Newborn Reflexes
As a newborn and young infant, most of your baby's development and physical reactions will be determined by primitive reflexes. For example, if you brush your newborn's cheek, he will likely turns his head (rooting reflex), which helps him to find a breast or bottle for a feeding. Or if you place a nipple in his mouth , as it touches the roof of his mouth, it will cause him to begin sucking (sucking reflex). There are many of other types of reflexes, most of which are present at birth, including the moro or startle reflex, walking or stepping, tonic neck reflex and the palmar and plantar grasp. It is not always easy to demonstrate these reflexes and not all babies do them all of the time, so don't be surprised if you or your Pediatrician can't trigger all of the reflexes. More important, is your baby's overall growth and development. Absent, asymmetric or persistent reflexes might be a sign of a neurological problem, though, and need further evaluation. Moro Reflex ...