Your Guide to the Newborn Reflex Test: Assessing Your Baby's Health and Development

As new parents, it’s important to understand the many ways in which your baby is developing and growing. One aspect of this development is the presence of newborn reflexes. Newborn reflex tests are a quick and simple way for healthcare providers to assess your baby’s overall development and ensure that they are on track. 

This article will explore newborn reflexes, how they are tested, and what the results can tell us about your baby’s development. Whether you are a first-time parent or adding another little one to your family, understanding newborn reflex tests can help to give you peace of mind and ensure that your baby is receiving the best care possible.

What are Newborn Reflexes

Reflexes are involuntary responses when a certain stimulus is applied to the body. Newborn reflexes are a key part of the normal development of your baby’s brain, and they will help them learn how to respond to their environment.

Types of Newborn Reflexes

Here are some examples of newborn reflexes:

• Rooting Reflex

The rooting reflex is one of the newborn reflexes you can expect to see in the first few days after birth. It occurs when your baby is placed on her stomach, and she turns her head to find a nipple or finger. Your baby will then begin sucking. This reflex helps your baby know how to latch onto a breast or bottle and start nursing.

• Moro Reflex

The Moro reflex is a newborn reflex that occurs when a baby is startled or falls. It’s a response to sudden movements or changes in position, and it’s one of the first signs of life in young babies.

In the Moro reflex, the infant will extend their arms and legs outwards while their head flops back and forth. This reflex can be seen in babies from around the third month of pregnancy until about three months after birth.

• Sucking Reflex

The sucking reflex is a simple way for your baby to get their first nutrients. It occurs in newborns when they are put to the breast and begin to drink milk. Parents also use this reflex to help their baby find the nipple when breastfeeding, although there are other ways.

• Grasping Reflex

The grasping reflex is a newborn’s natural reaction to touch.

It can be observed when you stroke your baby’s palm, and the fingers will close around your finger. The baby will also turn his or her head towards the stimulus (the hand).

• Tonic Neck Reflex

The tonic neck reflex is one of the most common newborn reflexes. It can be seen in babies as young as one day old. The baby’s head is bent back, and his or her legs go straight out. This reflex helps protect the child from injury by keeping the head straight and preventing it from falling backwards.

Learning Reflexes

Learning Reflexes are a set of skills critical for all children to develop, especially for children with learning disabilities.

Moreover, learning reflexes refer to automatic behaviours that occur when a person encounters a new stimulus. These behaviours can include blinking, sucking, grasping, or even screaming. These reflexes help us to focus on the new thing and determine what it is and how to interact with it.

• ATNR Reflex

Asymmetrical tonic neck reflex (ATNR) is a condition that occurs when the neck muscles become stiff and uncontrollable. This can happen in children, but it’s most common in adults.

The condition causes your head to tilt to one side. It’s usually triggered by a stimulus, such as loud noises or bright lights. The stiffness usually lasts for less than 10 seconds.

• STNR Reflex

Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex is a reflex that causes the body to flex and extend the arms, legs, and back in response to a stimulus on one side of the face or upper body.

What are Newborn Reflex Tests

Newborn reflex tests are simple test of a baby’s neurological system. These tests can help you identify potential problems with your baby’s nervous system and reveal the presence of certain issues.

How These Tests Are Done

Newborn reflex tests assess the development and functioning of a newborn baby’s nervous system. Some common newborn reflex tests include:

Rooting Reflex

This reflex is tested by gently stroking the cheek of the baby. The baby should respond by turning their head towards the stimulation and opening their mouth.

Moro Reflex

This reflex is also known as the startle reflex. It is tested by suddenly making a loud noise or by quickly moving the baby’s body. The baby should respond by throwing out their arms and legs and then bringing them back to the midline of their body.

Grasp Reflex

This reflex is tested by placing a finger or toy in the baby’s palm. The baby should respond by gripping the object tightly.

Step Reflex

This reflex is tested by holding the baby under their arms and gently moving their feet as if they are walking. The baby should respond by making stepping motions.

Tonic Neck Reflex

This reflex is tested by placing the baby on its back and turning its head to one side. The baby should respond by extending the arm and leg on the side that the head is turned towards and flexing the arm and leg on the opposite side.

A paediatrician or other medical professional typically performs these tests. However, it’s important to note that not all babies will exhibit all of these reflexes, and some babies may have different responses to certain stimuli.

Reflex tests are important because they help doctors assess a newborn’s neurological development. The reflexes that the doctor tests for are typically those that are very reliable indicators of brain health, so it’s easy for doctors to tell whether or not there is cause for concern.

Factors That Affect Newborn Reflex Tests

Newborn reflex tests are typically done to determine if a baby has suffered any brain damage. The tests are performed by gently stimulating specific areas of the baby’s body—the feet, palms, fingers, and face—and observing any reaction.

Several factors affect newborn reflex tests:

• Age: Reflexes begin to develop at birth and continue throughout infancy. Reflexes will be more pronounced in a newborn than in a six-month-old child.

• Circumstances: If a baby is extremely tired or hungry, it may not show many reflexes. The same goes for babies who are sick or underweight.

• Environment: A comfortable environment can help calm a baby, so they will be more likely to respond with reflexes during testing.

Tips for Conducting Newborn Reflex Tests

Here are some tips for parents when preparing their child for newborn reflex tests:

• Keep your baby calm and comfortable. It’s important to keep your baby calm and comfortable during the tests. You can do this by holding and comforting them, speaking to them in a soothing voice, and ensuring they are well-fed and dry before the tests are performed.
• Be patient. Newborn reflex tests can take a little time, so be patient and don’t worry if your baby doesn’t respond as expected to certain stimuli.
• Ask questions. If you have any questions about the tests or the results, don’t hesitate to ask the healthcare provider performing the tests.
• Be aware of what to expect. It can be helpful to familiarise yourself with the different types of reflex tests and what to expect during each one so that you can be prepared and relaxed.
• Talk to your doctor. If you have any concerns about your baby’s development or think that your baby might not be exhibiting certain reflexes, talk to your doctor. They can help you understand what is normal and what might indicate a problem.

Overall, it’s important to remember that newborn reflex tests are an important tool for assessing a baby’s development and functioning, and they are typically performed without any problems or complications. Being prepared and relaxed during the tests can help ensure that the process goes smoothly for you and your baby.

Possible Abnormalities in Newborn Reflex Test Results

Newborn reflexes are a normal part of development, and they help your baby develop coordination, balance, and motor skills. Reflexes are involuntary responses to stimuli without your baby having to think about them. For example, when you touch your newborn’s foot, the reflex kicks in and makes its foot jerk away from your touch. To test these reflexes, a paediatrician pokes or gently strokes parts of your baby’s body while sleeping.

Some abnormalities can occur during a newborn reflex test:

• Abnormalities in hearing (for example, if they don’t respond to loud sounds)
• There are abnormalities in vision (for example, if they don’t blink when touched near their eyes)
• Also, abnormalities in tactile sensation (for example, if they don’t close their hand around your finger when touched on their palm)

Here’s what you need to watch out for:

• Babies who don’t respond at all: This could indicate brain damage or a lack of oxygen at birth, which would require immediate medical attention. If your baby doesn’t respond after being touched on their foot, get them checked out by a doctor immediately!
• Babies who show only one-sided responses: If your baby only responds to touch on one side of their body, this could indicate an injury during birth or something else going on internally with your child’s nervous system. This can be serious and should be examined by a professional immediately!

Here at theAsianparent Singapore, it’s important for us to give information that is correct, significant, and timely. But this doesn’t serve as an alternative for medical advice or medical treatment. theAsianparent Singapore is not responsible for those that would choose to drink medicines based on information from our website. If you have any doubts, we recommend consulting your doctor for clearer information.