Feeding Cues and Patterns

• Feeding cues are signs that indicate when an infant is hungry or full

• Hunger cues include:

  • Smacking or licking lips

  • Opening and closing mouth

  • Sucking on lips, tongue, hands, fingers, toes, toys, or clothing

  • Moving head from side to side

  • Turning head toward the breast or bottle

  • Fussing or crying

• Satiety cues include:

  • Closing mouth

  • Turning head away from the breast or bottle

  • Relaxed hands and arms

  • Falling asleep

  • Pushing away the breast or bottle

• Feeding patterns are the frequency and duration of feedings for an infant

• Feeding patterns vary depending on the infant’s age, weight, growth rate, and individual needs

• In general, newborns should be fed on cue, following their hunger and satiety signals, rather than on a strict schedule

• Newborns should be fed at least 8 to 12 times in 24 hours, with each feeding lasting about 15 to 20 minutes per breast or 2 to 3 ounces per bottle

• Newborns should not go longer than four hours without feeding during the day or six hours at night

• As infants grow older, they may feed less often but take more milk at each feeding

• By six months of age, most infants can go four to six hours between feedings during the day and eight to twelve hours at night