Newborn-Reflexes

What reflexes should be present in a newborn?

Reflexes are involuntary movements or actions. Some movements are spontaneous, occurring
as part of the baby's usual activity. Others are responses to certain actions. Reflexes help
identify normal brain and nerve activity. Some reflexes occur only in specific periods of
development. The following are some of the normal reflexes seen in newborn babies:
1. Root reflex. This reflex begins when the corner of the baby's mouth is stroked or
touched. The baby will turn his or her head and open his or her mouth to follow and
"root" in the direction of the stroking. This helps the baby find the breast or bottle to
begin feeding.
2. Suck reflex. Rooting helps the baby become ready to suck. When the roof of the baby's
mouth is touched, the baby will begin to suck. This reflex does not begin until about the
32nd week of pregnancy and is not fully developed until about 36 weeks. Premature
babies may have a weak or immature sucking ability because of this. Babies also have a
hand-to-mouth reflex that goes with rooting and sucking and may suck on fingers or
hands.
3. Moro reflex. The Moro reflex is often called a startle reflex because it usually occurs
when a baby is startled by a loud sound or movement. In response to the sound, the baby
throws back his or her head, extends out the arms and legs, cries, then pulls the arms and
legs back in. A baby's own cry can startle him or her and trigger this reflex. This reflex
lasts about 5 to 6 months.
4. Tonic neck reflex. When a baby's head is turned to one side, the arm on that side
stretches out and the opposite arm bends up at the elbow. This is often called the
"fencing" position. The tonic neck reflex lasts about 6 to 7 months.
5. Grasp reflex. Stroking the palm of a baby's hand causes the baby to close his or her
fingers in a grasp. The grasp reflex lasts until about 5 to 6 months of age.
6. Babinski reflex. When the sole of the foot is firmly stroked, the big toe bends back
toward the top of the foot and the other toes fan out. This is a normal reflex up to about 2
years of age.
7. Step reflex. This reflex is also called the walking or dance reflex because a baby appears
to take steps or dance when held upright with his or her feet touching a solid surface.
Put your finger on your baby's palm and he'll grip it. Hold your sweet pea upright and he'll
move his legs as though he's walking. You can even place a finger on one side of his cheek
and he'll swivel his head in that direction. Although you may think those actions are clear
evidence that your baby is one smart cookie (of course he is!), they're actually reflexes, or
involuntary responses infants are born with. But why? "Some reflexes, such as feeding and
sucking, are key to survival, but others occur without a whole lot of explanation," says
Kirsten Weltmer, M.D., a pediatrician with Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics, in
Kansas City, Missouri. We've got all the info you need on your child's awesome auto
responses.

Rooting

Trigger: Your finger (or anything else) brushes against your newborn's cheek, lip, or the
corner of her mouth.
Response: She turns her head toward the side you stroked and opens her mouth wide like a
baby bird. This is how infants seek out Mom's nipple or the bottle when they're ready to feed.
Why it happens: You can probably guess. "The rooting reflex ensures that your baby gets her
nutrition," says Tanya Remer Altmann, M.D., a pediatrician in Westlake Village, California,
and author of Mommy Calls: Dr. Tanya Answers Parents' Top Questions About Babies and
Toddlers.
How long it lasts: This reflex vanishes around 4 months, Dr. Altmann says. Eventually your
little one will be an expert nipple-finder, so she won't have to root around as much.

Moro (aka Startle)

Trigger: Baby hears an unfamiliar loud noise (there's the doorbell!), or the position of her
head suddenly changes.
Response: Your cutie looks surprised, and both her arms shoot out to the side while her hands
open wide, with thumbs extended up; then she draws her arms back toward her body while
closing her hands. She usually follows this routine by making an (impossibly charming)
pouty face and crying.
Why it happens: No one knows for sure, but "one theory suggests that this is an evolutionary
response left over from the time when babies had to cling to their mother," Dr. Weltmer says.
If an infant slipped out of her mother's grasp, the startle response might have alerted Mom to
quickly grab her.
How long it lasts: This so-called Moro reflex (named after Ernst Moro, the Austrian
pediatrician who discovered it), is in effect at birth and disappears somewhere around 2 to 4
months. Some parents mistake it for a seizure, but it's easy enough to decipher the difference.
"The Moro reflex lasts for only a few seconds; a seizure usually continues for a good deal
longer," Dr. Altmann explains.

Stepping

Trigger: Hold your babe upright with his feet resting on your lap, a changing table, or any
other flat surface.
Response: He'll lift his feet and place them back down as if he's walking.
Why it happens: "We're not positive, but because we walk on our feet, it may be that we have
an inborn knowledge of the activity," says Cheryl Wu, M.D., a pediatrician at LaGuardia
Place Pediatrics, in New York City. Whatever the reason behind his motion, watching your
baby do his two-step is fun! And practice sessions won't hurt your cutie's legs, no matter what
Grandma says. "As long as you support his head, it's okay to let your infant try it," Dr.
Altmann assures.
How long it lasts: Expect this reflex to stick around for two to three months after birth. In
about a year, your little guy will be walking for real.

Palmar grasp

Trigger: Lightly place a finger or small object against Baby's open palm.
Response: She grips it as if she never wants to let go, and if you attempt to pull away, she
holds on even tighter. How's that for showing Mommy some love? If you need her to release
an object, lightly stroke the side of her palm or the back of her hand.
Why it happens: "This reflex, we think, fosters interaction between parents and infants," Dr.
Weltmer says. "It helps to establish a connection and is gratifying for Mom and Dad."
How long it lasts: That strong clutch is around from day one and may persist until Baby is 4
to 6 months.

Plantar grasp

Trigger: Rub your finger against the sole of your sweetie's foot.
Response: His little piggies begin to curl around your finger. Cuteness!
Why it happens: Experts aren't exactly sure why those tiny digits come equipped with a kung
fu grip, but it may be a residual reflex from our primate ancestors, who used their feet to
grasp tree branches, says Frank Berenson, M.D., a pediatric neurologist at Children's
Healthcare of Atlanta.
How long it lasts: The plantar grasp is present at birth and usually goes away by 9 months.
Don't be surprised, though, if it lasts up until 1 year.

Galant

Trigger: You probably won't discover this one by accident. "You have to hold the baby on
her stomach, face down, and support her head and neck," Dr. Weltmer says. Then stroke
either side of her lower back.
Response: She swings her bottom toward the side that was stroked, almost as if she's dancing
for you.
Why it happens: Experts have no clue why this reflex exists, but it sure makes a cool party
trick.
How long it lasts: Enjoy this newborn skill while you can. The Galant reflex vanishes by 4 to
6 months.

Parachute

Trigger: You know that Superman game your husband likes to play with the baby, the one
that totally freaks you out, but he does it anyway? That flying-baby stunt is an example of the
parachute reflex in action. "It occurs when you hold your child facing downward and
suspended over the floor and then you swoosh him down," explains Dr. Berenson.
Response: Your baby extends his arms and spreads his hands as though he's trying to stop
himself from falling.
Why it happens: Your peanut is protecting himself. "It's a safety response to prevent him
from collapsing right on his face," Dr. Berenson says. The parachute reflex comes in
especially handy when your child starts taking those first Frankenstein steps. Spreading his
arms helps him stay steady when he's about to stumble (which, by the way, will be often!).
How long it lasts: It usually appears at 6 to 8 months, when infants develop more motor
control, Dr. Berenson says. This reflex remains with us throughout life because it's a handy
security mechanism.

Sucking

Trigger: A pacifier, your finger (or even your nose!) touches the roof of your babe's mouth.
Response: Your little guy closes his lips and begins sucking.
Why it happens: Like the rooting reflex, this one is all about survival and helps your
munchkin get his sustenance, says Dr. Altmann.
How long it lasts: After about the age of 2 to 3 months, sucking is no longer automatic, Dr.
Wu says. But your baby may still keep it up. "Not only does the sucking reflex ensure that a
child is bonding with Mom and able to feed, but it's also comforting," she explains. "So some
babies rely on a thumb or pacifier to soothe themselves after the instinct goes away."

Tonic neck

Trigger: Baby lies on her back and turns her head to one side.
Response: She straightens one arm out in the direction her head is facing and bends the arm
that's behind her, Dr. Berenson says. It looks as if she's holding a sword and ready to fence.
Why it happens: This sleeping stance stumps experts, Dr. Berenson says. But he speculates
that it may have a protective role. "The arm that's up and flexed behind your baby may be in
that position to guard her head and face," he says.
How long it lasts: You can continue to snap photos of your baby's precious fencing pose until
she's 4 to 6 months old, when it disappears.

Tongue thrust

Trigger: Something out of the ordinary, such as that first taste of rice cereal, touches your
angel's lips or goes into his mouth
Response: Your child's tongue thrusts forward automatically, barring the food or object from
entering.
Why it happens: "The tongue thrust prevents your baby from choking," Dr. Wu explains. It's
also a good indicator that he isn't ready for real food yet. "This reflex has to go away before a
child can start solids," Dr. Wu says. "Otherwise, he'd only push the food out of his mouth."
How long it lasts: Expect this instinct to fade away by the time your honey is about 4 to 6
months old.

Originally published in the September 2011 issue of American Baby magazine.