Newborn Reflexes

• Your baby is born with a group of automatic movements called reflexes. These are responses to specific stimuli. They have aided him in the birthing process and will be useful to him in the first weeks of life.
• Tonic neck--This is produced when a newborn's head is turned to one side. The baby arches away from the face in a "fencing-like" response. The baby's arm on the face side stretches out, and the other arm flexes up by his head.
  Moro--These "startles" consist of his throwing out his arms, arching his back, grimacing, and then crying out. When there is nothing to grab and hold, or no one to hold the baby, each startle sets off more startles.
• Rooting--This appears if you touch a newborn on either side of his mouth. He will turn in the direction of the touch, searching for the breast or bottle with his mouth.
• Grasping--A newborn's hands are usually clenched in a fist. Once unfolded his fingers will grasp any small object placed high in the palm. His hands and feet will grasp objects with some strength. The hold may last for a few seconds or possibly a few minutes.
• Walking--While properly supported, a newborn will begin to step first with one foot, then the other, in a kind of slow jog.
• Gallant--If you stroke along the side of the newborn's spine while he is held by your hand under his belly, he flexes his whole body to the side that is stroked; when you switch to the other side, he flexes to that side.
• Crawling--When the newborn is placed on his abdomen, he flexes his legs under him and starts to crawl, picking his head up to turn it and to free it from the bedclothes.
• Babkin--When you stroke a newborn's cheek or put your finger in his palm, he will bring his fist up to his mouth and try to insert a finger. This hand-to-mouth reflex will serve him later to suck on his fist or finger.
• Babinski--When you stroke the baby's inner sole, he grasps your finger in his toes. Stroke the outer side of his sole, he spreads his toes out.
• Protective--Reflexes to keep his airways clear. If your baby thinks his airway is obstructed, he will arch his head turning it from side to side. He will also bring one hand up and then the other, swiping across his face, to try to keep his airways clear.