Child Reflex

A reflex is a simple, involuntary, or automatic action that the human body does in response to certain types of stimulation without you even having to think about it. Every healthy person has many different types of reflexes, most of which we are born with. From the beginning newborns automatically know how to root for the breast for feeding or grasp a finger. Reflexes are the most complex motor activities that neonates demonstrate. Infants have dozens of reflexes there are three sets critical to survival. Reflexes that maintain oxygen (breathing, hiccups, sneezes, thrashing), reflexes that maintain body temperature (cry, shiver, tuck in legs, and push away blankets), and reflexes that manages feeding (sucking, rooting, swallowing, crying, …show more content…
I obtained permission from Claire’s parents to conduct my testing of reflexes to draw conclusions on her development. The first reflex I tested on Claire was her rooting reflex, which is essential to survival. To test this reflex I stroked Claire’s cheek with go no response so I then stroked the corner of her mouth, Claire immediately opened her mouth and turned her head towards where I had touched the side of her mouth. The purpose of this reflex is to assist the baby with finding the mother’s nipple in order to breastfeed. This reflex is also known as the sucking reflex, which appears at birth and grows stronger in the days following birth, if not stimulated this reflex can be lost. Until around three or four months babies will suck on anything in sight, this involuntary sucking is then replaced by voluntary …show more content…
To test this reflex I pressed my index finger against Claire’s palm, she responded immediately by making a fist and grabbing my thumb.An additional way to test the palmar reflex is to press a toy or another object into the baby’s palm, Claire grasped for the toy pressed against her palm instantly. The grasping reflex lays the groundwork for voluntary grasping that develops, as the baby grows older. This reflex is present at birth and typically lasts until the baby is three to four months old, this involuntary grasping usually is replaced by voluntary grasping around age five to six months