The Wonder Of Infant Reflexes
Babies are such joys who bring a whiff of innocence to life. As a result, we just can’t get enough of their cuteness. A refreshing feeling is felt by one just by watching a baby. Although raising one isn’t always easy. Most parents will probably find it difficult juggling their time in between work, romance and domestic duties. Babies also have special needs, that’s why it’s important that these needs are satisfied so the little ones can be eased through their development process. And one of the ways a parent or caregiver can help in this process, aside from changing diapers and feeding, is understanding the various reflexes that these infants exhibit within their first few months of life.
All of us are familiar with an involuntary and almost automatic response to a particular stimulus. This is what we call reflex. There are many reflexes that may be noticed at certain stages of their development in newborns. These reflexes are also expected to go away after a certain period of time, but even so, they serve a purpose for the newborns themselves and also for pediatricians. These are normally used as indicators of developmental progress, and while there are many that one may observe in a single baby, the following are the six most common:
Rooting - This is one of the first reflex actions one may observe in a newborn. It is responsible for the baby’s nearly instantaneous tendency to move his face and open his mouth towards any object that makes a stroking motion on his cheek.
Along with the rooting reflex, a baby exhibits a sucking reflex that allows him to latch on to a pacifier or to a bottle or breast nipple for feeding.
An instant reaction is for his fingers to close around that object in a gripping motion. when an object is placed on a baby’s palm
Toe Curl - It might be noticed that strokes on the outer sole of a baby’s foot make those little toes outward, and the same stimulus on the inner sole makes the toes curl inward.
Stepping - Nearly everyone display an inborn tendency to walk or run from the time they are born. The stepping reflex is manifested which makes a baby lift his legs and make stepping motions when he is carried up in the air or upright on top of a surface.
Moro/Startle - A few parents are concerned about babies jerking their bodies or crying in response to a loud and abrupt sound or movement. This is actually normal at certain stages in a newborn’s life.
Parents and caregivers will surely have an easier time understanding the babies they care for upon knowing these normal reflex actions they may observe.
