Newborn Reflexes

 

           I think it's safe to say that anyone can think newly born babies are the cutest to observe in their first days. Watching them develop over weeks into bigger, tiny humans is astonishing when you follow their movements, gasps, yawning, and reflexes. Many babies' movements within their first week are strictly reflexes, involuntarily without them forcing themselves to do so. It is reactionary. Over months, many common reflexes stay around, and other times most will go away after a short time.

        The earliest reflexes to become prominent almost immediately following birth is rooting and sucking. The rooting reflex is when a baby turns its head, typically searching for a nipple (bottle or breast) for feeding time. The second reflex directly following is sucking. Even though babies start sucking while feeding, it is common in the womb for a baby to already know to suck. Many women have had ultrasounds where doctors and the mother have observed the baby suck their finger or thumb.

        Not only are rooting and sucking common reflexes, but Moro, tonic neck, stepping, and palmar grasp are a couple more. Moro is not a word I expected to define a startled baby. Usually, when a loud noise presents itself or a baby slides/falls back, the reactive reflex is Moro; The baby flings open their arms and legs as a startled reaction. The tonic neck is an automatic response known as "fencing posture." The position looks like they are fencing, one arm straight out, the other slightly bent, and the head turned to the side. Both moro and tonic neck depart after 5 to 7 months.

        Stepping and grasping are other reflexes commonly happening. Stepping occurs if you hold a baby with head and neck support, placing a foot on a flat surface, they will put one foot in front of the other. Grasping is precise, as stated. Babies can hold onto adult fingers, gripping them with powerful little fingers. I think parents can relate when a baby gets hulk strength and grabs hold of their hair. It is like peeling open a dog's mouth when they are eating something they shouldn't, but of course, it's not a dog, just a mighty baby hand. Every bit of these reflexes supports the development of memory and strength for growing babies. Just imagine, babies are powerful when they're little, but these superpower reflexes will increase stronger as they develop into adolescents and adulthood!                                                         

Article Link:                                                                            https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/Pages/Newborn-Reflexes.aspx