THE NEWBORN’S CAPACITIES

 Reflexes
 Rooting reflex: babies automatically turn the
face toward the stimulus and make sucking motions with
the mouth when the cheek or lip is touched.

 Moro reflex: is an infantile reflex normally

present in all infants/newborns up to 3 or 4 months of age
as a response to a sudden loss of support, when the infant
feels as if it is falling.

 Stepping reflex: is present at birth, though

infants this young cannot support their own weight. When
the soles of their feet touch a flat surface they will
attempt to walk by placing one foot in front of the other.

 Babinski reflex: The Babinski reflex is

obtained by stimulating the outside of the sole of the foot,
causing extension of the big toe while fanning the other
toes. The examiner begins the stimulation at the heel and
goes forward to the base of the toes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oI_ONptx2Ns

 Reflexes disappear by about 6 months

NEWBORN SENSORY CAPACITIES

 Sensitivity to touch, pain, temp

 Present at birth
 Newborn’s have taste preferences
 Newborn’s can smell

 Hearing: prefer complex sounds

 Prefer high-pitched & expressive speech
 Vision – least mature of senses
 Limited visual acuity – best at 7-9”