Modern Nurture
On Modern Nurture, we’ll look to experts in thought provoking interviews, we’ll look to our biology to unpack the instincts and processes we’ve forgotten in the modern era, and we’ll have heart to heart conversations with real moms from every background as we seek to build a community where every mother and mom-to-be can find relatability and support. I am really excited about a segment of this show, called moms on the ground, where we’ll play real stories and clips from audience members.
Modern Nurture
Feeding Makes It Worse? The 60-Second Hunger Test
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If your baby seems hungry in the evening but feeding makes the crying worse—arching, popping on/off, spit-up, gas, or waking 20 minutes later—you may not be looking at true hunger. You may be looking at arousal / dysregulation that mimics hunger cues.
In this video I explain false hunger vs real hunger and walk you through a simple 60-second hunger test using:
WHEN they last ate (timing)
HOW they feed (organized vs frantic)
WHAT happens AFTER (settles vs escalates)
You’ll learn:
Why hunger cues can overlap with stress cues (rooting, hand-sucking, frantic searching)
How “feed-to-soothe” can backfire by adding air swallowing, digestive load, gas, and discomfort
How to tell metabolic hunger from arousal-driven feeding
What to do tonight: downshift first (dim lights, containment, rhythm, boring sound), then feed only if baby can coordinate the feed
This is a biology-first, practical framework to help you stop guessing and choose the right lever in the moment.
Disclaimer: Educational only, not medical advice. If your baby has fever in a young infant, breathing difficulty, dehydration, lethargy, persistent vomiting, or poor feeding/weight gain, contact your pediatrician.
If your newborn baby seems hungry all evening, but feeding actually worsens things, you might be looking at arousal, not true hunger. This video helps you distinguish between actual baby hunger cues and other sources of distress in under 60 seconds, so you can stop feeding the problem. Learn parenting tips for managing crying baby situations and providing appropriate care during feeding baby times.