Mary Krisma C.

Bacuetes BSN-2A
Prof. Maria Susan A. Chan Care of the Child, Adolescent
(Well Clients)

Activity 1. Newborn Reflexes

1. Rooting reflex
This reflex starts 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 start
feeding. This reflex lasts about 4 months.

2. Suck reflex
Rooting helps the baby get ready to suck. When the roof of the baby's mouth is
touched, the baby will start to suck. This reflex doesn't start 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. Because
babies also have a hand-to-mouth reflex that goes with rooting and sucking, they
may suck on their fingers or hands.

3. Moro reflex
The Moro reflex is often called a startle reflex. That’s 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 his or her 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 until the baby is about 2 months old.

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.
This reflex lasts until the baby is about 5 to 7 months old.

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 the baby is about 5 to 6 months old. A similar
reflex in the toes lasts until 9 to 12 months.

6. Stepping 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. This reflex lasts about 2 months.

7. Babinski Reflex

The Babinski reflex happens when you firmly stoke the sole of the baby’s foot.
The baby’s big toe moves upward or toward the top of the foot and the other
toe fans out. The Babinski reflex usually lasts until the child is about two years
old, but for some, it goes away after a year.

8. Limb Placement Reflex

When the front of the leg below the elbow is brought into contact with the edge of a
table, child lifts the limbs over the edge. It is present at birth but rapidly fades away in
early months of life.

9. Withdrawal Reflex
Is a protective reflex. A pinprick or a sharp painful stimulus to sole of foot,
resulting the flexion and withdrawal of stimulated leg. It is present at birth and
persists throughout life.

10. Asymmetric Tonic Neck Reflex

The reflex fades rapidly and is not normally seen after 6 months of age. Persistence is
the most infantile reflexes in infants with neurological lesions and it greatly disrupts
development.
11. Symmetric Tonic Neck Reflex
Extension of the head causes extension of the fore limbs and flexion of the hand
limbs. It is not normally easily seen or elicited in normal infants and may be seen
in an exaggerated form in many children with cerebral palsy. It is evident
between 2-3 months of age.

12. Parachute Reflex

Reflex appears at about 6-9 months and persist thereafter. It is elicited by holding
the child in ventral suspension and suddenly lowering him to the couch. Arm
extended as a defensive reaction.

13. Landau Reflex

Seen in horizontal suspension with the head, legs, & spine extended. If the head is flexed, hip knees
and elbows also flex. It appears at approximately 3 months and disappear at 12-24 months.

14. Trunk Incurvation Reflex

Stroking one side of spinal column while baby is on his abdomen causes crawling motion with legs
and lifting head from surface. It persists during 2-3 months.
15. Gallants Reflex
Firm sharp stimulation along sides of the spine with the fingernails or a pin produces contraction
of the underlying muscles and curving of the back. Response is easily seen when the infant is held
upright and the trunk movement is unrestricted. It is best seen in the neonatal period and
thereafter gradually fades.

16. Tendon Reflex

Simple monosynaptic reflexes, which are elicited by a sudden stretch of a muscle tendon and
occurs when the tendon is tapped. It is present throughout life.

17. Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex

Movement of the head in any dimension stimulates the labyrinths; and produces the appropriate
responses. Arms and legs extend when head moves backwards, and will curl in when the head
moves forward. It emerges until approximately 4 months.

18. Nasal Reflex

Stimulation of the face or nasal cavity with water or local irritants produces apnea in neonates.
Breathing stops in expiration with laryngeal closure in infants- bradycardia, & lowering of cardiac
output.

19. Blink reflex

A bright light suddenly shone into the eyes, a puff of air upon the sensitive cornea or a sudden loud
noise will produce immediate blinking of the eyes. May be associated tensing of the neck muscles,
turning of the head away from the stimulus, frowning and crying. Reflexes are easily seen in the
neonate and continue to be present throughout life.

20. Doll’s Eye Reflex

Passive turning of the head of the newborn leaves the eye “behind”. It is a distinct time lag occurs
before the eyes move to a new position in keeping with the head position. Failure of this reflex to
appear indicated a cerebral lesion. It disappears within a one to two weeks of birth.

21. Auditory Orienting Reflex

A sudden loud and unpleasant noise, produce the blink reflex, and infant may remain still and
show increased alertness. Quieter sounds usually cause reflex eye and head turning to the side of
the sound, as if to locate it. It is seen initially during 4 months of age.
22. Rooting Reflex
Baby’s cheek is stroked. They respond by turning their head towards the stimulus as the newborn
start sucking allowing for breastfeeding. It disappears on 3-4 months

23. Sucking/ Swallowing Reflex

Touching lips or placing something in baby’s mouth causes baby to draw liquid into mouth by
creating vacuum with lips, cheeks and tongue. It disappears around 12 months.

24. Gag Reflex (Pharyngeal Reflex)

Evoked by touching the roof of the mouth, the back of the tongue, the area around the tonsils and
the back of the throat. It is seen in 19 weeks of IU life.

25. Cry Reflex

Non conditioned reflex which accounts for its lack of its individual character and sporadic in
nature. It starts as early as 21-29 weeks of IU life.