Baby reflexes – feeding reflexes and more

The rooting and Sucking Reflexes and primitive reflexes for first 6 weeks of life

The rooting reflex is when you touch the side of the baby mouth and the baby will turn their head and open their mouth as if searching for breast for feeding (Blythe). The rooting response will lead to the sucking response, which in the first few weeks can be stimulated by touching the nasal fold just above the upper lip. This is part of the primitive reflexes which are reflexes put in place by the body for survival.
Primitive reflexes are there from 0 to 6 months and the postural reflexes are there from 0 to 3 and half years. During this time any movements, sounds and touch makes the babies brain, where neurons are formed and memory are stored. Some of these memories can stay there for their rest of their lives.
The other main two reflexes which are part of the primitive reflexes group are called the Moro reflex, which stays up to 6 weeks of age and the Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex (TLR), which stays longer.
The Moro reflex helps:
• Changing position (even in the embryo)
• Fight and flight response (stress/danger response)
• To alert, arouse and summon assistance
This reflex can be activated by
• Sudden change of head or body position (balance or gravity change of position, that is one of the reasons you always hold the head of the baby for the first few weeks and months so that they do not startle.
• Sudden change of light (visual) and noise (auditory)
• Sudden change of temperature or pain (tactile)
• Smoke (olfactory)
The above reflex is also involved in reflexes that stimulates the development of the baby, by training the Postural Control and Sensory Integration Through movement:
Vestibular stimulation (balance) is stimulated by:
• Gentle rocking movements
• Swinging, cradle, rocking chairs, mothers movements when feeding
• Being pushed in the pram (horizontally, being carried, being pushed in a buggy and riding in the car.
The above movements soothe the baby to sleep as well helping his/her balance.
The TLR function is the following
• Primitive reaction to alteration of head position through mid-plane (in the middle)
• Helps the extensor muscle tone (by helping to straighten the baby out from the curled-up foetal position adopted inside the womb)
• Interacts with other reflexes and reactions for up to 3 and half years of life to help with the head control, balance, postural stability and more.
• This reflex is important for the head being held up and neck muscles tone development starting from 6 weeks of age onwards (remember not every baby develop at the same time so might take more). The baby from now on learns to hold his/her head position on the body and then walk on his feet and balance well. All this happens up to 3 and half years of age.

more about reflexes at the next issue
Dr Suzanne Zeedyk (2015). Attachment, shadows from infancy. The Fulcrum (2015). Issue 64. Pg- 18-22.

Blythe S.G (2004) The Well Balanced Child. Hawthorn Press, Gloucesteshire

Upledger J.E (1996) A brain is born. North Atlantic Books, California.