1. Newborn Reflexes

2. What is a newborn reflex?
Newborn reflexes are reflex actions originating in the central nervous system (brain) that are exhibited by normal infants, in response to particular stimuli
These reflexes disappear or are inhibited by the frontal lobes as a child moves through normal child development
Because reflexes originate in the central nervous system, doctors are able to track the progression of a newborn’s nervous system by watching the progression of their reflexes
Most reflexes generally disappear before the 3rd and 4th months, but can last as long as a year
Also called primitive, infantile, or infant reflexes

3. Rooting Reflex
When you stroke your baby's cheek he/she will turn towards you, usually looking for food. You may also notice this occurs when the baby accidentally brushes his/her own face with her hands
Very useful when learning to breastfeed your baby
Can sometimes be a source of frustration if your baby flails her arms during feedings
Simply using a blanket to pin her arms closer to her body during feeding may help

4. Palmer Grasp
When you touch the palm of your baby's hand, the fingers will curl around and cling to your finger or an object
Good reflex to take advantage of with other children, to allow the baby to "hold" their hand
This reflex also makes it difficult to obtain handprints until it disappears at about 6 months

5. Plantar Reflex
Occurs when you stroke the sole of your baby's foot, his toes will spread open and the foot will turn slightly inward
This reflex is fun to watch
Disappears by the end of the first year

6. Babinski Reflex
Often confused with the Plantar Reflex, the Babinski reflex is also present at birth and fades around the first year.
This reflex appears when the side of the foot is stroked, causing the toes to fan out and the hallux to extend.
Caused by a lack of myelination in the corticospinal tract in young children
A sign of neurological abnormality in adults

7. Moro Reflex
When you fail to support or hold the neck and head, the arms of your baby will thrust outward and then seem to embrace them selves as their fingers curl
This reflex disappears at about 2 months of age
Also known as the “startle reflex”

8. Walking Reflex
If you take your baby and place his feet on a flat surface he will "walk" by placing one foot in front of the other
This isn't really walking and will disappear by about 4 months of age

9. Withdrawal Reflex An attempt to avoid pain
Babies receive a whole slew of tests as newborns and, if you will notice when the heel of the foot is pricked for a blood test, the leg and foot will jerk backwards and the opposite leg and foot push forward

10. Sucking Reflex
Ensures that the baby will nurse on a breast or bottle to be fed and occurs when something is placed in the baby's mouth
Sucking is made possible by the thorax when the infant breathes in and by fixing the jaw between breaths
Swallowing and breathing must be coordinated, and the depth and rate of breathing are handled differently when the baby is engaged in nutritive and non-nutritive (such as on fingers or a pacifier) sucking
Slowly replaced by voluntary sucking around 2 months of age

11. Why are reflexes important?
They offer a protection
Each one ensures a different need for survival
Examples:
The rooting reflex ensures the baby can find and get food
The palmer and Babinski reflexes are a kind of insurance against falling

12. Reflexes lead to learned behavior
All newborn reflexes become a base for learned, complex behavior later on
Examples:
The walking reflex sets the stage for future learned behavior of walking and standing
When parents or the pediatrician or nurse hold newborns to a standing position, their faces will often brighten and they appear to be attempting to participate. This, in turn, delights and rewards the adult, setting up feedback for future learning.