We know that newborn babies have little control over what they can do, but babies are born with a set of instinctive, automatic and unconscious reflexes that enable them to survive in our world. An example is like babies are able to be fed as soon as they are born. These reflexes help protect and guide them in those first few months outside the womb, as they learn through their brain development.
Types of Newborn Baby Reflexes
Reflexes are involuntary movements or actions. Some reflexes are spontaneous while others are reaction to certain actions. Reflexes help us identify normal brain and nerve activity in our newborn babies. We should also know that some reflexes occur only in specific periods of development of a child.
- Root Reflex. Within the first few hours of birth, the baby will turn her head and “root” in the direction of the touch on the side of his or her cheek. This reflex begins when the corner of the baby’s mouth is stroked or touched. This helps the new born baby find the breast or bottle to begin feeding. Rooting is less likely to happen if the baby is not hungry, or if he or she touches his or her own cheeks.
- Suck Reflex. Rooting prepares the baby to be ready to suck. When the roof of the baby’s mouth is touched, the baby will begin to suck. This reflex does not begin until about the 32nd week of pregnancy and is not fully developed until about 36 weeks. That is the reason why premature babies may have a weak or immature sucking ability because of this.
- Hand to Mouth Reflex. While rooting and sucking are well-known feeding reflexes, babies also have a hand-to-mouth reflex that may see the baby sucking on his or her little fingers or hands. Initially, the baby lacks the strength to keep his or her hand in position for long, so the reflex remains until the baby is able to control this action consciously, and suck on his or her finger as and when the baby feels the need.
- Grasp Reflex. Stroking the palm of a baby’s hand causes the baby to close his or her fingers in a grasp. This reaction is known as a “palmar grasp” reflex. This reflex is somewhat related to our primate ancestors whose babies cling on to their furs as the mother moves around. The grasp reflex lasts until about 5 to 6 months of age.
- Startle Reflex / Moro Reflex. If a baby feels that as if he or she is falling, or when the baby hears a loud noise, the baby will throw up his or her arms as if the baby is trying to grab hold on to something. This natural action is known as the “Moro Reflex” or otherwise is often called a “Startle Reflex”. The grasp reflex stems from a baby’s primitive instinct to hold on to something to save himself or herself. Sometimes, a baby’s own cry can startle him or her and trigger this reflex. Babies can also experience a startle reflex when dozing off to sleep, which is why some parents carry and cuddle their newborn babies to prevent them from waking up suddenly. This reflex lasts about 5 to 6 months.
- Step Reflex. When a young baby is held upright and the baby feels his or her feet touching a surface beneath, the baby will naturally moves his or her legs as though the baby is trying to walk. This reflex is also called the walking or dance reflex. This step reflex seems to disappear when the baby is around two to three months old, possibly because the legs moving actions take significant efforts for the babies to lift those little legs of theirs.
- 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 protects the babies from rolling on to their tummy before the babies are able to lift their heads to prevent suffocation. However, this reflex action needs to be overcome in order for the babies can learn to roll over. There is speculation that the baby’s preference for turning his or her head has indication of whether the child will be right-handed or left-handed. The tonic neck reflex lasts about 6 to 7 months.
Now that you know a little more of your baby’s reflexes, enjoy your parenthood and spend the many happy hours with your little loved one.