Anthony Roland B.

Jacalne
BSN-3B1
Monday-Wednesday (2:00-10:00pm) Angono General Hospital

Different Newborn Reflexes

Trunk incurvation reflex

When newborns lie in a prone position and are touched along the paravertebral area
by a probing finger, they flex their trunk and swing their pelvis toward the retouch

Sucking reflex

The reflex helps a newborn find food: when the newborn’s lips touch the mother’s
breast or bottle, the baby sucks and so takes in food. The sucking reflex begins to
diminish at about 6 months of age. It disappears immediately if it is never
stimulated.

Rooting Reflexes

This reflex help a newborn to find food: when a mother holds the child and allows
her breasts to brush the newborn’s cheek, the reflex makes the baby turn toward
the breasts. The reflex disappears as about sixth week of life, at about time
newborn eyes focus steadily, so as food can be seen, and the reflex no longer
needed.

Step (Walk)-in-place reflex

Newborns who are held in a vertical position with their feet touching a hard
surface will take a few quick, alternating steps. This reflex disappears by 3 months
of age. By 4 months, babies can bear a good portion of their weight unhindered by
this reflex.

Placing Reflex

It is similar to the step-in-place reflex, except that it is elicited by touching the

anterior surface of the newborn’s leg against a hard surface such as the edge of a
bassinet or table. The newborn makes a few quick lifting motions.

Plantar Grasp Reflex

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When an object touches the sole of the infant up to the base of the toes, the toes
grasp in the same manner as the fingers do. This disappears at about 8 to 9
months.

Crossed Extension Reflex

If one leg of the newborn lying supine is extended and the sole of that foot is
irritated by being rubbed with a sharp object, such as a thumbnail, the infant
raises the other leg and extends it, as if trying to push away the hand irritating
the first leg.

Extrusion Reflex

A newborn extrudes any substance that’s placed on the anterior portion of the
tongue. This protective reflex prevents the swallowing of inedible substances. It
disappears at about 4 month of age. Until then, the infant may seem to be spitting
out or refusing solid food placed in the mouth.

Landau Reflex

A newborn who is held in a prone position with a hand underneath, supporting the
trunk, should demonstrate some muscle tone. Babies may not be able to lift their
head or arch their back in this position, but neither should they sag into inverted
“U” position. The latter response indicates extremely poor muscle tone, the cause
of which should be investigated.

Blink Reflex

A blink reflex in a new born serves the same purpose as it does in an adult – to
protect the eye from any object coming near it by rapid eye closure. It light or
otoscope light on an eye. A sudden movement toward the eye sometimes can elicit
the blink reflex

Swallowing Reflex

The swallowing reflex in a new born is the same as in the adult. Food that reaches
the posterior portion of the tongue is automatically swallowed. Gag, cough, and
sneeze reflexes also present to maintain a clear airway in the event that normal
swallowing does not keep the pharynx free of obstructing mucus.

Moro Reflex

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A Moro (startle) reflex can be initiated by startling a newborn with a loud noise or
by jarring the bassinet. The most accurate method of eliciting the reflex is to hold
newborns in a supine position and allow their sudden drop backward about 1 inch. In
response to their sudden head movement, they abduct and extend their arms and
legs. Their fingers assume a typical “C” position.

Babinski Reflex

When the side of the sole of the foot is stroked in an inverted “J” curve from the
heel upward, a newborn fans the toes (positive Babinski sign). This is a contrast to
the adult, who reflexes the toes. This is reaction occurs because nervous system
development is immature. It remains positive (toes fan) until at least 3months of
age, when it is supplanted by the down-turning or adult flexion response.

Deep Tendon Reflex

A patellar reflex can be elicited in a newborn by tapping the patellar tendon with
the tip of the finger. The lower legs moves perceptibly if the infant has an intact
reflex. To elicit a biceps reflex, place the thumb of your left hand on the tendon
of the biceps muscle on the inner surface of the elbow. Tap he thumb as it rests on
the tendon. You are likely to feel the tendon contract to observe movement. A
biceps reflex is a test for the spinal nerves C5 and C6: a patellar reflex is a rest
for spinal nerves L2 through L.4.

Tonic Neck Reflex

When newborn’s lie on their backs, their heads usually turn to one side or the
other. The arm and leg on the side toward which the head turns extend, and the
opposite arm and leg contract.

Palmar Grasp

Newborns grasp an object placed in their palm by closing their fingers on it.
Mature newborns grasp so strongly that they can be raised from a supine position
and suspended momentarily from an examiner’s fingers. This reflex disappears
about 6 weeks to 3 months of age. A baby begins to grasp meaningfully at about 3
months of age.

-End-

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