You have just changed your baby's diaper, and went to bed, to finally rest. Suddenly, you hear a loud wail. Your baby is crying, again! This time, it is the hungry cry.

But what if we tell you that you no longer have to disrupt your rest with your baby's cry for hunger? This is only possible when you already know when to feed your baby. Babies cannot tell when they are hungry, so more often than not, parents may miss to understand they are hungry, until the hunger cry starts. But there are some cues you can look for to feed your baby!

Hunger Cues In Your Baby

Increased Activity

Your baby might become more alert and active. Thinking about food can make babies excited, so you may notice them moving around more than usual.

Head-Turning

Babies often turn their heads from side to side as if searching for food.

Mouth Movements

Look for signs like opening and closing their mouth, resembling a tiny bird waiting to be fed.

Rooting Reflex

Turning their head toward the breast, chest, or bottle is a classic hunger cue.

Sucking Motions

Babies may make sucking motions with their mouths, even if they don’t have a pacifier or bottle nearby.

Lip Smacking or Drooling

Increased drooling, lip-smacking, or sticking out their tongue are all signals they’re getting ready for a meal.

Sucking on Hands or Clothing

Your baby might start sucking on their fingers, hands, or even their clothes as a sign of hunger.

Clenched Fists

Watch for little fists clenching in frustration and impatience.

Focused Eye Contact

Babies who recognize their primary feeder might stare and follow you around the room with their eyes.

Facial Expressions

A furrowed brow or a distressed look might be your baby’s way of saying, “When’s the next meal?”

The “Neh” Sound

According to Dunstan baby language, the sound “neh” just before crying often means hunger.

Also remember that hunger pangs are strong enough to wake most babies, even from deep sleep. However, if your baby consistently sleeps for extended periods, it’s important to ensure they’re feeding frequently enough for their age.

For newborns, it’s generally recommended that they don’t regularly sleep longer than 4 hours at a stretch. Occasional long naps are fine—especially if they give you a much-needed rest! However, if your baby frequently sleeps through feeding times, consult your pediatrician to determine if gentle wake-ups for feeding are necessary.

How do you know your baby is feeding well enough?

It can be difficult to ensure that your baby is well fed, especially if you are breastfeeding, or when your baby is not of the age when he can talk. However, there are signals too for this, in fact your baby also learns how to signal that they need more milk or food.

It also depends on the age. For instance, a newborn will feed often, usually every 2 to 3 hours and sometime smore often. They feed up to 12 times every 24 hours. As your baby grows, their tummies grow too, in fact the tummy grows form a size of cherry at birth to walnut in 3 days. In a week, it is at the size of plum and in a month, it is of the size of a large chicken egg.

The "I am not hungry right now" signs for babies are:

• releasing or pushing away the breast or bottle
• closing their mouth and not responding to encouragement to latch on or suck again
• open and relaxed hands (instead of clenched)
• relaxing their body and even going a little limp
• looking around and showing interest in playing or other things
• looking content and maybe even smiling
• appearing happily drowsy and ready to go back to sleep

Meghan Trainor, an American singer-songwriter and television personality opened up about her third child through surrogacy. In an interview with PEOPLE she said, :"It wasn’t our first choice, but we had endless conversations with our doctors on this journey, and this was the safest way for us to be able to continue growing our family. We are forever grateful for that option."

Trainor, 32, and her husband Daryl Sabara, 33, welcomed their daughter Mikey Moon via surrogate on January 18, and are also parents to their sons Riley,4, and Barry, 2.

What Did Meghan Trainor Say About Surrogacy?

"Our surrogate is one of the most selfless, strong and loving people I’ve ever met. We felt so connected throughout the entire journey, and I’ll always be grateful for the care and love she showed our daughter. She gave us the greatest gift of our lives. She graciously answered our many check-in texts to make sure she was doing okay."

Meghan also said that she wants people to know that surrogacy is just another beautiful way to build a family. "It is not something to whisper about or judge. It is rooted in trust, science, love, and teamwork. Every family's journey looks different, and all of theme are extremely valid."

Read: Your Child’s 2026 Vaccine Checklist: What to Take, When, And Why It Matters, According To Doctor

Why Did Meghan Trainor Choose To Have A Child Through Surrogacy?

Trainor wrote Dear Future Mama, a pregnancy and parenting book in 2023, where she talked about her struggles during her first two pregnancies. She mentioned how traumatic was it for her after Riley's birth, when she also faced post-traumatic stress disorder, when her son was rushed to the NICU. At the same time, Trainor was being treated on the surgery table. "Usually when you're being sewn up for 45 minutes, you're like, 'Look at my gorgeous baby. We did it. This is everything.' But I was laying there alone."

She said in that very moment she was so drugged that she called her mother and cried. She had to learn how traumatic that was for her. She also told PEOPLE that she had reached a "breaking point" and struggled with her mental and physical health after Barry's birth. In an essay for Today.com, she wrote: "I was alone with Barry and he would not stop crying and then I was crying. I was having a panic attack and I was just over-exhausted, but I felt like I was dying. I felt if I stood up, I would pass out. I didn’t feel safe holding the baby and at the same time I felt like my body was giving up on me."

With the past medical reasons, especially the impact on her mentally, and other complication, after medical consultations, Trainor chose to go for surrogacy.

Also Read: Parents Are Now Preferring Girls Over Boys; What Led To This Shift?

What Is Surrogacy?

As per Yale Medicine, surrogate mothers are impregnated through the use of in vitro fertilization or IVF. In this process, doctors create an embryo by fertilizing eggs from the intended mother or an egg donor with sperm from the intended father or a sperm donor. Since the surrogate mother does not provide the egg, she is not genetically related to the child.

Emre Seli, MD, a reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist tells Yale Medicine, “Gestational surrogacy is a great option for people who really want to be parents but have faced long odds."

Should teens be lifting weights? This is a question many people wonder, and Cara Natterson, a pediatrician, finally has answers! "Tweens and teens should not be lifting heavy weights, but they absolutely can do resistance training. There is an important difference between the two," she says.

In an Instagram video, shared by the account @less.awkward, which is ran by Natterson, and Vanessa Kroll Bennett, Natterson explains that during puberty, "the body is flooded with hormones like testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, and growth hormone, which together trigger the release of IGF-1, a key driver of growth spurts and cartilage development".

Also Read: Measles Outbreak Confirmed In Two South Carolina College

So, What Happens When A Teen Trains?

“When kids are growing rapidly, the cartilage around their bones is actually weaker than the bone itself, which makes them more vulnerable to injury during weight lifting," she points out. She further explains that in peak growth phases, bones are still mineralizing. They form a scaffold first and fill in later, which means the bones are porous and easier to injure at this stage.

“The most vulnerable part of a growing bone is the growth plate, which sits at the ends of long bones and is the weakest point when it comes to fractures.” Natterson says that if a child gets injured during weight lifting or even sports, the growth plate is often where that injury occurs. This is why kids should not be bearing heavy weights until they are done with their growth spurts, she says. However, she points out that this "does not mean they should avoid strength-building altogether".

“Resistance training, where children use their own body weight, is not only safe but encouraged. Even five, six, and seven-year-olds can do it," she says.

Also Read: Have You Also Noticed Suddenly Becoming Lactose Intolerant? Nutritionist Explains Why

What Is Resistance Training?

Exercises like push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups, squats, and anything that makes one use their own body weight is safe. Natterson says, “Exercises like push-ups and pull-ups strengthen muscles and improve bone density without putting excessive pressure on weak cartilage, thin bones, or growth plates.”

For more impact, one can use resistance bands. While people also use dumbbells, barbells, and kettlebells, Natterson recommends to avoid any weights during the growth spurt.

Here Are Some Examples Of Resistance Training That One Can Do Without Lifting Weights

Chest Press

• Wrap your resistance band behind your back.
• Hold both ends with your hands and start with your arms at your side.
• Bend your elbows and push the band in front of you.

Bicep Curls

• Stand on the resistance band and hold both ends in hands.
• With your arms extended by side, pull your hand up, keep elbow bent at side.
• Do it with one or both arms.

Squats

• Stand on your resistance band and grab both ends with your hands.
• In a squat position, hold the bands but do not lock your arms.
• Extend your knees until you are in a standing position.

Pull Ups

• Grip a bar with hands shoulder width apart.
• Start with a full hang, then pull your body up by squeezing your shoulder blades down and back until your chin clears the bar
• Then lower down the control and keep your core engaged.

Push Ups

• Start is high plank with hands wider then shoulders.
• Keep your core tight and body in a straight line from head to heels.
• Lower your chest towards the floor by bending elbows to 90 degrees.
• Push back up powerfully to the starting position, maintain a rigid core and straight back throughout.

A healthy childhood begins with timely protection, and vaccination remains one of the most effective ways to keep children safe from serious, sometimes life-threatening diseases. With updated recommendations for 2026, parents are being urged to take a fresh look at their child’s immunization schedule and ensure that no essential dose is missed.

“Parents often think of vaccines as optional or something that can be delayed, but infections do not wait,” says Dr Nishant Bansal, Consultant Pediatrician and Neonatologist at Motherhood Hospitals, Noida. “Vaccination at the right age gives a child the best possible start and prevents complications that we still see far too often in hospitals.”

Children’s immune systems are still developing, which makes them more vulnerable to infections. Vaccines work by training the immune system to recognize and fight germs without causing the disease itself. This reduces the risk of severe illness, hospitalization, long-term complications, and even school absenteeism. On a larger level, widespread vaccination protects newborns, elderly family members, and children with weaker immunity by limiting the spread of infections.

Vaccines Recommended for All Children in 2026

According to Dr Bansal, the 2026 vaccine list continues to focus on preventing both long-standing and emerging health threats. He explains that these vaccines are backed by years of research and real-world evidence showing their effectiveness and safety.

Some of the key vaccines recommended for children include:

Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (DTaP or Tdap): These protect against serious bacterial infections, including whooping cough, which can be life-threatening for infants.

Polio (IPV): Prevents paralysis caused by poliovirus and remains crucial despite India being polio-free.

Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR): Protects against highly contagious viral illnesses that can lead to complications like hearing loss, brain inflammation, and pregnancy-related risks later in life.

Chickenpox (Varicella): Prevents painful blisters and reduces the risk of severe skin infections and pneumonia.

Hemophilus influenzae type b (Hib): Offers protection against meningitis and pneumonia, especially in young children.

Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV): Helps prevent pneumonia, meningitis, and serious bloodstream infections.

Hepatitis A and B: Protect the liver from viral infections that can lead to chronic disease.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV): Recommended for older children and adolescents to protect against cancers linked to HPV later in life.

Meningococcal vaccines (MenACWY and MenB): Recommended starting at 9 months and 1 year, though they can be given later as well, to prevent serious brain and blood infections.

Rotavirus, Influenza (Flu), and COVID-19 vaccines: These continue to be important in reducing severe disease, hospitalization, and complications.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV): Especially recommended for infants at higher risk of severe infection.

“Each of these vaccines has a role,” Dr Bansal explains. “Some prevent infections that spread very fast, while others protect against diseases that cause long-term damage. Together, they form a safety net for the child.”

The Importance of Follow-Ups and Booster Doses

One common misconception among parents is that skipping or delaying vaccines is harmless. Dr Bansal strongly disagrees. “Missing follow-up doses can weaken the protection a vaccine offers,” he says. “Some vaccines need multiple doses to build strong and lasting immunity, while booster shots help maintain that protection as the child grows.”

He adds that parents should not panic if a dose is missed. “In most cases, the schedule does not need to be restarted. A pediatrician can guide you on when to safely take the next dose.”

How Parents Can Stay on Track

Keeping a vaccination record, setting reminders for upcoming doses, and attending scheduled follow-up visits are simple but effective steps. Dr Bansal advises parents to have an open discussion with their child’s doctor and get a vaccination schedule tailored to the child’s age, health, and risk factors.

“Vaccination is not just about preventing illness,” he says. “It is about giving children the freedom to grow, learn, and thrive without avoidable health setbacks.”

As 2026 approaches, experts urge parents to prioritize immunization and make informed decisions. A timely visit to your pediatrician and adherence to the recommended schedule can go a long way in keeping your child, and the community, healthy and protected.