Infant Reflexes

A reflex is an innate, involuntary reaction to various stimuli. Reflexes appear at birth and disappear at different times during early development. Some of the reflexes a newborn exhibits are used for survival, while others appear without value. Involuntary reflexes eventually become voluntary motor development. It is important to understand why your baby is exhibiting the behaviors he/she is. There is great variation in the dissolution of reflexes, however, if any of these reflexes are absent or exaggerated it could indicate a problem in cognitive development and you may need to seek help. The following is a description of the common reflexes your baby will exhibit in his/her first year of life. HDFS 301 Rachel Wurtzel (Berk & Meyers, 141-143)

1. Eye Blink Reflex

Blinking is something all humans do. To elicit a blinking reflex shine a light in an infant's eyes or make a sudden noise near their face. In response to this stimulus a baby will quickly close their eyes. This is the only reflex that remains throughout life. (Berk & Meyers, 142)

2. Rooting Reflex

An infant will root if you lightly touch their cheek. When the infant feels your touch they will turn their head in search of the source. This reflex is important to survival because a newborn uses this reflex to help find his/her mother’s nipple or other food source. After about three weeks rooting disappears and this motions becomes a voluntary reaction. (Berk & Meyers, 142)

3. Sucking Reflex

Sucking reflex is essential for infant survival. Without this reflex a child would be unable to feed. When an object is placed in an infant's mouth, near the back of the tongue, the infant will automatically begin to suck. This sucking response becomes voluntary around four months. (Berk & Meyers, 142)

4. Swimming Reflex

No, your baby cannot swim in an open body of water unattended. However, when facedown in water an infant will respond by kicking their arms and legs in hopes of survival. This response diminishes around 4-6 months of age. (Berk & Meyers, 142)

5. Moro Reflex

If a baby's head drops or a startling noise is made while you have your infant on their back, the child's response will be to sprawl its limbs out and then contract them inward. It is uncertain why a baby exhibits this response. You can expect to see this response disappear around the infant's sixth month of life. (Berk & Meyers, 142)

6. Palmar Grasp Reflex

In preparation for voluntary grasping and fine motor development, an infant has a palmar grasp reflex. When a finger or other like object is placed in the palm of the infant's hand, the infant will response by grabbing hold. This involuntary response decreases around 3-4 months and later returns as voluntary fine motor control. (Berk & Meyers, 142)

7. Tonic Neck Reflex

Turn your baby's head to one side while they are awake and lying on their back. This motion causes the infant to straighten the arm they are gazing towards, while bending the opposite arm. This response helps prepare the infant for later voluntary reaching. At about 4 months the tonic neck reflex disappears. (Berk & Meyers, 142)

8. Stepping Reflex

If you hold your newborn upright and allow their bare feet to touch the ground, they will appear to walk. This response decreases early, around two months. It likely disappears because the baby is gaining more weight and does not yet have the muscle strength to lift their heavy legs. This motion returns when the baby is ready to walk. (Berk & Meyers, 142-143)

9. Babinski Reflex

The Babinski reflex does not appear to have any important function for later child development. When you stroke the bottom of your baby's foot, they will likely respond by stretching their toes outward and curling them. This response disappears between 8 and 12 months old. (Berk & Meyers, 142)

10. Parent and baby reflex interaction

Reflexes help a newborn and parent develop attachment. The physical proximity and body contact that occurs with these involuntary responses increases closeness between parent and child. (Berk & Meyers, 142)

Additional Resources

www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=newborn-reflexes-90-P02630

www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=90&contentid=P02630

www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/Pages/Newborn-Reflexes.aspx