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Be on the look-out and enjoy the baby’s primitive reflexes.
These spontaneous reflexes happen automatically and are part and parcel of the baby’s instinctive will to survive!
These primitive reflexes are developed in the uterus (a natural wonder!) ensuring that by the time infants take their first breath of air and scream, their set of reflexes kick in.
Let’s take a closer look at this set of primitive reflexes, shall we?
Sucking and Rooting reflexes
Sucking reflexes can be observed when the area around the baby’s mouth is touched and causes an instinctive reaction to drink.
The Moro reflex is triggered when the baby is startled. The response sees them stiffen their necks and straightening their legs.
Test this reflex sensibly as follows:
Support your baby by placing the fingers of your one hand under the neck, while taking a firm hold of your baby’s back and buttocks with your other hand.
Then, suddenly but gently, lower your baby’s back slightly. And hey presto – the Moro reflex!
This involuntary reflex is part of your baby’s set of survival instincts.
The Walking (or Stepping) reflex
Support your baby under their armpits while keeping them in an upright position. Note their natural tendency to step forward as if they are walking – magic!
This is your baby’s preparation process for walking.
The Grasp reflex
Place your finger in your baby's palm and note how firmly they grip your finger.
Alternatively, stroke the sole of your baby's foot to notice how the toes of that foot curl up.
Your baby is preparing to voluntarily grasp objects.
Asymmetrical tonic neck reflex
While your baby is lying on their back, gently turn their head to the left. Note how their left arm shoots out while simultaneously raising their right arm to their head in roughly a L-formation.
Now, gently turn their head to the right. Note how their right arm shoots out while simultaneously raising their left arm to their head in roughly a L-formation – magic!
Your baby is discovering the use of their hands signalling the start of their hand-eye coordination!
The Righting reflex
Lightly drop a blanket or cloth over your baby’s face and note how they instinctively shake their head from side to side, and swing their arms about until the blanket falls off. This response is the righting reflex.
The righting reflex can also be seen should you place your baby in an upright position and then nudge them gently to one side. Note how they automatically stick out a hand to prevent themselves from toppling over.
The Tongue thrust reflex
When an object, for example a teaspoon, touches your baby’s mouth, the tongue will automatically be thrust forward towards the spoon.
This Tongue thrust reflex serves two purposes: firstly, to assist with breast and bottle feeding, and secondly, to protect your baby against choking.
The afore mentioned reflexes are but a few examples of the set of primitive reflexes that your baby has been equipped with.
These reflexes are controlled by their brain and disappear once the baby is between 6 to 7-months old to be integrated in more complicated and acquired patterns of movement.
More about that later!
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