How to determine if an infant is satiated?

From the Guidelines

To determine if an infant is satiated, observe for signs such as turning away from the breast or bottle, closing their mouth, slowing down their sucking, or falling asleep during feeding, as these are clear indicators of fullness. According to the most recent and highest quality study 1, infants typically feed every 2-3 hours and consume about 2-3 ounces per feeding in the first month, gradually increasing to 4-5 ounces as they grow.

Key Signs of Satiety

• Turning away from the breast or bottle
• Closing their mouth
• Slowing down their sucking
• Falling asleep during feeding It is essential to note that a well-fed baby will seem content after feeding, have 6-8 wet diapers daily, and show steady weight gain.

Feeding Guidelines

• Infants feed about every 2–3 h, or 8–12 times every 24 h
• By 2 months, infants feed about every 3–4 h taking 3–4 oz per feed
• The amount eaten per feeding will increase ~1 oz per month and plateau at ~7–8 oz per feed As stated in 1, if the infant is breastfeeding, a caregiver knowledgeable in breastfeeding, latch, swallowing, and infant satiety should observe an actual feeding and document successful performance of these tasks in the medical record. Don't force your baby to finish a bottle or continue nursing if they show signs of being satisfied, as this can lead to overfeeding and discomfort. Crying isn't always a hunger cue—it could indicate other needs like a diaper change or desire for comfort. Following your baby's cues rather than strict feeding schedules or amounts helps establish healthy eating patterns and prevents overfeeding, which can lead to discomfort and spit-up.

From the Research

Determining Infant Satiation

To determine if an infant is satiated, several factors can be considered:

• Observation of feeding behavior:
  • Changes in sucking performance from nonnutritive sucking to nutritive sucking during breast- and bottle-feeding can indicate satiation 2.
  • Infants who are satiated may exhibit a decrease in sucking frequency and an increase in sucking duration 2.
• Assessment of infant feeding symptoms:
  • The Neonatal Eating Assessment Tool-Mixed Breastfeeding and Bottle-feeding (NeoEAT-Mixed Feeding) can be used to assess symptoms of problematic feeding in infants who are feeding by both breast and bottle 3.
  • Infants with more gastrointestinal symptoms may have higher NeoEAT-Mixed Feeding total scores, indicating potential feeding issues 3.
• Parent-infant interaction:
  • The interaction between the infant and parent/caregiver can affect an infant's milk intake during feeding 4.
  • Infants who are able to self-regulate their milk intake may be more likely to be satiated 4.
• Comparison of breast- and bottle-feeding:
  • Breast-feeding and bottle-feeding have different sucking pressures and durations, which can affect infant satiation 2.
  • Bottle-feeding infants may use similar tongue and jaw movements as breast-feeding infants, but with minimal differences in oxygen saturation and sucking patterns 4.