Last updated: January 2026
Mamma, rone se pehle hi baby bhookh ke signals deta hai - aur inhe samajhna feeding ko bahut aasan bana deta hai! Rooting (sar idhar-udhar ghumana), haath mooh mein daalna, aur smacking lips - ye sab early hunger cues hain. Crying actually late sign hai - tab tak baby upset ho chuka hota hai aur latching mushkil ho jaati hai. Early cues pakdo, stanpan aasan hoga!
Watch: Always look for this early hunger cues.Do you feed your baby only after they start crying?
Babies communicate hunger through a progression of cues - from subtle early signs to obvious late signals. Recognizing the early signs means easier, calmer feeds. Waiting until baby cries makes latching harder and feeding more stressful.
| Stage | Signs | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| **Early (Best time to feed)** | Stirring, opening mouth, turning head | "I'm starting to feel hungry" |
| **Mid (Should feed soon)** | Stretching, hand to mouth, fussing | "I'm definitely hungry now" |
| **Late (Already very hungry)** | Crying, agitated movements, turning red | "I'm very upset and starving!" |
These subtle signs appear when baby is just beginning to feel hungry - the ideal time to start feeding:
1. Rooting Reflex
2. Mouth Movements
3. Stirring and Waking
4. Head Movements
If you miss the early cues, baby's signals become more obvious:
1. Hand-to-Mouth
2. Physical Movements
3. Fussiness
These are signs that baby is very hungry and becoming distressed:
1. Crying
2. Frantic Movements
3. Skin Color Changes
Important: When baby reaches this stage, it may be harder to get a good latch. Try to calm baby first (skin-to-skin, gentle rocking) before attempting to feed.
Day 1-2:
Day 3-4:
Week 1-2:
After 1 Month:
Consult a pediatrician or lactation consultant if:
A: In the first few weeks, very frequent feeding (every 1-2 hours sometimes) is completely normal! This is called cluster feeding and helps establish your milk supply. It's exhausting but temporary. As baby grows and your supply stabilizes, feeds typically become less frequent.
A: Sometimes it's the same thing - and that's okay! Non-nutritive sucking at the breast provides comfort AND helps milk supply. If you've recently fed and baby seems to want breast again, it's fine to offer. If you want to try other soothing first (holding, rocking, pacifier), you can, but don't worry about "overfeeding" a breastfed baby.
A: Hand-to-mouth can be a hunger sign, but older babies (after 2-3 months) may also suck hands for self-soothing or when teething. Consider other cues too - when did baby last feed? Are there other hunger signs? If it's been 2+ hours, baby is probably hungry.
A: In the first 2 weeks, yes - don't let newborns go more than 3-4 hours without feeding. After that, if baby is gaining weight well and having enough wet/dirty diapers, you can let them sleep. Most babies will wake when hungry, but some sleepy babies need to be woken.
A: Look for these signs: (1) 6+ wet diapers per day after day 4, (2) Regular dirty diapers, (3) Baby seems satisfied after feeds, (4) Steady weight gain after initial loss, (5) Baby is alert when awake. If these signs are present, baby is getting enough maa ka doodh!
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This article was reviewed by a pediatrician. Learning your baby's unique hunger cues takes time - you're doing great!
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