In short

  • Reaching, opening wide and leaning in usually mean hungry.
  • Turning away, closing the mouth and pushing food away usually mean full.
  • Your baby decides how much; steady growth and wet diapers are the best signs.

Signs of hunger

From 6 months, your baby may be hungry if they:

  • Reach for or point to food
  • Open their mouth when offered a spoon or food
  • Get excited when they see food
  • Use hand motions or sounds to say they want more
  • Lean toward the spoon or wave their arms with excitement

Signs of fullness

  • Push food away
  • Close their mouth when food is offered
  • Turn their head away
  • Use hand motions or sounds to say they're done
  • Arch their back or get distracted

Let them decide

Your baby doesn't need to finish the jar or the plate. Food works best when it isn't used as a reward or punishment. If you're worried about how much your baby eats, talk to your pediatrician.

Is my baby eating enough?

Portions at 6 to 12 months vary a lot from meal to meal and day to day, so trust your baby’s appetite. The best signs of enough nutrition are steady growth along their curve at checkups and regular wet diapers. If you’re worried, talk to your pediatrician.

Every child is different

Every child's relationship with food develops in its own way. These are supportive ideas, not clinical solutions. If your child strongly refuses food, is losing weight or has trouble swallowing, talk to your pediatrician or a pediatric feeding specialist.

Sources

All articles, recipes, guides, tips and chat answers in Mama & Baby Bites are for general information and education only. They are not medical, pediatric or nutritional advice, and they don't replace care from a qualified professional. In an emergency, call 911.