Newborn Reflexes

Watching a newborn’s tiny movements can feel like decoding a secret language. Many of those wiggles and reactions—like when your baby grabs your finger or startles at a sudden noise—are actually reflexes. These are automatic responses babies are born with, and they tell doctors that a baby’s nervous system is on track.

Newborn reflexes matter because they’re early signs of healthy brain and nerve development. For example, reflexes help babies feed, protect themselves, and connect with the world—even before they learn to control their bodies. Most disappear as your baby grows, but knowing which ones stick around, and which should fade, helps spot what’s normal and what deserves a closer look.

This guide breaks down each common newborn reflex, what you should expect to see, and when to check in with your pediatrician. Understanding these cues can help you feel more confident as you get to know your little one.

Understanding Newborn Reflexes

During those first days at home, you might notice your baby’s arms flail out when startled or their tiny hand curls automatically around your finger. These moments can seem mysterious, but they are actually normal signs of your baby’s body working just as it should. Newborn reflexes follow a natural timeline, and understanding them can give you real peace of mind as you get to know your baby.

What Are Primitive Reflexes?

Primitive reflexes are automatic responses that your baby’s body makes without conscious effort. Unlike voluntary movements (like reaching or crawling, which come much later), primitive reflexes are hardwired from birth. These reflexes start even before your baby is born and are triggered by simple actions or touches:

• Rooting Reflex: Stroking your baby’s cheek leads to their head turning toward the touch—helpful for feeding.
• Moro (Startle) Reflex: A sudden noise or movement causes the arms to fling out and then retract.
• Palmar Grasp Reflex: Placing your finger in your baby’s palm makes them grip it tightly.

These movements happen without your baby trying. Primitive reflexes kick in automatically to help your newborn navigate the world while their brain and muscles mature. As your baby grows, the brain begins to take control. The primitive reflexes fade away, replaced by purposeful, voluntary movements like smiling, grabbing a toy, or rolling over.

Photo by Vidal Balielo Jr.

Why Are Newborn Reflexes Important?

Newborn reflexes aren’t just fascinating—they’re critical for your baby’s wellbeing. Here’s why they’re so important:

• Survival: Reflexes like sucking and rooting help babies eat right from the start. The Moro reflex can protect them by prompting an instinctive cling or cry if startled.
• Brain Development: These innate reactions give pediatricians a window into your baby’s brain and nerve health. Routine checks at doctor visits look for reflexes to appear and fade at the right times.
• Early Warning Signs: The presence and timing of these reflexes matter. If a reflex doesn’t show up, or sticks around too long, it could point to problems with the nervous system or signal developmental delays.

During checkups, doctors pay close attention to these reflexes to help catch any early concerns. They’re like checkpoints along the road of your baby’s growth—signs that everything is moving forward as expected.

Understanding these normal reflexes can help you feel more confident, knowing these early responses are healthy signs of your newborn’s growing brain and body.

Common Newborn Reflexes and Their Timelines

Newborns may seem like they have a lot of random movements, but these tiny actions are actually meaningful and follow a clear schedule as babies grow. Each reflex has a special purpose, whether to help with feeding, protection, or getting ready for voluntary movement down the road. Understanding how long these reflexes usually stick around, and what each looks like, can give you a sense of what’s normal as your baby develops.

Rooting Reflex: Turning Toward to Feed

The rooting reflex shows up right from birth and is easy to spot. When you gently stroke your baby’s cheek or the corner of their mouth, they’ll turn their head in that direction and open their mouth wide as if searching for a nipple. This clever response is nature’s way of helping newborns find food—making breastfeeding or bottle feeding much easier in those early weeks.

• Role in feeding: It’s essential for babies who are learning to latch on during feeds. If your baby is hungry, this reflex is extra strong.
• Typical timeline: The rooting reflex is strongest in the first days and weeks, slowly fading by around 4 months as babies start to feed more consciously.

Sucking Reflex: Nature’s Way of Helping Babies Eat

Not long after the rooting reflex is triggered, the sucking reflex comes into play. Babies actually start to practice this ability in the womb, around 32 to 36 weeks gestation. That’s why a full-term newborn usually knows how to suck right away.

• Importance: This rhythmic motion helps ensure babies can draw out milk for proper nutrition. Coordinating sucking with breathing and swallowing is hard work—but babies do it naturally.
• Timeline: The sucking reflex remains prominent throughout early infancy, helping with feeds until babies learn to control their mouth and tongue movements on their own.

Photo by RDNE Stock project

Moro (Startle) Reflex: The Classic “Arms Out” Reaction

The Moro reflex might catch you off guard the first time you see it. If your baby is suddenly startled—by a loud sound, a sudden movement, or a change in position—they’ll throw out their arms, open their hands, and sometimes cry. After that, they pull their arms back in, often as if they’re giving themselves a hug.

• What triggers it: This reflex can be set off by almost any sudden change. Even gently lowering your baby’s head can bring it on.
• Lifespan: The Moro reflex is usually strongest in the first month and fades away by about 2 months of age.

Tonic Neck (Fencing) Reflex: The “Fencer’s Pose”

Also called the fencing position, the tonic neck reflex happens when your baby’s head turns to one side. The arm on that side stretches out, while the opposite arm bends at the elbow, like a tiny fencer preparing for a duel.

• Why it matters: This reflex is thought to help with hand-eye coordination and future reaching movements.
• Timeline: You’ll notice it between birth and about 5-7 months, as the brain develops and voluntary control takes over.

Grasp Reflex (Palmar and Plantar): Tiny Hands and Toes that Cling

Babies are born with a strong desire to cling. The palmar grasp reflex happens when you place a finger or object into your baby’s palm—their fingers close tightly around it. The plantar grasp reflex is similar, but happens when you gently press on the sole of the foot, causing the toes to curl inward.

• What triggers them: For the hand, touch the inside of the palm. For the foot, press the base of the toes.
• How long they last: The palmar (hand) grasp fades by 3-4 months. The plantar (foot) grasp sticks around a bit longer, usually disappearing by 9-12 months.

Stepping (Walking/Dance) Reflex: Practice for the Real Thing

Place your newborn upright with their feet touching a flat surface, and watch the magic happen—the stepping reflex kicks in. Your baby will make walking motions, lifting one foot after the other as if taking steps.

• Purpose: While babies can’t walk for many months, this reflex is a sign the nerves and muscles are working together as they should.
• Duration: It’s fleeting—usually gone by 2 months old, long before babies walk on their own.

Each reflex is part of your baby’s unique growth story. Seeing them come and go as expected means your child’s nervous system is working well—and gives you some pretty adorable moments along the way.

What Is Normal? Recognizing Healthy Reflex Patterns

When babies are born, their little bodies already come with built-in skills. These newborn reflexes show that the brain and nerves are wired up and working as they should. Knowing what’s typical helps parents feel sure and reassured as they watch their child grow and change. Healthy reflexes appear, get stronger, then fade away on a predictable schedule. Of course, not every baby’s movements will look the same every day—and that’s normal too.

Expected Presence and Disappearance of Reflexes: Typical Ages At a Glance

If you’re wondering when to expect certain reflexes to show up or fade out, you’re not alone. Most parents like to keep tabs on milestones. Here’s a handy timeline, so you know what’s common and when changes usually happen.

Photo by Mikhail Maslov

Reflex	Age of Appearance	Age It Disappears (Integrates)
Rooting	Birth	4 months
Sucking	Starts in womb (32–36 weeks)	Fades by 4–6 months
Moro (Startle)	Birth	2 months
Palmar Grasp	Birth	5–6 months
Plantar Grasp	Birth	9–12 months
Tonic Neck	Birth	5–7 months
Stepping	Birth	2 months
Babinski	Birth	12–24 months (big toe flexes up)

These time frames are averages. Healthy babies might show slightly earlier or later integration. What matters most is seeing steady, smooth changes—the reflex should fade as your child starts to control their movements on purpose.

Variations in Normal Reflexes

It’s easy to worry when a reflex looks different from what you expect, but not every variation means a problem. Mild differences can happen between babies—just like differences in hair color or sleeping patterns.

• Reflex strength can vary. Some babies have a strong, obvious startle (Moro) reflex, while others react more gently. Hunger, sleepiness, and even recent feedings can make reflexes more or less noticeable in the moment.
• Symmetry matters. Reflexes should look about the same on both sides of the body. If you put a finger in either palm, both hands should grip. If one side seems weaker, chat with your doctor.

Premature babies add another layer of variation. Preterm infants may show:

• Weaker reflexes. Reflexes like the Moro and grasp might be less dramatic because their muscle tone isn’t fully developed.
• Later appearance and longer persistence. Since their nervous systems are still maturing, reflexes can both appear later and stick around longer than in full-term infants.

Other factors that influence how a reflex looks include:

• Recent feeding (a full stomach can make rooting and sucking less obvious)
• Sleep state (some reflexes fade during deep sleep)
• Individual temperament

It’s natural to compare, but what’s most important is whether reflexes are present when expected and disappear as your baby grows. If you ever feel unsure, your pediatrician is always there to answer questions and help track your baby’s progress.

When to Be Concerned: Abnormal Reflex Signs

Newborn reflexes are the body’s built-in safety features—when they appear and fade on schedule, it’s a big comfort to parents and doctors. Still, certain patterns can raise a red flag. Watching for abnormal signs helps catch potential problems early, long before they show up in other ways. Here’s what to know about which reflex changes can point to something more serious.

Red Flags to Watch For

Not all reflexes will look the same day after day, but certain signs should catch your attention. Pediatricians look out for these abnormalities because they can signal an issue with your baby’s brain, nerves, or muscles.

Keep an eye out for:

• Absent reflexes: If a reflex is completely missing when it should be present (for example, no Moro reflex at birth), it can point to a problem with the brain or spinal cord.
• Non-symmetrical responses: Reflexes should look similar on both sides of your baby’s body. If only one arm flinches with the Moro (startle) reflex, or one hand grips tighter than the other, it could signal nerve or muscle injury.
• Strong, persistent reflexes beyond the normal age: If your baby’s reflexes stick around much longer than expected (such as a Moro reflex after 4–6 months), this might suggest a problem with how their nerves and muscles are maturing.
• Weak or sluggish reflexes: Reflexes that are very faint, slow, or inconsistent may show low muscle tone, especially in “floppy” babies who seem limp when picked up.
• Reflexes that seem “locked in”: For example, a tonic neck reflex (the fencing pose) that doesn’t fade when your baby turns their head back or lasts past 6–7 months is unusual.
• No response to common triggers: Stroking your baby’s cheek or placing a finger in their hand should reliably bring out the rooting or grasp reflex. If this stops happening, it should be checked.
• Jerking, twitching, or stiff movements outside normal reflexes: Uncontrolled shakes, severe or repeated jerks, or unusual posturing that doesn’t match typical reflexes can signal a concern like seizures or neurological issues.
• Persistent abnormal Babinski reflex: The Babinski response (toes fan out and the big toe points up when the foot is stroked) should fade by toddlerhood—if it sticks around, it’s a sign to get checked.

These signs are important because reflexes are windows into your baby’s nervous system health. Abnormal patterns may signal brain injury, nerve damage, early cerebral palsy, or genetic and metabolic disorders.

When to Contact Your Pediatrician

All babies have occasional quirks or off days—but certain reflex changes always deserve a call to your doctor. Trust your instincts if something feels “off.” Pediatricians want to know if you spot any of the following:

• Your baby has no reflex at all where one should exist.
• Reflexes look different on each side of the body and persistently so.
• There are jerks, stiffening, or twitching outside of normal baby “startles.”
• Reflexes that are still very noticeable long after the age they should fade.
• Your baby seems unusually floppy or stiff, or shows trouble moving arms or legs.

Don’t worry about overreacting—doctors would rather see a healthy baby for peace of mind than miss a subtle problem.

What happens at a doctor’s visit?

When you bring these concerns to your pediatrician, expect:

1. A detailed history: Questions about when you first noticed the issue, how often it happens, what seems to trigger it, and whether your baby acts differently otherwise.
2. A hands-on exam: Your pediatrician will check each reflex, compare both sides of the body, and watch how your baby moves and responds.
3. Possible follow-up tests: If anything doesn’t look right, your child may be referred for further evaluation—sometimes including imaging, lab tests, or a visit to a neurologist.

Timely action makes a big difference. Most causes of abnormal reflexes can be managed or supported, especially when caught early. If you’re ever unsure, reach out—getting answers early helps your baby reach their best potential.

Supporting Healthy Neurological Development in Infants

A baby’s brain is in overdrive right from day one, forming millions of connections every second. The reflexes you see—holding your finger, turning toward a gentle touch—show the nervous system is growing strong. Parents and caregivers play a big part in shaping this growth. Every cuddle, playful moment, and check-up acts as a building block. With a few simple habits, you can help foster both physical and mental development, giving your child a healthy head start.

Tips for Observing and Encouraging Reflex Development: Simple strategies for interacting with and supporting newborns’ physical and neurological development

Photo by Polina Tankilevitch

You don’t need fancy toys or special skills to nurture your baby’s development. Most babies learn best in safe, loving environments with caregivers who pay attention, talk, and help them explore. Here are ways you can help support reflexes and early brain growth:

• Face-to-face play: Make eye contact, smile, and mimic your baby’s movements. Simple games and responding to their sounds help babies feel safe and encourage brain connections.
• Talk, sing, and read: Chat about whatever you’re doing, sing lullabies, or read picture books—even if they’re tiny. This helps build language and hearing pathways.
• Gentle touch and tummy time: Regularly give your baby gentle massages and supervised tummy time. This helps reflexes integrate and encourages muscle strength, head control, and sensory learning.
• Offer new textures and toys: Let your baby grab soft toys, crinkly fabrics, or rattles. Exploring different shapes and materials sharpens touch and grip reflexes.
• Repeat and encourage: Babies learn through hearing and seeing the same things many times. Celebrate their new tricks, no matter how small—repetition boosts their confidence and neural growth.
• Respond quickly to needs: Consistent, loving attention lowers stress. When you comfort a fussy baby or cuddle after a nap, you’re helping build emotional security, which aids brain development.
• Create routines: Predictable patterns for sleeping, feeding, and playing help babies feel secure and teach them what comes next.

By spending time in these everyday activities, you’re helping your baby’s reflexes settle on a normal timetable—and giving them a strong foundation for rolling, sitting, and more.

Importance of Regular Pediatric Visits: Reinforce the importance of routine check-ups for monitoring reflexes and overall growth

Routine pediatric visits mean a lot more than getting weighed. Those regular check-ups act as important checkpoints in your baby’s journey. At every visit, your pediatrician checks reflexes, measures growth, and asks about new skills or concerns.

Why are these visits so important?

• Track milestones: Pediatricians monitor how and when your baby’s reflexes appear and disappear. This helps catch anything out of the ordinary right away.
• Spot developmental changes early: From muscle tone to movement and response, these visits help spot issues before they become bigger problems.
• Provide timely vaccines: Regular visits help keep vaccines on track, protecting babies from several preventable illnesses.
• Support and advice: Well-baby visits are a chance to ask questions about feeding, sleep, or development. You’ll get information tailored to your child’s exact age and stage.
• Build a partnership: Seeing the same doctor regularly helps build a trusting relationship, so both you and your child feel comfortable as new questions or milestones arise.

Most pediatricians follow a schedule for check-ups—with visits in the first week, then at 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, and 12 months, and beyond. Making every visit is one of the easiest, most reliable ways to track healthy growth and give your baby the best chance at a healthy start.

Conclusion

Watching for newborn reflexes gives peace of mind as your baby grows. Most reflexes, like grasping, rooting, and the startle response, appear and fade on a clear timeline. When these reflexes show up on both sides of the body and disappear on schedule, it’s a positive sign your baby’s brain and nerves are healthy.

If a reflex sticks around much longer than expected, is suddenly missing, or only happens on one side, it’s smart to talk with your pediatrician. Trust your observations and share any concerns, no matter how small they seem. Early conversations mean your child gets any extra support they might need right away.

Every baby is unique, but clear communication with your healthcare provider makes all the difference. Thank you for reading and for being a caring, attentive parent. Have you noticed a reflex in your own baby that surprised you? Share your story in the comments, and check back soon for more guides on your child’s development.