Babies don’t usually cry for no reason at all, although it seems like they might sometimes. Generally, your baby will be crying or screaming because she/he needs something.
Even when he becomes frustrated that he can’t communicate, he may start crying. However, one common cause of a crying baby is hunger.
Being a parent, you may want to know the reason for your baby’s cry as hunger is not always the reason behind your upset baby. Feeding a baby at night sometimes is challenging for parents.
Knowing when to feed your newborn at night will help both you and your baby have a peaceful sleep at night. So, should I wait for the baby to cry before feeding at night? Let’s get started
Table of Contents
Should I wait for the baby to cry before feeding at night?
You should feed your baby before he gets upset and cry at night. Even though crying is a good sign that your baby needs something, you should not wait for him to cry at night. It is much more effective to feed your baby before he reached that point of anger. If you wait for your baby to cry and scream before you try to feed him, you will both become endlessly frustrated. Your baby will be hungrier and feeding him will become even more challenging. However, you should know that every time your baby cries is not because of hunger. You will probably know the feeding time for your baby and you can feed him before he cries.
Be attentive to hunger cues
There are several signs that indicate your baby is hungry. Some of them are:
- When your baby moves his head from side to side
- When your little one is opening his mouth
- When a baby is sticking out his tongue
- When your kid is putting his fingers, hands, fingers, and fists in his mouth
- When they are puckering their lips trying to suck
How can I tell when my baby is hungry?
One of the easiest ways to tell if your baby is hungry is to watch if he puts his hand in his mouth.
Sucking or chewing on the fingers is a good sign that your little one is hungry. Adults see it as if a baby is playing with his hand but little ones don’t have developed such habits yet. He may also move his tongue and mouth, as well as make suckling motions with his mouth.
When you see any of these indications in your baby, check the clock as it is probably the feeding time for your baby.
Feeding your infant when she/he gives these signs will be a much relaxing and calmer experience than waiting for the crying to get the bottle ready.
What to expect when feeding your baby
Even though crying is a certain signal that your little one is hungry and ready for more, when possible, you should not wait until your baby is upset before attempting a feed.
Babies have very small tummies, so you should understand that they are going to be hungry within 2 hours or even less. So, don’t wait for your baby to cry before feeding at night.
The American Academy of Pediatrics also agrees that crying is a late sign of hunger and it is good to feed your baby before that point.
Earlier indicators of hunger to look for include opening their mouth as if to take your breast, nuzzling against your breast when being held, putting a clenched fist into their mouth, or making sucking motions.
Breast milk is very easy to digest; so many breastfed babies feed more often than those on formula, generally between 8 and 12 times a day.
Often it works out to a feeding every 1 and a half to 2 hours, typically around the clock for the first few weeks. Once you are on a particular schedule, feeding may drop from 12 to 8 times a day.
However, the number of feedings may go back up when your baby grows up or when they simply need more milk.
According to experts, many women worry that they are not producing enough milk because their baby needs to feed so often. They think so because their baby is eating frequently or because their breast does not feel as full as time goes on, but it is not true at all.
As we know that a baby has a very small stomach with less capacity. So, it takes a much smaller amount of nutrients and milk to fill their small stomachs.
Knowing the size of your little one’s stomach and how much milk they need to be full can bring peace of mind to your feeding experience.
Conclusion
Should I wait for the baby to cry before feeding at night? Babies must be fed before they cry and scream. Crying is the last indication of hunger. You need to read the hunger cues of your baby.
Your little one’s hunger cues start long before they begin crying. It may take some time but you will soon learn exactly what your baby is telling you.
You will learn that every time your baby cries is not because of hunger. Sometimes babies only want to be changed or cuddled. They may also cry because they are tired, sick, in pain, or feeling too hot or too cold.