Newborns arrive with a surprising little toolkit. They can’t hold a toy yet or tell you what they need, but their bodies already know how to respond to the world around them. Here are a few you’ll likely spot.
Rooting reflex
Touch your baby’s cheek and they will turn toward it with their mouth open, ready to feed. It is one of the ways babies find the breast or bottle in those early days.
Sucking reflex
Place a nipple or pacifier in their mouth and they begin to suck right away. Babies start practicing this before birth, which is why many seem to know exactly what to do when feeding begins.
Moro reflex (startle reflex)
You might notice this during sleep. Suddenly their arms stretch out, then curl back in, sometimes with a startled look. It often happens with a loud sound or a feeling of dropping. Completely normal, and a big reason swaddling can help babies rest more easily.
Palmar grasp reflex
Rest your finger in your baby’s palm and watch that tiny hand wrap around it. The grip can feel surprisingly strong. It is automatic for now, but before long those hands will start reaching for things on purpose.
Stepping reflex
When supported upright, some babies make little stepping motions with their feet. It may look like an early attempt at walking, but it is simply a reflex and fades within the first couple of months.
Tonic neck reflex
At times, when your baby turns their head to one side, their body seems to follow, one arm stretches out while the other bends. It can make them look briefly like a miniature fencer. Strange at first glance, but entirely typical.
Babinski reflex
Stroke the sole of your baby’s foot and their toes may fan outward. It often surprises parents the first time. Like many reflexes, it changes as your baby grows.
