.
This reflex usually fades around 3-4 months of age, but while it’s active, it’s a helpful signal that your baby is ready to feed. Some babies even root in their sleep or while being held skin-to-skin. If you see it, it’s a great time to offer the breast or bottle before they escalate to crying.
What About Crying?
Crying is absolutely a sign of hunger—but it’s often the last one. By the time your baby is crying, they may already be stressed or overly hungry, which can make it harder for them to latch or settle into a feeding. This is why you want to avoid waiting to breastfeed or offer a bottle until this point if possible and instead watch for those early signs that your baby wants to eat.
If your baby is crying, try calming them with skin-to-skin contact, gentle swaying or bouncing, or rhythmic shushing sounds for a few minutes before bringing them to the breast and attempting to feed. Once they’re calm, they’ll be more likely to latch well and feed more effectively.
How to Know When Your Baby Is Full
Just as babies give signals when they’re hungry, they also give cues that they’re full and satisfied. Recognizing these signs can help prevent overfeeding, support responsive feeding, and build a trusting feeding relationship.
Here are a few fullness cues to look for:
Relaxed hands and body: A hungry baby often has clenched fists and tense limbs, if you try to lift their arm. As they feed and become full, their body relaxes. Their arms go limp, their fists open, and they may seem almost floppy or deeply calm. If you try to lift their arm while they feed you will feel this tension, and you should notice it decreases as they finish feeding.
Turning away or unlatching: If your baby starts to push off the breast or bottle, or turns their head away after feeding for a while, they may be telling you they’re finished. This is especially common around the 15–20 minute mark for breastfed babies, though feeding durations can vary widely.
The “milk drunk” look: You’ve likely seen it—your baby’s eyelids droop, their mouth falls slightly open, and their face looks blissfully peaceful. This deeply relaxed state is often a sign that they’ve had a satisfying feeding and are ready to sleep or rest.
Getting to Know Your Baby
Every baby is unique. While these cues are common and well-studied, your baby might develop their own patterns or preferences over time. The more you observe and respond with intention, the better you’ll become at reading their signals and the stronger your connection will grow.
Responsive feeding is at the heart of building trust between you and your baby. It allows them to feel seen, soothed, and supported and gives you confidence that you’re meeting their needs in a loving and intuitive way.
If you’re ever unsure about your baby’s cues, feeding patterns, or growth, support is available. Whether you're breastfeeding, formula feeding, or a mix of both, we’re happy to help at Milestones Pediatric and Maternal Nutrition.
Last medically reviewed on June 30, 2025
Natalie Jarrett, MSN, IBCLC is the lactation consultant Milestones Pediatric & Maternal Nutrition in Cary, NC. Natalie specializes in empowering lactating parents during their breastfeeding journey, while helping to minimize any breastfeeding difficulties. Schedule an appointment today.
