What are the signs that your baby is hungry or sleepy?

A baby’s hunger, fullness, and drowsiness all have tell-tale signs. Learning to spot them helps you respond in good time so your little one stays more settled – and you’ll feel you’re working with your baby rather than against the clock. That calm, responsive rhythm is reassuring for both of you and really supports your communication as a new duo.

If your baby is fed when those early hunger cues appear, you can avoid them becoming overly hungry or frazzled – which can lead to stress and make breastfeeding or bottle-feeding harder. Sleep matters just as much: an overtired baby often struggles to drift off and may sleep less soundly. A sleepy baby is usually fussier and more impatient.

When you respond to your baby’s needs, your quick, caring attention builds a safe, loving environment. Your bond deepens, your baby learns to trust you, and that lays the groundwork for secure attachment. Feeding on demand helps protect milk supply and supports healthy development. Starting feeds at the earliest signs of hunger avoids escalation, builds a positive pattern your baby can rely on, and nurtures their sense of safety. Likewise, enough rest and regular nourishment are fundamental to physical growth and cognitive development.

How can you tell a baby is hungry? 

First come the early hunger signs. Newborns and young babies may: open and close their mouths, stick out their tongues, make sucking noises, lick their lips, or bring both hands to their mouths to suck. They root by turning their heads to search, and their breathing may quicken.

If these cues go unanswered and there’s no chance to latch or take a bottle, baby can become increasingly alert and unsettled, leading to crying and a tense, arched body – these are late hunger cues. How long each baby tolerates waiting varies; some are patient, others protest straight away, and it can depend on how hungry they are. If you’ve reached this stage, you may need to soothe before feeding, which isn’t always quick.

Around 3 months, babies show their needs more strongly: vigorous hand-sucking, restlessness, searching movements, cooing. At this stage, hand-sucking isn’t always hunger – it’s also a way of exploring their body.

How do hunger cues look during weaning?

During complementary feeding, babies may get excited, reach for the spoon or bowl, perk up at food smells and sights, make inviting sounds, open their mouths as you offer a bite, lean forward cooperatively, reach for food with their hands, kick their legs and look delighted.

How do you know your baby is full?

Look for calm and relaxation. Baby releases the breast, settles, and may fall asleep – or stay awake but breathe evenly and look content. As they grow, they’ll doze off after feeds less often, but they’ll still appear peaceful and satisfied.

During weaning, a baby may turn their head away, spit food out, or clamp their lips shut. They might hold food in their mouth without swallowing, push away the bowl or spoon, and shift attention to toys. Later, they’ll shake their head “no” and, once talking, say it clearly. Non-verbal “no thanks” signs include pushing the plate away, covering their mouth, or yanking off the bib.

As children mature, they can tell you they’ve had enough, or simply toy with food rather than eat.

Babies show you when they’re sleepy, too 

Little ones need help to fall asleep – they can’t yet recognise and manage the sensations that signal tiredness. They feel something, but don’t know how to fix it. That’s why your steady, soothing support matters.

To help in any situation, get familiar with your baby’s sleepy cues so you know when it’s time to rest. Don’t rely only on the clock – putting them down too early or delaying sleep can backfire. Ignoring the cues can lead to over-stimulation and overtiredness, which disrupts healthy sleep patterns.

Because many babies can’t settle independently at first, tiredness can tip into a second wind where they seem wired, struggle to switch off, and become overloaded. Spotting the signs in good time helps you avoid that.

Common signs your baby is getting sleepy

• Moves less; activity winds down

• Grows quiet, withdraws, or rests their head

• Loses interest in people, toys, or exciting things

• Rubs eyes and face, fiddles with ears or nose

• Stares into the distance, “zones out”

• Lies down on the floor or bed

• Nods off mid-play or during self-feeding

• Yawns

• Seeks their comforter or dummy, or sucks their fingers

• Becomes clingy or fussy, wants to be held, may grizzle

• Or, flips into a wired, uncomfortable state with obvious struggle

• Plus any unique behaviours your baby tends to show

These cues change with development. As your child grows, their responses to tiredness shift and they gradually build self-regulation.

The world gets more distracting 

As your baby’s world opens up, they pay more attention to sights and sounds and less to their body’s signals, so switching off gets harder. That’s when they lean on you for help – which is both natural and important.

Many babies settle best with closeness. A consistent wind-down helps: keep things quiet, dim the lights, snuggle in, stroke, sing or hum, or use a sling – whatever suits your family. A simple bedtime routine can serve you well for months, until your child naturally adapts.

Once they’re toddling, involve them: let them draw the curtains, arrange pillow and blanket, find their cuddly, climb into bed, and pull up the covers. Taking part helps them feel ownership of sleep and builds the skill to settle themselves – a real boost for confidence.

Our job at every stage is to notice the cues and support relaxation. You won’t always need to put your child fully to sleep; over time they’ll discover they can drift off on their own, which is great for self-esteem.

Sources:

NHS — Signs your baby is getting enough milk & feeding cues, plus sleep need by age:

The Lullaby Trust — Baby sleep cues and safer sleep guidance