Infant Driven Feeding

Important information about infant driven feeding:

Infant driven feeding is a simple and natural way to offer oral feedings to your hospitalized baby based on cues. Cues are signs from your baby that they are ready to eat. With infant driven feeding, you offer your baby breast or bottle feedings when you see readiness cues and you stop feedings when you see disengagement or stress cues.

Readiness cues

Feeding readiness cues are signs from your baby that they are ready to eat. Some examples of readiness cues are:

• Staying awake and quiet for several minutes close to a scheduled feeding time.

• Bringing hands to their mouth.

• Opening mouth wide while turning the head from side to side (also called rooting).

• Accepting and sucking on a pacifier if offered.

Disengagement or stress cues

Disengagement or stress cues are signs from your baby that the feeding should be stopped. Stopping the feeding at this time is safest for your baby no matter how much they ate. Some examples of disengagement or stress cues are:

• Wrinkling the forehead.

• Putting hand(s) up in a “stop sign” motion with fingers spread out.

• Unstable changes in vital signs.

• Congestion or noisy breathing.

Another important reason to end a feeding is if the baby is asleep. Do not force your baby to eat if they are showing cues that they are finished.

Why should I try infant driven feeding?

Feeding your baby according to cues will allow for a safe and enjoyable feeding experience. Research has shown that hospitalized babies who are fed according to cues go home faster and have improved feeding skills as toddlers.

Can my baby use infant driven feeding?

Every baby who is bottle feeding or breastfeeding should be fed based on cues. This way of feeding should be used regardless of how much they eat or how often feedings are ordered. We may recommend some strategies to help you feed your baby based on their diagnosis. We may also need to try other ways of feeding your baby. For example, if your baby is not able to eat the full feeding by mouth, tube feedings may be used while they are learning to eat safely, and they are ready to take more by mouth.

My baby is ordered to eat every 3 hours. Can they still be fed based on cues?

Yes, your baby can still be fed according to cues. Your baby may eat up to 30 minutes before or after the scheduled feeding time depending on when you observe readiness cues.

Are there resources available to help with infant driven feeding?

Yes, the members of the healthcare team caring for your baby can help and support you as you learn to safely feed your baby. All questions are welcome!

Reviewed July 2024 Casey Hoffman, PhD