Children's feeling of hunger:
Babies cannot speak to communicate when they are hungry or full. However, they do have the ability to pass the message on to the parents. It's all about learning to interpret signs. For parents of young children, everything is new and unfamiliar. Even when it comes to food. But there are certain signs of hunger in a baby that can guide these times of doubt and anxiety.
Some of these are signs to know if your little one is hungry or if he has all the nutrients required for his proper development.
What are the signs of hunger in a child?
Meals should be provided at the request of the newborn, and the main evidence is that the child feels hungry. It is therefore essential to learn to interpret these signs of hunger, but also to interpret satiety. It may seem complicated at first, but as the days go by, all the parents and teachers find their way.
The child seeks the breast:
If the baby is in your arms and brings his head closer to the chest or breast, then he is hungry and wants to find the breast. It can also move its head from side to side as if it is searching for food.
It is more active when hungry.
Children are often more alert and more aware of what is going on around them. He is constantly moving. This indicates that he is hungry because this sensation makes him more exciting.
Baby trying to breastfeed:
A hungry child makes sucking movements with his mouth. Even if he doesn't have a pacifier, toy or rattle. It is also common for him to extend his hands to his mouth and suck them insistently.
Stick out his tongue:
Mouth clicking and tongue movements can also be a sign of needing or wanting to eat. Sometimes the noise is very soft, almost imperceptible.
The child cries and fidgets:
A crying baby is often a signal that something is wrong. Sometimes they are due to feeling hungry. However, crying indicates that the child has been hungry for a long time.
If this is the case, it is best to calm him down before you breastfeed or bottle-feed him, otherwise he will be too nervous to enjoy a meal. In addition, he may swallow more air than usual and then have gas problems and discomfort.
How do you know if a child is still hungry after a meal?
Determining when a child wants to eat is one of the main concerns of parents. However, the doubts do not end there. In fact, another concern may arise. Whether the child has eaten enough or is still hungry. In this case, this is also learned through the interpretation of certain signs.
Decreased muscle strength:
This is the most common sign during the first six months of life, with decreased activity. Relaxation indicates satiety.
Loss of interest in the breast or pacifier:
The baby turns his mouth away from the breast or bottle when he is not hungry. If you show him again and he turns his head again, he's really full.
Focus on other things:
Once full, the child often wants to do other things. He can look away persistently or follow a game with his eyes. In short, food takes a back seat.
The child shows his satisfaction:
If he eats well, everything went well and he is no longer hungry, the child is generally happy. He can even laugh and play. However, if he is tired, he will show signs of falling asleep.
Can the child eat?
It is important to recognize signs of hunger such as fullness in a child. The child knows very well when to stop eating when he is no longer hungry, and it is very rare for him to eat a lot.
Therefore, it is highly recommended not to force children to eat, including while breastfeeding. Hunger in a child is very irregular and unpredictable, and amounts can vary greatly from day to day. or even from one to another. Also, a crying baby does not always mean that he is hungry. If he really needs to eat, he will move closer to the breast to suck the milk. But sometimes he just needs to be close to that place that gives him a sense of peace and security.
Signs that my baby is feeding well:
- The best way to know that a child is eating enough is to watch him grow. If he is gaining weight and developing gradually and within normal parameters, he is not hungry and has all the necessary nutrients.
- For this, it is necessary to respect follow-up visits as well as all examinations at the pediatrician.
- On the other hand, it is necessary to pay attention to the stool and urine of the child. A child who has eaten enough food has several stools during the day, often watery and yellowish in color. His urine is pure and abundant.
- He is sleepy and tired and shows little energy, including breastfeeding.
- It takes a long time (more than 45 minutes) to breastfeed or drink from a bottle.
- His stools are sparse or green in color. Urination is also insufficient.
- Low or insufficient weight gain for his age.
- Baby crying in front of his bottle.
- A newborn baby needs to be breastfed more often. Usually every two or three hours, or more often in some cases.
During their development, children go through growth spurts. So naturally they are hungrier and want to eat more. But this does not mean that milk is not good for them. The same goes for formula-fed babies. The quantities indicated are guidelines for the correct preparation of the bottle, but it is essential to understand and respect the desire to eat.
Finally, babies have their own signals to indicate hunger and fullness. Over time, parents are able to interpret it. Checking growth with a pediatrician as well as the rhythm of bowel movements and urination are the most reliable signs to know that a child is eating what he needs.
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Feeding