Mothers’ Knowledge and Practices Towards Their First Six Months Infants’ Hunger Cues and Crying

Background Crying is a part of the normal development of infants and constitutes a form of communication with their caregivers. However, it can also be a source of stress and exhaustion for caregivers, often triggered by different stimuli, like hunger, discomfort, or pain. Mothers’ understanding of and responses to their infants’ hunger cues and crying are vital for promoting healthy early childhood development. Aim The aim of the study was to assess mothers’ knowledge and practices regarding their first six months infants’ hunger cues and crying. Materials and Methods A cross‐sectional descriptive research design was conducted from September 2024 to November 2024 at the Outpatient Pediatric Department and Primary Healthcare Center (vaccination clinic) that are affiliated with National Guard Hospital, Al Ahsa. A convenience sampling of 200 mothers with infants aged six months or younger was recruited. Data were collected using a paper‐based study structured questionnaire that assessed sociodemographic data of mothers, sociodemographic data of infants, mothers’ knowledge regarding hunger cues and crying of their infants, and mothers’ reported practices regarding general and inconsolable crying of their infants. Results A total of 77.5% of the participated mothers had a high knowledge level regarding hunger cues and crying of their infants, and 84% reported satisfactory practices regarding their infants’ general crying, while 78.5% had unsatisfactory practices regarding inconsolable crying of their infants. A statistically significant relationship was found between mothers’ knowledge and their reported practices ( χ 2 = 7.173, p = 0.0277). Significant relationships were also observed between knowledge levels and mothers’ educational level ( p = 0.0296), marital status ( p = 0.0180), and infants’ age ( p = 0.0131). Conclusion The study concluded that most mothers demonstrated high knowledge and satisfactory practices regarding general infant crying, and a substantial proportion (78.5%) exhibited unsatisfactory practices in response to inconsolable crying. These findings highlight a critical knowledge–practice gap, indicating that theoretical knowledge alone is insufficient. Effective caregiving in such situations requires not only education but also emotional support, coping strategies, and stress‐management interventions. Therefore, healthcare programs should integrate practical training and psychological support to enhance mothers’ ability to manage challenging crying episodes effectively.