Newborn Newborn ReflexesReflexes

What is a newborn reflex?What is a newborn reflex? Newborn reflexesNewborn reflexes are reflex actions originating are reflex actions originating

in the central nervous system (brain) that are in the central nervous system (brain) that are exhibited by normal infants, in response to exhibited by normal infants, in response to particular stimuliparticular stimuli

These reflexes disappear or are inhibited by the These reflexes disappear or are inhibited by the frontal lobes as a child moves through normal frontal lobes as a child moves through normal child developmentchild development

Because reflexes originate in the central nervous Because reflexes originate in the central nervous system, doctors are able to track the progression system, doctors are able to track the progression of a newborn’s nervous system by watching the of a newborn’s nervous system by watching the progression of their reflexesprogression of their reflexes

Most reflexes generally disappear before the 3rd Most reflexes generally disappear before the 3rd and 4th months, but can last as long as a yearand 4th months, but can last as long as a year

Also called primitive, infantile, or infant reflexesAlso called primitive, infantile, or infant reflexes

Rooting ReflexRooting Reflex When you stroke your baby's When you stroke your baby's

cheek he/she will turn towards cheek he/she will turn towards you, usually looking for food. you, usually looking for food. You may also notice this You may also notice this occurs when the baby occurs when the baby accidentally brushes his/her accidentally brushes his/her own face with her handsown face with her hands

Very useful when learning to Very useful when learning to breastfeed your babybreastfeed your baby

Can sometimes be a source of Can sometimes be a source of frustration if your baby flails frustration if your baby flails her arms during feedingsher arms during feedings

Simply using a blanket to pin Simply using a blanket to pin her arms closer to her body her arms closer to her body during feeding may helpduring feeding may help

Palmer GraspPalmer Grasp When you touch the palm of When you touch the palm of

your baby's hand, the your baby's hand, the fingers will curl around and fingers will curl around and cling to your finger or an cling to your finger or an objectobject

Good reflex to take Good reflex to take advantage of with other advantage of with other children, to allow the baby children, to allow the baby to "hold" their handto "hold" their hand

This reflex also makes it This reflex also makes it difficult to obtain handprints difficult to obtain handprints until it disappears at about until it disappears at about 6 months6 months

Plantar ReflexPlantar Reflex

Occurs when you Occurs when you stroke the sole of stroke the sole of your baby's foot, his your baby's foot, his toes will spread open toes will spread open and the foot will turn and the foot will turn slightly inwardslightly inward

This reflex is fun to This reflex is fun to watchwatch

Disappears by the Disappears by the end of the first yearend of the first year

Babinski ReflexBabinski Reflex Often confused with the Often confused with the

Plantar Reflex, the Babinski Plantar Reflex, the Babinski reflex is also present at birth reflex is also present at birth and fades around the first and fades around the first year. year.

This reflex appears when the This reflex appears when the side of the foot is stroked, side of the foot is stroked, causing the toes to fan out and causing the toes to fan out and the hallux to extend. the hallux to extend.

Caused by a lack of Caused by a lack of myelination in the corticospinal myelination in the corticospinal tract in young childrentract in young children

A sign of neurological A sign of neurological abnormality in adultsabnormality in adults

Moro ReflexMoro Reflex

When you fail to support When you fail to support or hold the neck and or hold the neck and head, the arms of your head, the arms of your baby will thrust outward baby will thrust outward and then seem to and then seem to embrace them selves as embrace them selves as their fingers curltheir fingers curl

This reflex disappears at This reflex disappears at about 2 months of ageabout 2 months of age

Also known as the “startle Also known as the “startle reflex” reflex”

Walking ReflexWalking Reflex

If you take your If you take your baby and place his baby and place his feet on a flat feet on a flat surface he will surface he will "walk" by placing "walk" by placing one foot in front of one foot in front of the otherthe other

This isn't really This isn't really walking and will walking and will disappear by about disappear by about 4 months of age 4 months of age

Withdrawal ReflexWithdrawal Reflex

An attempt to avoid An attempt to avoid painpain

Babies receive a whole Babies receive a whole slew of tests as slew of tests as newborns and, if you newborns and, if you will notice when the will notice when the heel of the foot is heel of the foot is pricked for a blood pricked for a blood test, the leg and foot test, the leg and foot will jerk backwards and will jerk backwards and the opposite leg and the opposite leg and foot push forwardfoot push forward

Sucking ReflexSucking Reflex Ensures that the baby will nurse Ensures that the baby will nurse

on a breast or bottle to be fed on a breast or bottle to be fed and occurs when something is and occurs when something is placed in the baby's mouthplaced in the baby's mouth

Sucking is made possible by the Sucking is made possible by the thorax when the infant breathes thorax when the infant breathes in and by fixing the jaw between in and by fixing the jaw between breathsbreaths

Swallowing and breathing must Swallowing and breathing must be coordinated, and the depth be coordinated, and the depth and rate of breathing are and rate of breathing are handled differently when the handled differently when the baby is engaged in nutritive and baby is engaged in nutritive and non-nutritive (such as on fingers non-nutritive (such as on fingers or a pacifier) suckingor a pacifier) sucking

Slowly replaced by voluntary Slowly replaced by voluntary sucking around 2 months of agesucking around 2 months of age

Why are reflexes important?Why are reflexes important?

They offer a protectionThey offer a protection Each one ensures a Each one ensures a

different need for different need for survivalsurvival

Examples:Examples:– The rooting reflex The rooting reflex

ensures the baby can ensures the baby can find and get food find and get food

– The palmer and Babinski The palmer and Babinski reflexes are a kind of reflexes are a kind of insurance against fallinginsurance against falling

Reflexes lead to learned Reflexes lead to learned behaviorbehavior

All newborn reflexes become a All newborn reflexes become a base for learned, complex base for learned, complex behavior later onbehavior later on

Examples: Examples: – The walking reflex sets the stage The walking reflex sets the stage

for future learned behavior of for future learned behavior of walking and standingwalking and standing

– When parents or the pediatrician or When parents or the pediatrician or nurse hold newborns to a standing nurse hold newborns to a standing position, their faces will often position, their faces will often brighten and they appear to be brighten and they appear to be attempting to participate. This, in attempting to participate. This, in turn, delights and rewards the turn, delights and rewards the adult, setting up feedback for adult, setting up feedback for future learning. future learning.