Final answer:
The time to feed a baby is when they exhibit early hunger cues such as crying, the sucking reflex, and the rooting reflex. Recognizing these signs is crucial for timely feeding. Infants also undergo various developmental milestones during their first year, which reflect their growth and interaction with their environment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The time to feed a baby is when they show early signs of hunger, which can involve a variety of cues. Some of these cues include crying, which is a newborn's reflex to express needs such as hunger or discomfort. Additionally, babies exhibit the sucking reflex and the rooting reflex, both instinctive behaviors essential for feeding. These reflexes make it easier for them to suck milk from their mother's nipple or a bottle, and to find the nipple by turning their head towards any touch on their cheek or object they come into contact with. New parents should watch for these early signs of hunger as an indication that it's feeding time.
Apart from hunger cues, infants undergo rapid growth and development milestones during the first year, like the emergence of deciduous teeth, smiling, and making vocal sounds. By six weeks, infants typically start smiling and making noises, by six months they progress to babbling, and by the end of the first year, they may start saying their first words. These milestones offer insights into the baby's increasing interaction with the world and their communication development.