You will have many conflicting advice about when and how to feed your baby. Unfortunately the most common of all is about the signs of hunger. You may be advised not to feed your baby on a whim and wait until he cries. You may also be be advised to watch the clock to know when to feed.
“Every 2 hours…” they will say “no sooner!”
But actually, according to research;
“Feeding infants to a schedule is associated with higher levels of maternal wellbeing, but with poorer cognitive and academic outcomes for children.”
Iacovou, M., & Sevilla, A. (2013). Infant feeding: the effects of scheduled vs. on-demand feeding on mothers’ wellbeing and children’s cognitive development. European journal of public health, 23(1), 13–19.
Scheduled feedings will also not allow your milk supply to adjust in order to meet your baby’s growing need.
You should feed your baby on demand. In other words, when he is hungry, thirsty or when he needs a cuddle, comfort, reassurance, warmth. This is especially important in the first few weeks, when you’re still building your milk supply.
Moreover; crying is a late indicator of hunger.
The first signs of hunger are;
- Smacking or licking lips
- Opening and closing mouth
- Sucking on lips, tongue, hands, fingers, toes, toys, or clothing
Here’s a wonderful video to help you spot them sooner!
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