Hunger signs in a fussy baby

[MeredithK]

It used to be so easy to tell if DS was hungry....rooting or hands in mouth. But, now that he is 3 months old, it's hard to tell. He puts everything in his mouth all the time now, so that's no help. And, he's fussy all the time....so it's hard to use that as a sign.

I pretty much just offer the breast every 1.5 to 2 hrs or if he is super screaming. He is a short nurser, so it's hard to tell if he was really hungry or not.

How does your young baby show you he/she is hungry?

[odoole]

Hmm, at that age, my DS pretty much ONLY fussed if he was hungry. Later he started fussing from being tired too, in which case he would reject the breast if I offered it.

Now, at 5.5 months, DS's eating/hunger habits center around sleep, so he'll eat before he naps, as he's waking up from a nap, and during the night. He'll almost never eat or act hungry just randomly during the day.

[Abraisme]

My DD went from rooting or getting slightly fussy to trying to eat my boobs through my shirt. Starting around 4mo she would nuzzle my chest when she got hungry and now at 5mo it's really obvious to everyone when she wants to nurse.

[JMJ]

I just nurse her all the time. Sometimes, it's because she uses a specific cry, though usually that cry doesn't come out unless she's being worn on my chest or she sees the boob. Sometimes, it's because I think it's been a while. Sometimes, it's because she bonked and cried. Now that she's mobile, she can just come right up to me and let me know she wants to be picked up, and she loves a snuggle nurse.

[tessa_s212]

I have the same problem. We just feed him on demand. If he's lazy at eating, we assume he needs a nap and put him down. It almost always does the trick. So that is our "fussy" routine. Offer food, if not, nap time!

[4myfinn]

I could have written this post word for word! That is exactly what my 4 mo DS is doing! He also has silent reflux, so I have a hard time sometimes deciphering if he's hungry, tired, or in reflux pain. (Although he is in a great deal less pain since I went dairy-free). We seem to have the same strategy- feed him every 1.5 to 2 hours. He doesn't eat a whole lot when he's nursing this frequently, but his pedi recommended eating smaller amounts to help the reflux anyway.

[Hoopin' Mama]

When in doubt, pop it out