What Are the Types of Newborn’s Reflexes?

Types of Newborn’s Reflexes

Some of the notable types of reflexes in newborn babies today at different stages are:

• Rooting Reflex

When you touch or stroke your baby’s cheek, he/she tries to turn his/her head towards the nipple. This reflex helps the baby find the nipple and latch properly during feeding. Usually, this reflex is not seen when the baby turns 4 months old.

• Sucking Reflex

Even in the womb, the foetus starts to suck his/her thumb. The same reflex is displayed when the baby is born. This action helps the baby in swallowing and breathing patterns, eventually helping the infant to feed well and improve weight appropriately. This reflex will mostly stop at about 2 months of age.

• Stepping Reflex

When you make a newborn stand on the ground, he/she starts to put one foot ahead of another, as if to indicate a walking pattern, even though the baby cannot do it independently. Like most types of reflexes in newborn babies, this reflex will also go away when the baby turns 2 months old.

• Startle Reflex

When your baby hears a loud noise or is scared of something, he/she may exhibit the startle reflex. This is when there is a sudden shift in the position of the baby’s head, an extension of his/her neck, or the baby’s crying sounds as the infant throws out his/her arms or legs. The baby will stop showing these reflexes by the time he/she is 6 months old.

• Palmer Reflex

You must have noticed newborns trying to hold your finger immediately when you try to touch or hold them. Babies can also easily let go of the hold as easily as they grab your fingers. This involuntary action is called a palmer reflex. Usually, this goes away when your baby is about 6 months old.

• Plantar Reflex

This is also one of the common types of reflexes in newborn babies. Here, your baby tends to curl his/her toes when you gently touch or stroke the baby’s foot. This reflex can be seen longer in babies and usually disappears by the time they turn a year old.

• Blink Reflex

In this type of reflex, your baby closes his/her eyes as soon as an object comes close to the eyes. An infant can also close his/her eyes when exposed to excessive light. When this reflex stays for a long time, you have to check with your doctor, as this may indicate problems with the baby’s vision.

Reasons for a Newborn’s Reflexes

The reasons for the different types of reflexes in newborn babies (as mentioned above) can be understood from this table: