NEWBORN REFLEXES

INTRODUCTOION:
Reflexes are involuntary movements or actions. some
movements are spontaneous and occur as part of the
baby's normal activity. others are responses t certain
actions. healthcare providers check reflexes to
determine if the brain and nervous system are working
well.
DEFINITION:
1. A reflex is an involuntary, or automatic, action that your
body does in response to something, without it. even having
to think about it.

2. Neonatal reflexes or primitive reflexes are the inborn

behavioural patterns that develop during uterine life.
these reflexes, which are essential for a newborn's survival
immediately after birth.
TYPES OF REFLEX:
• General Body Reflexes
• Facial Reflexes
• Oral Reflexes
 

GENERAL BODY REFLEXES:

1. 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
2. Startle Reflex:-
 Similar to Moro reflex, but is
initiated by a sudden noise or any
other stimulus
 •In this reflex, the elbows are flexed
and the hands remain closed, there is
less of embrace, outward and inward
movement of the arms.
3. 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.
4. 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.
How to Check:
Hold the baby in the air with his legs dangling
and then gently bring him down till its feet
begin to touch the floor, you will notice that
the baby will put one foot forward as if trying
to walk.
5.Limb placement reflex:-
When the front of the leg
below the knee, or the arm
below the elbow is brought
into contact with the edge of a
table, child lifts the limbs over
the edge. 
6. 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.
How to Check:
Gently turn the baby's head to one side and
observe that they will stretch out their hands
on the same side and bend the opposite arm
from the elbow.
 
7. Babinski's reflex :-
Stroking of the lateral
surface of the planter
surface of the foot from
the heel to the toe results
in flexion of the toe.
8. Parachute reflex :-
Reflex appears at about 6-9
months & persists there after.
Elicited by holding the child in
ventral Suspension & suddenly
lowering him to the couch.
 Arms extend as a defensive
reaction.
Clinical significance :
• Absent or abnormal in children with
cerebral palsy.
• Would be asymmetrical in spastic
hemiplegia.
9. Landau reflex:-
 Seen in horizontal suspension with
the head, legs & spine extended.
 If
the head is flexed, the hips,
knees & elbows also flex.
 Normally present from 3 months,
difficult to elict after 1 year.
10.Tendon reflexes :-
Simple monosynaptic reflexes,
which are elicited by a sudden
stretch of a muscle tendon.
 Occurs when the tendon is
tapped.
 Present throughout life.
11. Righting reflex:-
 The righting reflex, also known as the
labyrinthine righting reflex, is a reflex
that corrects the orientation of the body
when it is taken out of its normal upright
position.
 Righting reflex is a precautionary reflex
and is a natural way for the baby to
protect itself.
 
How to Check:
Drop a blanket over the baby's head while he is
sleeping. You will observe that the baby will shake its
head, hands and legs till the blanket falls off.
When does it go:
This reflex only remains for the first year till the
muscles have matured to exercise sufficient control.
12. Withdrawal reflex:
The withdrawal reflex is a
spinal reflex intended to protect
the body from damaging
stimuli. It is polysynaptic, and
causes the stimulation of
sensory, association, and motor
neurons.
Withdrawal reflex is another precautionary reflex
and is natural a way for the baby to avoid colliding
with any object.
How to Check:
When your baby is sitting, suddenly move your
face close to his, you will notice that the baby will
turn his head away. He would do the same if an
object suddenly moves closer to him.
FACIAL REFLEXES

1. 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 and infants exhibit bradycardia & lowering
of cardiac output.
 Blood flow to skin, splanchnic areas, muscles&
kidney decreases.
 Flow to the heart & brain remains protected.
2. Blink Reflex:
 Variousstimuli provoke
blinking.
 Whether the child is awake or
sleep, pupils of the eye react to
changes in the intensity of light.
3. Doll's eye Reflex:
 Though a complex mechanism,
infants hold fixation of faces,
movements or changing intensity
of light within their visual fields.
 During the first week they are
able to maintain these fixations
against passive movement of their
bodies.
4. Corneal Reflex:
 Consists of blinking when the
cornea is touched.
 The satisfactory demonstration
of these reflexes shows that the
stimulus, whether sound, light or
touch, has been received, that
cerebral depression is unlikely,
and that the appropriate muscles.
5. Pupil Reflex :
 The pupil reacts to light, but in
the preterm baby and Some full-
term babies the duration of
exposure to the light may have to
be prolonged to elict the Reflex.
 The light should not be bright,
for a bright light will cause
closure of the eyes.
ORAL 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.
How to Check:
Upon stroking the side of the cheek, the baby will turn his
head in the direction of the touch and open his mouth to
feed.
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.
3. Swallowing:
Begins around 12 and half weeks IU life.
Full swallowing and sucking is
established by 32-36 weeks of IU life.
 Their absence in full-term baby would
suggest a developmental defect.
4. Tongue Thrust Reflex:
Again natural a precautionary
reflex and is a way for the
baby to avoid choking on
food or swallowing a small
object.
How to Check:
Gently touch a small spoon to the tip of the
baby's tongue. You will observe that the baby
will push it back out.
When does it go:
This reflex will remain the first four to six
months.
5.Gag reflex:
The gag reflex, also known as the
pharyngeal reflex or laryngeal spasm, is a
contraction of the back of the throat
triggered by an object touching the roof of
your mouth, the back of your tongue, the
area around your tonsils, or the back of your
throat. The reflex helps prevent choking, as
well as helping to moderate the transition
from liquid to solid foods during infancy.
 

6.cry reflex:
1. The normal ability of an
infant to cry. It is not usually
present in premature infants.
2. The spontaneous crying by
infants during sleep.
7. Mastication:
It is a conditioned reflex,
learned Initially by irregular
and poorly coordinated,
chewing movements.
Chewing is, to a large extent, a reflex, although you
can voluntarily masticate as well.... The presence of
food (or gum) in the mouth causes a reflex
inhibition of the muscles of the lower jaw. Those
muscles relax and the lower jaw drops, causing a
stretch reflex which causes muscle contraction and
closure of the mouth.
SUMMARY
CONCLUSION
BIBLIOGRAPHY:-
 Wilson David, Hockenberry J. Marilyn; Wong’s Essential of PEDIATRIC
NURSING; First South Asia Edition.
 Datta Parul; PEDIATRIC NURSING; second edition ; JAPEE BROTHERS
Medical publishers.
 Panchali Pal :Textbook of PEDIATRIC NURSING: Paras Medical Publisher.
 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
 http://www.urmc.rochester.edu