What are some signs that my newborn is hungry?

Some signs which point to a hungry babe would include: increased alertness or activity, including rapid eye movements; lip-smacking or lip-pursing; sticking tongue out to the side; sucking on the finger or hand; ramming fist into mouth; turning head from side to side or arching back while stretching neck backwards. Of course, if a baby makes small cough sounds (like trying to clear the throat); or crying with a demanding rhythm (neh-pause-neh-pause-neh), then it means that your babe is really hungry.