RESPONSIVE FEEDING

RESPONSIVE FEEDING

Responsive feeding is an attentive way of feeding young children, including watching for their hunger cues and responding to them by offering food. It is important because infants and children should be encouraged to self-regulate their food intake.

How to Practice Responsive Feeding

Because responsive feeding involves a parent or caregiver responding to their baby’s external hunger and fullness cues, it is important to be aware of their signs, both during breastfeeding or formula feeding and when eating solid foods. Below are examples for each.

Signs of Hunger During Breastfeeding or Formula Feeding

An infant may be hungry if he or she:

• Puts hands to mouth

• Gets excited when food is present

• Turns head toward breast or bottle

• Puckers, smacks or licks lips

• Has clenched hands

Signs of Hunger when Eating Solid Foods

A child may be hungry if he or she:

• Leans toward food and opens mouth

• Gets excited at the sight of food

• Focuses and follows food with eyes

Parents and caregivers should respond warmly to these signs and provide feeding options as promptly as possible.

Signs of Fullness During Breastfeeding or Formula Feeding

An infant may be full if he or she:

• Starts and stops feeding often

• Unlatches often while breastfeeding

• Closes mouth and turns head away when offered breast or bottle

• Spits out or pushes food away

• Fidgets or gets distracted easily

• Relaxes hands

Signs of Fullness when Eating Solid Foods

A child may be full if he or she:

• Spits out or pushes food away

• Fidgets or is easily distracted at mealtimes

• Closes mouth when food is offered

• Turns away from food

• Plays with food