Baby's Reflex

When I was in the hospital, just delivered my youngest daughter, one of my husband’s auntie came to visit. At that time I was nursing the baby. When she saw it, she made a comment,” Wah, why your baby is so clever, can immediately suck. Who teach her?”

Do you ever wonder how come newborn can immediately sucking, I mean who teach them?
Much of a newborn's movements and activity are reflexes or involuntary - the baby does not purposefully make these movements. As the nervous system begins to mature, these reflexes give way to purposeful behaviors.

Reflexes in newborns include the following:

Root reflex: This reflex occurs when the corner of the baby's mouth is stroked or touched. The baby will turn his/her head and opens his/her mouth to follow and "root" in the direction of the stroking.

Suck reflex: When the roof of the baby's mouth is touched with the breast or bottle nipple, the baby will begin to suck. This reflex does not begin until about the 32nd week of pregnancy and is not fully developed until about 36 weeks.

Moro reflex: The Moro reflex is often called a startle reflex because it usually occurs when a baby is startled by a loud sound or movement. In response to the sound, the baby throws back his/her head, throws out his/her arms and legs.

Tonic neck reflex: When a baby's head is turned to one side, the arm on that side stretches out and the opposite arm bends up at the elbow. This is often called the "fencing" position.

Grasp reflex: With the grasp reflex, stroking the palm of a baby's hand causes the baby to close his/her fingers in a grasp. The grasp reflex lasts only a couple of months and is stronger in premature babies.

Babinski reflex: With the Babinski reflex, when the sole of the foot is firmly stroked, the big toe bends back toward the top of the foot and the other toes fan out. This is a normal reflex until the child is about 2 years old.

Step reflex: This reflex is also called the walking or dance reflex because a baby appears to take steps or dance when held upright with his/her feet touching a solid surface.