1. { Reflexes

2.  Infants are born with a set of involuntary skills called reflexes. Some of these reflexes are essential for survival and some seem to have no purpose.

3. Survival reflexes include:  Breathing-to maintain oxygen supply, blood flow and heart function.  Blinking- moistens and protects the eyes  Crying- to alert carers to needs  Rooting, sucking and swallowing—to absorb adequate nutrition  Sneezing- to clear airways  Bowel and bladder movements-to eliminate waste products

4. Reflexes without specific purpose:  Grasp (0-4 months)- if an object is placed in the infant’s hand or if the palm is stroked, the fingers will close around the object and the infant is unable to let go voluntarily  Walking (0-4 months)- if you hold the infant around the tummy for support and place the feet on a solid surface, the feet step forward  Moro or startle reflex (0-6 months)- if the infant falls backwards, the arms and legs extend out suddenly then move back towards the body  The Babinski reflex (0-12 months)- stroke the infant’s foot along the arch from the heel to toe, and the toes spread out.