Hunger cues?

This sounds stupid bc I have a 5-month old who has been exclusively BF since birth so I should know, LOL.

It was really easy to tell when she was hungry when she was a newborn bc she would do that head bobbing thing and open her mouth looking for booby. But I find it harder to tell at this age when she doesn't do that anymore but can't tell me she's hungry yet. I generally feed her every 3hrs during the day bc she seems to like a 3-hr feed-play-sleep schedule. But I don't see any signs she's hungry coz she doesn't cry for it or anything and sometimes we've been out or something and she hasn't had a feed for 4 hrs and is fine. The only thing she does is when I lay her down across my lap getting ready to feed her she gets all impatient and starts to whinge.

So sometimes I wonder if I'm feeding her too often coz she doesn't ask for it. Or are there subtle hunger cues I'm missing??

I never really got hunger cues from DD when she was that age so I can't really help other than to say that your DD may never be hungry if she is not crying, grizzling etc for food as you are feeding her at just the right times! My DD would always get fed between 3 and 4 hours at 5 months and she took it but never seemed to cry in hunger.

My ds just whinges when he is hungry. I half keep an eye on the time and half wait for him to 'ask' for it. If i whip out the boobie even 30mins after he has had a drink he will still take it for more lol!
At 5 months 3-4 hours during the day seems normal. Just do what works for you guys though, if she isnt hungry when you offer it she might only just have a little snack.

DD isnt breast fed but I found once she got to about 5 months 3 hrly was to soon and we went to every 4 hrs and thats where we are now, with solids 3 times a day between bottles.

Bella will winge when she gets hungry and its a winge thats not like a tired winge or a play with me winge. Ill get the bottle out of the fridge and she gets megga excited and then gets impatient when she doesnt get it within a second.

She can drink more oftern if I offered it but would only drink 1/2 and she can sometimes go longer than 4 hrs if she is asleep or on the go.

Sorry I know not BF, so maybe not much help??

Kate

DD does that little cute whinge and frantic thing she does when she sees me pulling my top up and she see's boob :rolleyes: its pretty cute.... they know it's coming and want it NOW!!!! :lol:

I know what you mean though when you say you aren't always sure if she's hungry. Sometimes I think DD is bored but I feed her instead and she's like "aw yeah alright i'll have some of that!" haha .... sometimes she'll be fussing and playing so i change her environment and give her something else to do or look at and she's then fine so it turns out not to be hunger.

Sorry not much help was that?? :lol: sounds like you're on the right track just keep on doing what you're doing ;)