Neonatal Reflexes

Front 1

Babinski

Back 1

Stroking the sole of the foot results in the spreading out of the toes and the upward extension of the big toe

Front 2

Galant

Back 2

Stroking the neonate‘s back along the spine results in the trunk arching toward the side

Front 3

Moro

Back 3

Withdrawal of physical support (dropping, allowing the head to drop, change in position) sharp noise results in the arms extending outward and returning to midline

Front 4

Palmar Grasp

Back 4

Touching the palm causes the fingers to grasp the object

Front 5

Placing

Back 5

Stroking the top of the foot with an edge, such as a table edge, results in the raising of the foot and placing it on the edge

Front 6

Plantar Grasp

Back 6

Touching the balls of the foot result in inward flexion of the toes

Front 7

Pupillary

Back 7

Greater intensity light causes the pupil to become smaller, whereas lower intensity light causes the pupil to become larger. (Note: pupillary light reflex does not disappear by 6 months.)

Front 8

Rooting

Back 8

Stroking the cheek or corner of the mouth causes the head to turn toward the object and movements that look as if infant is searching for something to suck.

Front 9

Sucking

Back 9

Placing an object in the mouth elicits sucking

Front 10

Standing

Back 10

Holding the infant around the chest and bouncing it on the balls of its feel results in contractions of the legs so that the legs can support the infant‘s weight

Front 11

Walking

Back 11

Holding infant upright and allowing feet to touch surface elicits stepping movements.

Front 12

Swimming

Back 12

Infant will swim, head down and exhaling, from birth. This reflex disappears after several months. After this age, swimming is a learned behavior

Front 13

Tonic Neck

Back 13

Emerges several weeks after birth. When the infant‘s head and neck turn in a direction, the infant assumes a "fencing" posture on that side (neck stretched, leading arm outstretched, other arm up behind neck, leading leg pointed straight down)