What indicates fullness in infants aged 6-8 months?

In infants aged 6-8 months, a reduction in the pace of eating is a reliable indicator of fullness. At this stage of development, infants are beginning to establish their own feeding patterns and may naturally vary their intake based on their hunger and fullness cues. When an infant slows down during a feeding—whether bottle feeding or eating solids—it often suggests they are no longer hungry and are satisfied.

Responding to feeding cues is essential for caregiver understanding of an infant's needs. Recognizing that an infant may stop eating or slow their pace can help prevent overfeeding, which can lead to various health issues. The ability to read these cues contributes to the development of healthy eating habits.

Other behaviors like heavy breathing, crying, or waving do not specifically correlate with fullness. Heavy breathing might indicate exertion or distress, crying could signal a variety of needs aside from hunger, and waving is a social behavior not related to feeding. Therefore, the best indicator of fullness in this age group is when an infant slows down in eating.