Why is my baby still acting hungry after feeding?

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Not a mind reader? Help take the guesswork out of feeding with these 6 signs of a hungry baby from birth to 6 months old.

Medically reviewed by a board-certified pediatrician

Is your 6-month-old eating enough? How often should you feed them? Do their nutritional needs change from week to week? Babies communicate differently, here are some signs to look for.

6 signs of a hungry baby

Baby Hunger Cue #1. Wakes up and acts restless

Before your baby launches into a full-blown wail, they may wake up and move around in their crib. They may move their mouth and raise their hands to their face.

Baby Hunger Cue #2. Sucks fists or smacks lips

If you breastfeed, fist sucking and lip smacking are signs your hungry baby will latch on more easily.

Baby Hunger Cue #3. Roots

During your infant’s first weeks, if you stroke their cheek, their natural reflex will be to turn toward the bottle or breast and make sucking motions—this is called rooting. It shifts to being a voluntary action rather than a reflex by about 4 months old.

Baby Hunger Cue #4. Continues suckling

A hungry baby may continue to show interest in sucking even after finishing the first breast or bottle. This could be your baby’s way of letting you know they’re not quite done yet.

Baby Hunger Cue #5. Smiles during feeding

Babies older than 4 months will show their interest in eating by looking at you and smiling as they feed—just about as heartwarming as it gets.

Baby Hunger Cue #6. Cries

A hunger cry is usually short, low-pitched, and rises and falls. Crying is one of the later signs of a hungry baby. You'll likely notice other cues first. By the time a hungr=""y baby wails, it may be more difficult to start feeding them until they calm down.

”Hearing your baby’s ‘hungry-cry’ is so stressful.” - Enfamil® mom

5 signs your little one is full

Full Baby Cue #1. Closes lips

Just as a hungry baby suckles, a full baby will likely zip their lips. This could be your little one’s way of saying they’re all done.

Full Baby Cue #2. Turns head away

A more forceful version of closing their lips is moving their head away. If your baby turns away from your breast or bottle, don't force them to eat.

Full Baby Cue #3. Decreases or stops sucking

Some full babies stay latched to the nipple without sucking—at which point, it's probably time to gently end the session.

Full Baby Cue #4. Spits out the nipple or falls asleep when full

After about 15 to 20 minutes of feeding, a full baby often acts drowsy and may even fall asleep.

Full Baby Cue #5. Interest in surroundings, not eating

Around 4 months old, many babies begin to get distracted during feedings, as their awareness of the world around them grows. A hungry baby will usually put this curiosity on hold long enough to fill up. Looking around distractedly is a sign they’re full.

Babies are smart. They instinctively know when they need to be fed and when they’re satisfied. They are typically in-tune to their needs. So, try to relax! Play it by ear and pay attention to your baby’s cues.

Now that you know the signs of a hungry baby, feeding time can be a little less stressful, leaving more time for bonding! Learn more about formula-feeding your little one.

A lot of parents worry that their baby may not be getting enough milk. But as long as your baby is weeing and pooing often, and gaining weight, then you don't need to worry. In the first month, he should have at least six heavy wet nappies and two dirty nappies every 24 hours.

Every baby is different and your baby may feed for different lengths of time in the same day.

When your baby has finished the first breast, offer the second breast, to make sure he gets what he needs.

Sometimes your baby will seem to be hungry all the time because he's having a growth spurt (that's when he’s growing more quickly so he needs to feed more often). The more milk your baby takes from the breasts, the more milk your breasts will make. By feeding your baby when he needs feeding, you'll be helping make sure you make enough milk in the weeks ahead.

Sometimes a baby may still be hungry because he wasn't attached properly to your breast, so he didn't get a full feed. In that case, your nipples will probably hurt a lot too and may look squashed.

If you have any worries about feeding your baby, please don't struggle alone. It is really important that you get support from your health visitor or midwife, or call a breastfeeding helpline, or use the 'Local Support' map feature in Baby Buddy app to find out if there are any breastfeeding support groups nearby.

In light of COVID-19, there are lots of charities across the UK offering remote support, including Breastfeeding support. Take a look at the list of charities HERE.

To find out about how to get your baby attached properly for breastfeeding, check out the videos below.

Published: 4th April, 2019

Updated: 9th August, 2022

Author: Margrét Unnarsdóttir

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Calling all LGBT+ women who are parents!

Best Beginnings, LGBT Mummies, and the University of Huddersfield are teaming up to conduct important research about birthing and non-birthing LGBT+ perinatal experiences.