How To Tell If My Baby Is Hungry and Full

There are so many things you may be trying to figure out as a new mom – including how to tell that your baby is hungry. Learning your child’s cues are crucial and help you determine when and how often to feed your newborn. But how do you know if it's time to feed your baby. 

First, keep in mind that a baby doesn’t just cry when they are hungry. There are other signs that also signal it’s time for lunch. 

How To Tell If Your Baby Is Hungry

Here are a few things to watch out for according to the USDA’s, WIC Breastfeeding Support (these are cues you would typically see in children ages birth to five month's old).

• Your child’s fists are moving toward his or her mouth
• Your child’s head is turning toward the mother’s chest
• Your child is becoming more alert or active
• Your child is smacking his/her lips or opening and closing his/her mouth
• Your child is becoming more and more fussy
• Your child is moving his or her body more and more 

Keep in mind that children will likely have different cues (no two babies are alike). As a child gets older (ages six months and up) they may start pointing toward food to signal that they are hungry.


Mom wearing a nursing shirt with hidden zipper access to breastfeed her child. 

How To Tell If Your Baby Is Full

According to the CDC there are a few things to keep in mind that will also help you determine if your child is full. 

• Your child may be closing their mouth
• Your child may be turning their head away from your breast or bottle
• Your child may be relaxing their hands

If you're breastfeeding you may also wonder whether your child is getting enough milk! Some moms will use a scale to determine how much milk their child gets while nursing. Moms will weigh their child before and after the feed to figure out how many ounces their child received.  You can read more about that here.