What type of reflexes are innate? What a newborn can do: unconditioned reflexes. Standing

Reflex –(from Latin reflexus - turned back, reflected), the body’s reaction caused by the central nervous system when receptors are irritated by agents of the internal or external environment; manifests itself in the emergence or change in the functional activity of organs and the body as a whole [“Great Soviet Encyclopedia”].

What abilities does a newborn have?

Set of unconditioned reflexes, facilitating adaptation to new living conditions:

reflexes that ensure the functioning of the main systems of the body (breathing, blood circulation, digestion, etc.), in particular the sucking reflex, reflexes of food and vestibular concentration (calming, inhibition of movements);

protective reflexes (for example, when touching the eyelids, the child closes his eyes, squints in bright light);

orientation reflexes (search reflex, turning the head towards the light source);

atavistic reflexes, i.e. those reflexes that gradually fade and disappear (for example, the grasping reflex, or the Robinson reflex; the spontaneous crawling reflex or the Bauer reflex; automatic gait, etc.).

The presence of unconditioned reflexes indicates the functional maturity of the newborn’s central nervous system, however, during the first year of life, most of them fade away.
There is a clear connection between brain maturation and the disappearance of most of these simple reflexes. The reason is that many of them are controlled by subcortical structures, primarily the midbrain, which develops in the fetus with great advance. The simplest reflexes gradually give way to more complex reflex reactions and conditioned reflex behavioral complexes, in which the cerebral cortex plays a decisive role

To date, more than seventeen congenital reflexes of newborns are known. It is difficult to say why nature “invented” so many innate reflexes, but young parents should not only be able to identify some of them in their baby, but also stimulate them. For what? Stimulation of innate reflexes, which is accompanied by active contact between the child and his parents, expands not only motor initiative, but also his ability to communicate with the environment, and this contributes to the development of the baby.

Let's consider basic reflexes of newborns:

Sucking reflex
The most important and most beloved by pediatricians. If the child does not have this reflex, then the prognosis is not very good. It is easy to determine the sucking reflex: when you touch the lips and tongue of a newborn or when you place the index finger of the examiner in the child’s mouth to a depth of 1-2 cm, the newborn makes rhythmic sucking movements.

The sucking reflex subsides by 12 months, this is one of the reasons why pediatricians recommend continuing breastfeeding until 1 year.

Psychologists note that an unrealized sucking reflex in children who are bottle-fed can subsequently lead to obsessive-compulsive neurosis: sucking a finger, a pen, a corner of a pillow, etc.

Searching (seeking) Kussmaul reflex
Stroking the corner of the newborn's mouth causes the lip to lower and the head to turn towards the stimulus. Pressing on the middle of the upper lip causes a reflex raising of the upper lip upward and extension of the head. When the middle of the lower lip is irritated, the lip drops and the child's head makes a flexion movement. The reflex lasts up to 3-4 months. It is important to pay attention to the symmetry of the reflex on both sides. Asymmetry of the reflex is observed when the facial nerve is damaged. When studying the search reflex, one should also note the intensity of the head turn and whether there are grasping movements with the lips.

The search reflex is the basis for the formation of many facial (expressive) movements: shaking the head, smiling. Watching the baby feed, you can notice that before he grabs the nipple, he makes a series of rocking movements with his head until he grabs the nipple tightly.

"Proboscis" reflex.
If you sharply touch the skin of a newborn at the nasolabial fold, the baby stretches out his lips with a “proboscis” and begins to turn his head in search of the nipple. By 3-4 months, the reflex fades away, with the exception of children with central nervous system damage.

Palm-oral reflex (Babkin reflex) – pressing on the palm area causes the mouth to open and the head to bend. The reflex is present normally in all newborns, and is more pronounced before feeding. Sluggishness of the reflex is observed with damage to the central nervous system (CNS). The rapid development of the reflex is a prognostically favorable sign in children who have suffered a birth injury. The palmar-oral reflex may be absent with peripheral paresis of the arm on the affected side. In the first 2 months of life, the reflex is pronounced, and then begins to weaken, and at the age of 3 months only some of its components can be noted.When the central nervous system is damaged in a child older than 2 months, the reflex does not tend to fade, but, on the contrary, intensifies and occurs even when the palms of passive hands are lightly touched.

Breath holding reflex
This reflex helps the baby safely cross the birth canal and avoid swallowing amniotic fluid. In the future, it can be used when teaching your baby to swim. However, it must be remembered that during the first full immersion in water, the duration of the reflex cessation of breathing is no more than 5-6 seconds. By six months, with regular exercise, you can bring it up to 25-30 seconds, and by a year – up to 40 seconds.

Attention! Staying a child under water for longer than the specified time can lead to serious and even irreversible consequences. Before you start teaching your baby to swim, consult with a specialist who will teach you how to do it correctly.

Swimming reflex
A child immersed in water increases the motor activity of his arms and legs, which is characteristic of him during sleep. This activity has nothing in common with real swimming movements, but the child can lie on the water for some time without support. A child can learn the complex coordinated movements required for any style of swimming no earlier than 2.5 - 3 years old. However, children whose swimming reflex is stimulated from birth grow physically stronger, more resistant to stress, get sick less, and subsequently love water and swimming. Even if for some time in their lives they do not have conditions for swimming, at the first opportunity they will regain their ability to float and quickly master the style that they will be taught. Their infant experience will help them with this.

Grasp reflex (Robinson reflex)
The grasp reflex is an increase in reinforcement of the general tone of the muscles of the palm, forearm, shoulder and all skeletal muscles. It can be so strong that a newborn, grasping the fingers of an adult, can be lifted: his grip supports the weight of the body.
Stroke your baby's palm or try to insert your index finger into his fist from the little finger side, and you will feel how tightly he squeezes it with his fingers. You can detect the grasping reflex if you put a toy in a child’s hand and then try to take it away from this little Hercules. The grasping reflex is strongly expressed in the first two months. If this reflex is not developed, it weakens by the third month, and disappears by six months.
Stimulation of this reflex accelerates the psychophysiological development of the infant. It was first purposefully used in the 70s by engineer Skripalev, which became the impetus for the creation of the famous Skripalevsky sports complex for infants, which today is the best and most reliable sports complex for children. The presence of a reflex after 4-5 months indicates damage to the nervous system.
The same grasping reflex can be evoked from the lower extremities. Pressure placing the thumb on the ball of the foot causes plantar flexion of the toes. If you apply a line irritation to the sole of the foot with your finger, then dorsiflexion of the foot and fan-shaped divergence of the toes occurs ( physiological Babinski reflex).

Plantar reflex (Babinski reflex)
This reflex movement is caused by irritation of the skin surface of the inner edge of the sole and is manifested by extension of the big toe and flexion of the remaining toes. This is combined with flexion of the legs at the knee and hip joints and increased contraction of the remaining muscles of the newborn’s body.

Crawling reflex (Bauer reflex)
In the position on the stomach, the baby pushes off with his legs from the palm placed on his soles and moves forward as if crawling. Stimulation of the “crawling” reflex strengthens the muscles of the back and abdomen; by the 2-3rd week, the baby already begins to hold his head well and lies on his stomach with pleasure. The reflex fades by 3-4 months.

The reflex is depressed or absent in children born with asphyxia, as well as with intracranial hemorrhages and spinal cord injuries. Attention should be paid to the asymmetry of the reflex. In diseases of the central nervous system, crawling movements persist for up to 6-12 months, like other unconditioned reflexes.

• "Stop" reflex. If the baby is pressed vertically to the chest and lightly slammed with the palm of his hand on his soles, an active motor reaction of extension and tension of the entire skeletal muscles occurs. The baby seems to stand at attention!
  Stimulation of this reflex develops skeletal muscles well, which prevents subsequent postural disorders. This exercise is good to do after feeding (provided that the baby is not sleeping) to release the air that has entered the stomach during sucking.
• Heel reflex (Arshavsky reflex)
  Caused by moderate pressure on the heel bone, which results in generalized extensor contraction activity, with a “crying” grimace and screaming. The reflex is well expressed only in physiologically mature newborns.

• Step reflex
  Hold your baby over the table so that he rests one leg on its surface. This leg will tighten, and the other, on the contrary, will fall on the table, as if the child was about to go. If you lift his toe off the surface of the table, he will tuck his foot as if he is about to stomp on the table. When stimulating the step reflex, be sure to end the exercises with breastfeeding. If the reflex is not stimulated, it disappears by two to three months.
  Experts have noticed that stimulation of the step reflex accelerates the overall physical and mental development of the baby. Such children begin to walk at 8-9 months, their fine motor skills are perfectly warmed up, they already speak in phrases of 3-4 words by the age of one year, and often have absolute pitch and the ability to speak languages.

Attention! Stimulation of the step reflex, as well as the “stop” reflex, is possible only in infants who do not have orthopedic abnormalities: hip dysplasia, dislocations and subluxations of the hip joints, congenital clubfoot.

Startle reflex (Moro reflex)
If you suddenly remove the hand supporting the child, he will instantly try to cling to something and, not finding support, will start screaming with a frightened face. An involuntary grasping movement when frightened is a baby’s protective reflex.
The startle reflex is especially noticeable during the first month of life and gradually disappears by 3-4 months. Anthropologists believe that this reflex, like the grasping reflex, are primitive forms of behavior that allow children to “attach” to their mother.
The reflex is also caused by various techniques: hitting the surface on which the child is lying at a distance of 15 cm from his head, raising the straightened legs and pelvis above the bed, sudden passive extension of the lower limbs. The newborn moves his arms to the sides and opens his fists - phase I of the Moro reflex. After a few seconds, the hands return to their original position - phase II of the Moro reflex.
The reflex is expressed immediately after birth, it can be observed during the manipulations of the obstetrician.
In children with intracranial trauma, the reflex may be absent in the first days of life. With hemiparesis, as well as with obstetric paresis of the arm, asymmetry of the Moro reflex is observed. With severe hypertension, there is an incomplete Moro reflex: the newborn only slightly withdraws his arms. In infants with damage to the central nervous system, the Moro reflex is delayed for a long time, has a low threshold, and often occurs spontaneously with anxiety or various manipulations.
In healthy children, the reflex is well expressed until the 4-5th month, then it begins to fade; after the 5th month, only individual components can be observed.

Galant reflex.

When the skin of the back is irritated paravertebrally along the spine, the newborn bends its back, forming an arch open towards the irritant. The leg on the corresponding side is often extended at the hip and knee joints. This reflex is well evoked from the 5th-6th day of life.
In children with damage to the nervous system, it may be weakened or completely absent during the 1st month of life. When the spinal cord is damaged, the reflex is absent for a long time.
The reflex is physiological until the 3-4th month of life; if the nervous system is damaged, this reaction can be observed in the second half of the year and later.

Reflexes of maintaining the correct position or protective reflex
Behavior aimed at survival is called posture reflexes. Such reflexes help the baby hold the torso, head, arms and legs in a position that is most convenient for breathing and normal development. If you place your baby face down, he will lift his head a little (just enough to come off the surface) and turn it to the side to allow air to enter his nose. If you cover a child's head with a diaper, he will first bite it, and then begin to vigorously turn his head from side to side and move his arms, trying to remove it from his face, so that nothing interferes with looking and breathing. In children with central nervous system damage, the protective reflex may be absent, and if the child's head is not passively turned to the side, he may suffocate. In children with cerebral palsy, with increased extensor tone, a prolonged raising of the head and even throwing it back is observed.

Gag reflex
During the period when the baby learns to suck and swallow, this reflex causes him to push any object out of the mouth (this protects the baby from shock). If you apply pressure to the back of your baby's throat, his lower jaw and tongue will push down and forward to free the throat. The gag reflex remains in a person for the rest of his life, but the tongue is involved only in the first 6 months. Now that we know about this reflex, it becomes clear why babies have difficulty swallowing solid food.

Resting neck reflex (fencing reflex)
When the baby is lying on his back, turn his head to the side, and you will see that he will move his arm and leg in the same direction, taking the pose of a fencer preparing to attack. This reflex both promotes and inhibits muscle development. On the one hand, thanks to this reflex, the child looks at his own hand and fixes his attention on the toy held in it. On the other hand, the reflex does not allow the baby’s head, hands and toy to be in the center. By 3-4 months, this reflex disappears, and the child begins to hold toys directly in front of him.

Withdrawal reflex
This reflex protects the child from pain. If you prick a baby’s leg (for a blood test during laboratory tests), he will pull it away to avoid pain, and at this time the other one will begin to push, as if pushing the offender away from him.

Information sources:

Child care from birth to 5 years. – M., 2008.

Local pediatrician. Help Guide/Ed. M. F. Rzyankina, V. P. Molochny. – M., 2008.

Shapovalenko I.V. Developmental psychology: Developmental and developmental psychology. – M., 2005.

A reflex is an unconscious reaction of the body in response to stimuli coming from the environment. They are divided into unconditional and conditional.

Unconditioned reflex- This is an innate response at the level of instinct to certain stimuli.

Conditioned reflex- this is a reaction of the body that is developed under the influence of certain conditions during the life of the baby.

Unconditioned reflexes fade away as the nervous system develops. They play the greatest role in babies during the newborn period and are an essential diagnostic sign of many disorders, primarily in the nervous and muscular system of the baby.

Reflexes in newborns:

The presence of correct congenital (unconditional) signals indicates normal and complete development of the fetus and a sufficient level of maturation of its nervous system.

All deviations from the norm indicate disorders in the nervous system and require consultation with a neurologist and monitoring of the child’s condition and development.
Such disorders may be temporary and result from adaptation disorders and fetal immaturity, even in the case of full-term pregnancy.

Reflexes in newborns manifest themselves with the participation of certain muscles and the impact of stimuli on them. Normal manifestation of the reflex is possible only with normal muscle strength and tension in combination with an undisturbed chain reaction from the stimulus to the response to it.

The deeper the baby's prematurity, the weaker the reflex reactions of his muscles.

Sucking, swallowing and searching reflexes:

Sucking and swallowing reflexes appear independently of each other and are the initial signs of maturity of the fetal nervous system. The correct formation of these reflexes ends by the 32nd week of pregnancy, which allows the newborn to be able to suck and swallow immediately after birth.

The most mature unconditioned reflex of a newborn is sucking. It can be caused by irritants that are not at all related to the feeding process. Lightly touching the baby's cheek, he immediately turns his head in your direction, protrudes his lips and begins to look for a pacifier or breast.

Search reflex indicates normal tension and strength of the neck muscles. But very quickly it disappears.

Moro reflex:

The Moro reflex (spinal) begins to appear in all full-term newborns. It is typical for babies under 1 month of age.

This reaction occurs in two stages:

1. By hitting the surface where the baby lies, at a distance of 15 cm from the head, or suddenly straightening the legs, he will spread his arms to the sides, while straightening his fists;

2. Returning the hands to the starting position after a few seconds.

The first phase of this reflex is caused by the child’s fear, the second by the desire to find protection from the mother.
This type of reflex manifests itself most strongly in the first 2 weeks of the baby’s life. Most often, its manifestation can be noticed during swaddling, changing clothes, and bathing.

This reflex in a child is a reaction to fear. Therefore, it is necessary to approach the baby very smoothly and carefully.
The absence or weak severity of such a reaction in newborns indicates very weak muscle tone or other disorders in the nervous system. It is also important to consider and control the symmetry of the manifestation of the Moro reaction.

Grasping reflex:

It occurs in two stages:

1. When you press your finger on the baby's palm or foot, he will squeeze his fingers;

2. The baby wraps his hand around the adult’s fingers so tightly that he can be lifted by the arms.

This reflex can last up to 4 months. In return, he should receive voluntary and conscious grasping of objects with children's hands.

Postural reflexes:

These reflexes last throughout the entire period of exposure to the stimulus. Observing these reflexes allows the doctor to assess whether the baby's motor development is proceeding normally. This category of reactions includes the following:

1. Support reflex;

2. Automatic walking;

3. Crawling reflex.

Crawl:

You need to lay the baby on his tummy and place your palm on his feet. The child will instinctively push away from it, and the extensor muscles of the lower limbs will alternately contract. The baby will begin to crawl.

Support and automatic walking reflex:

It is necessary to take the baby under the armpits and hold the head. The feet should be in full contact with the surface. A healthy child will strongly straighten his legs and rest his foot on the surface. When this happens, tilt the child slightly forward - he will take several small steps. In some cases, during this “walking”, children cross their legs in the area of ​​the lower leg and foot. This reaction is called automatic walking. It is important to evaluate the symmetry of such leg crossings and their strength.

Neck reflex:

Lay the baby on his back. Passively turn his head to the side. With this rotation, the limbs will automatically extend in one direction and bend in the other. Otherwise, such a reflex is called asymmetric cervical-tonic. The same reflex can be evoked by placing the child on his back, placing the palms of an adult's hands under the shoulder blades and bringing the head to the chest. When you bend your head, the arms will bend and the legs will straighten. When the head returns, the reactions of the legs will be the opposite.
This type of reflex does not appear in all newborns. It is seen most often in older infants.

In newborns, this reflex is often manifested by turning the body towards the head.

Galant reflex:

This reaction has been formed since the 27th week of pregnancy. The baby must be laid on his back and alternately run a finger from the tailbone to the neck on both sides of the spine. In response to this, the baby bends sideways in an arc that is open to the side of the stimulus. The severity of this reflex indicates the state of tone and work of the back muscles and their symmetry.

Paper's ocular reflex:

This reaction allows you to determine at a very early age whether your baby can see. It is necessary to direct the light of a small flashlight towards the child’s eyes. In response to this, the baby’s pupils will narrow, he will close his eyelids and throw his head back. If you bring your hand to the baby’s eyes at this time, no reaction will follow. This type of unconditioned reflex disappears very quickly as the organ of vision gets used to the light.

Doll eyes reflex:

Sometimes this reflex is called “running eyes”. Its essence is that when the baby's head turns sideways, the eyeballs move in the opposite direction. This reflex almost completely disappears before the tenth day of life, since the optic nerves develop and mature very quickly.

Kehrer reflex:

Refers to auditory reflexes. At a sharp sound, the child closes his eyelids tightly. If such a reaction is absent, then never consider this phenomenon as deafness in the baby. It is recommended to repeat such checks several times. Only after a long absence of reaction is it necessary to more carefully monitor the child’s condition.

Cross extension reflex:

It is necessary to place the baby on his back and gently straighten his leg at the knee. At the same time, run your finger along the sole. As a result of this impact, the child’s second leg will first bend at the knee, then straighten and touch the irritant with the foot - the adult’s finger.

This reflex manifests itself most strongly from the 34th to 36th week of pregnancy, but in some cases it can also be observed in premature babies from the 28th week of pregnancy.

It is important to check such a reflex on both sides for symmetry and compliance with the sequence of the reaction. Asymmetry, as a rule, indicates a disorder in the nervous system and musculoskeletal system (hip joint defects).

Perez reflex:

Indicates normal development of the neck muscles and their tone. It is determined this way: lift the baby to a vertical position and pay attention to the angle between the head and back. The smaller it is, the lower the tone of the neck muscles in a newborn. This reflex is especially noticeable in premature babies when their head tilts back strongly.
If a similar picture is observed in full-term babies, then this may indicate diseases that lead to weakness of the neck muscles. This condition is also often observed in children after taking painkillers or due to postpartum acidosis.

Increased tone of the neck muscles can be easily determined this way: lift the baby vertically by the arms. If he easily holds his head in this position like a 2-3 month old child, this is a signal of the presence of a certain pathology, which requires monitoring of the baby. The most common cause of this condition is hypoxia. From the first days of life, such children are prescribed a special set of exercises and a relaxing massage.

Plantar reflexes:

Such reflexes are physiological only in newborns and infants. In older children they indicate the presence of pathology.

Run your finger along the outer edge of the foot in the direction from the heel to the big toe. In this case, all fingers should bend towards the sole, except the thumb - it leans back. Very often the child withdraws his leg when exposed to a stimulus. This reaction is called the Babinski reflex.

Another version of this reflex: apply gentle and jerky blows to your toes from the side of the sole. In response to this, the fingers will bend. This reaction is otherwise called the Rossolimo reflex.

Both types of plantar reflexes have no diagnostic value in children of the first year of life.

Proboscis reflex:

It consists of protruding the child’s lips when an adult’s finger touches them. This reaction is explained by the contraction of the baby's mouth muscle - the sucking muscle. This reflex persists for 2-3 months, then disappears. If this reflex persists for up to six months, then you need to inform your pediatrician about it.

Regular checking of reflexes and monitoring the dynamics of their development are of important diagnostic importance. Often, deviations in reflexes are the earliest signs of diseases of the central nervous system.

Innate physiological reflexes

The main unconditioned reflexes of a newborn and infant are divided into two groups:

segmental motor automatisms

spinal – provided by segments of the spinal cord

oral - provided by segments of the brain stem

suprasegmental posotonic automatisms

myelencephalic postural reflexes – provided by the centers of the medulla oblongata

Segmental motor automatisms

Spinal motor automatisms

Newborn protective reflex

If a newborn is placed on his stomach, a reflexive turn of the head to the side occurs. This reflex is expressed from the first hours of life.

Support reflex and automatic gait of newborns

The newborn is not ready to stand, but he is capable of support reaction. If you hold a child vertically in weight, he bends his legs at all joints. The child, placed on a support, straightens his torso and stands on half-bent legs on a full foot. A positive support reaction of the lower extremities is a preparation for stepping movements. If the newborn is slightly tilted forward, he makes stepping movements (automatic gait of newborns).

The support reaction and automatic gait are physiological up to 1 - 1.5 months, then they are suppressed and physiological astasia-abasia develops. Only by the end of 1 year of life does the ability to stand and walk independently appear, which is considered as a conditioned reflex and for its implementation requires normal function of the cerebral cortex.

Crawling reflex (Bauer) and spontaneous crawling

The newborn is placed on his stomach (head in the midline). In this position, he makes crawling movements - spontaneous crawling. If you place your palm on the soles, the child reflexively pushes away from it with his legs and crawling intensifies. In the position on the side and on the back, these movements do not occur. There is no coordination of movements of the arms and legs. Crawling movements in newborns become pronounced on the 3rd - 4th day of life. The reflex is physiological until 4 months of life, then it fades away. Independent crawling is a precursor to future locomotor acts.

Grasp reflex

Appears in a newborn when pressure is applied to his palms. Sometimes a newborn clasps his fingers so tightly that he can be lifted up (Robinson reflex). This reflex is phylogenetically ancient. Newborn monkeys are held on the mother's hair by gripping their hands.

The reflex is physiological until 3 - 4 months; later, on the basis of the grasping reflex, voluntary grasping of an object is gradually formed.

The same grasping reflex can be evoked from the lower extremities. Pressing the ball of the foot with the thumb causes plantar flexion of the toes. If you apply a line irritation to the sole of the foot with your finger, then dorsiflexion of the foot and fan-shaped divergence of the toes occurs ( PHYSIOLOGICAL BABINSKI REFLEX ).

Galant reflex

When the skin of the back is irritated paravertebrally along the spine, the newborn bends its back, forming an arch open towards the irritant. The leg on the corresponding side is often extended at the hip and knee joints. This reflex is well evoked from the 5th - 6th day of life. The reflex is physiological until the 3rd - 4th month of life.

Perez reflex

If you run your fingers, lightly pressing, along the spinous processes of the spine from the tailbone to the neck, the child screams, raises his head, straightens his torso, and bends his upper and lower limbs. This reflex causes a negative emotional reaction in the newborn. The reflex is physiological until the 3rd - 4th month of life.

Moro reflex

It is caused by various techniques: a blow to the surface on which the child is lying, at a distance of 15 cm from his head, raising the straightened legs and pelvis above the bed, sudden passive extension of the lower extremities. The newborn moves his arms to the sides and opens his fists - phase 1 of the Moro reflex. After a few seconds, the hands return to their original position - phase II of the Moro reflex. The reflex is expressed immediately after birth, it can be observed during the manipulations of the obstetrician. In healthy children, the reflex is well expressed until the 4th - 5th month, then it begins to fade; after the 5th month, only individual components can be observed

Oral segmental automatisms include

Sucking reflex

When the index finger is inserted 3-4 cm into the mouth, the child makes rhythmic sucking movements. The reflex is observed within 1 year of life.

Search reflex (Kussmaul reflex)

When stroking the corner of the mouth, the lip lowers, the tongue deviates, and the head turns toward the stimulus. Pressing on the middle of the upper lip causes the mouth to open and the head to straighten. When you press on the middle of the lower lip, the lower jaw drops and the head bends. This reflex is especially pronounced 30 minutes before feeding. Pay attention to the symmetry of the reflex on both sides. The search reflex is observed for up to 3-4 months, then fades away.

Proboscis reflex

A quick tap on the lips with a finger causes the lips to stretch forward. This reflex lasts up to 2-3 months.

Palm-oral reflex (Babkin reflex)

When pressing with the thumb on the area of ​​the newborn's palm, closer to the thenar, the mouth opens and the head bends. The reflex is clearly pronounced in newborns. After 2 months it fades away by 3 months. disappears.

Suprasegmental posotonic automatisms Myelencephalic postural reflexes

Asymmetric cervical tonic reflex (Magnus-Klein)

If you turn the head of a newborn lying on his back so that the lower jaw is at shoulder level, then the limbs towards which the face is facing are extended and the opposite ones are flexed. The reaction of the upper extremities is more constant: the arm to which the face is turned straightens (the tone of the extensors of the shoulder, forearm, and hand increases - the “fencer” pose), and the flexor tone increases in the muscles of the arm to which the back of the head is turned.

Symmetrical tonic neck reflexes

When a newborn flexes the head, the muscle tone of the flexors of the upper limbs and extensors of the lower limbs increases; When the head is straightened, the muscle tone of the arm extensors and leg flexors increases. Asymmetrical and symmetrical neck reflexes are constantly observed in newborns.

Tonic labyrinthine reflex

In the supine position, the muscle tone of the extensors of the neck, back, and legs increases; under the influence of the same reflex, in the position on the stomach, the child assumes the position of an embryo (the head is brought to the chest or thrown back, the arms are bent and also brought to the chest, the hands are in fists, the legs are bent and brought to the stomach).

A newborn baby only seems like a helpless little lump; in fact, nature took care of him and provided him with a number of innate unconditioned reflexes designed to protect and protect him. What do these funny body reactions mean and why are they needed? Candidate of Medical Sciences Elena Borisovna Machneva explains.

What are reflexes?

Some reflexes fade very quickly, others persist for a longer period - and this is absolutely normal. It is important for parents to know the timing of the manifestation and extinction of unconditioned reflexes, but, in any case, the baby cannot do without regular examinations by a neurologist.

Pediatricians and neonatologists divide all unconditioned reflexes of a newborn into three main groups:

• Ensuring general normal functioning (respiratory, sucking, swallowing, as well as spinal reflexes);
• Aimed at protecting the child’s body from external influences of bright light, cold, heat and other irritants;
• “Temporary” reflexes - for example, the breath-holding reflex necessary for the mother to move along the birth canal.

The most important unconditioned reflexes of a baby are oral reflexes. They are the ones who allow the child to get his own food.

Sucking reflex appears immediately after birth - provided that the child is healthy. The baby wraps his lips around the nipple, finger, pacifier and sucks them rhythmically - this is approximately what the normal feeding process looks like from a physiological point of view. The sucking reflex begins to fade around the age of one year, and gradually disappears only by 1.5-3 years. Experts believe that in this way nature itself determined the optimal period for ending breastfeeding.

Proboscis reflex. As soon as you lightly touch the baby's lips, they comically protrude into a tube - just like a baby elephant's trunk - at this moment the orbicularis oris muscle involuntarily contracts.

Hand-mouth reflex- try to press your thumb on the baby’s palm - he will open his mouth.

Spinal reflexes- a set of reactions responsible for the state of the muscular system. These are motor reflexes regulated by the spinal cord. With their participation, our body takes different poses and moves in space.

Upper protective reflex. This reflex appears immediately after birth if the baby is healthy. If a newborn baby is placed on his stomach: the head immediately turns to the side, and the baby tries to lift it. This way the baby restores air access to the respiratory tract.

Search reflex- if you touch the corner of the baby’s mouth, he turns his head towards the stimulus.

Prehensile- put your finger in your baby’s hand, and he will clench his fist tightly, so much so that he can easily lift it!

Babinski reflex. The idea is that if you stroke the edges of the sole from the outside, the toes open up in the form of a fan, while the feet bend on the back side. The doctor evaluates the energy and symmetry of movements.

Reflex of support and automatic walking. This reflex prepares the baby for walking. Lower the baby's legs to the floor, and he will stand, leaning on his foot, and if you tilt him forward, he will begin to “step over with his legs.”

Crawling reflex. Place your baby on his tummy and touch his soles with your palms. He will immediately push off from the support and move forward.

Galant reflex. The idea is that if you run your finger along the baby’s spine from top to bottom, moving 1 cm away from it to the left, the baby will arch his back to the right and straighten his left leg, do the same on the right side - the baby will bend his back to the left and straighten his right leg. The doctor evaluates the symmetry of the reflex response.

Perez reflex. Place your baby on your tummy and run your finger along the spine, moving from the tailbone to the neck and lightly pressing on the vertebrae. In response, the baby will raise his head and pelvis, arch his back and bend his knees. At the same time, he may scream, urinate or poop. The reflex helps the doctor assess the functioning of the spinal cord.

Moro reflex. This is a protective reflex. You can check it in many ways, for example, drop a toy next to the child, sharply lift the lower half of his body by the legs, or slam the changing table on which the baby is lying. In response to this, the baby will first spread his arms to the sides, unclench his fists and straighten his bent legs. And after 2-3 seconds, the arms will either return to their original position, or the baby will hug himself with them. Stores up to 3-4 months. If your baby often spreads his arms for no apparent reason or his movements are asymmetrical, you need to pay attention to this.

Magnus-Klein reflex, or Asymmetric reflex. If you turn the baby's head to the right, he will straighten his right arm and right leg and bend his left arm and left leg - he will stand in the “fencing pose.” The reflex coordinates the work of the eyes and brain and contributes to the development of the vestibular apparatus.

Symmetrical reflex. Gently bend the baby's head so that the chin touches the chest: the arms will immediately bend and the legs will straighten. If you straighten the head, everything will be the other way around: the arms will straighten and the legs will bend. Prepare your baby for conscious crawling.

Labyrinthine tonic reflex. It is caused by a change in the position of the baby's head in space. In the “lying on the stomach” position, the baby’s head falls on the chest or is thrown back, the back is arched, the arms are pressed to the chest, the fingers are clenched into fists, the legs are bent at the knees and pressed to the stomach. After a few minutes, the child begins to perform swimming movements, which turn into spontaneous crawling.

To successfully survive in new conditions, nature has endowed infants with reflexes that help them adapt to internal and external environmental stimuli.

Many of them are present in a person’s life only during the first month of birth.

Varieties

Reflexes- the body's response to external stimuli.

They are extremely important for any person, and for babies in particular.

Unconditional (innate)

These physiological reflexes appeared during the process of evolution.

A small part disappears after a certain time after birth.

Conditional

These reactions are individual, indicated by the cerebral cortex. Their formation continues throughout life. One of the most important values ​​is a person's ability to adapt to a new environment.

IMPORTANT! At the beginning of his life, the baby has only unconditioned reflexes, some of which accompany him throughout his entire subsequent life.

Table by month

And from the video you will learn how to check most reactions:

Atavistic reflexes

Atavistic reflexes- unconditioned reflexes that disappear during the life of the baby as unnecessary. Most of these reactions only work the first time.

Examples atavistic reflexes:

• Robinson;
• Moro;
• holding your breath;
• walking.

These reactions of the body do not shape its further development, but only indicate the full functioning of the central nervous system. Even the Bauer reflex is not a source of further learning to crawl, since the baby moves with the help of arm movements, and not pushing. The reflexes of infancy have weight only in the animal world.

Tonic reflexes

Tonic reflexes- unconditioned reflexes that disappear from the baby’s life after. If they are observed further, then we can talk about the child’s cerebral palsy.

Examples tonic reflexes:

• Landau;
• symmetrical neck reflex;
• asymmetrical neck reflex.

How to check the presence of a reflex in a child yourself?

All reactions necessary for the harmonious development of the baby are checked by a pediatrician depending on the age of the baby. However, there are times when it is necessary to check the presence of a particular reflex yourself. This is quite easy to do if you know a clear algorithm of actions.

Moro reflex

Actions for an adult:

1. Place the baby on a flat, hard surface.
2. Hit the surface at a distance of 15 cm from the child’s head (or clap your hands loudly).

Response, normal reaction:

1. A sharp, symmetrical throwing of the arms to the side.
2. Unclenching your fists.
3. Frightening/crying of the baby, release of adrenaline into the blood or rapid heartbeat.

You can check for the presence of the Moro reflex using other methods. The reaction with handles will be identical.

1. Straighten and lift the child's legs together with the pelvis.

IMPORTANT! The reflex can be observed in everyday life. For example, when there is a sharp signal from a car, the TV suddenly turns on, or an object falls.

Sucking reflex

Adult actions:

1. Stroke the baby's cheek or lightly press on the lips.

Normal response:

1. Opening of the mouth and moving the tongue, as if he wants to suck.

After eating, the sucking reflex weakens, but after an hour it regains strength.

Grasp reflex

Adult actions:

1. Apply gentle pressure to the child's open palm.

Normal response:

1. Strong grasp of the offered object or finger of an adult.

Babinski reflex

Adult actions:

1. With pressure, move from the heel to the toes.

Response, normal reaction:

1. The thumb sticks out, the rest are slightly tucked in.
2. All fingers fan out.

IMPORTANT! Actions must be symmetrical.

Babkin reflex

Adult actions:

1. At the same time, apply gentle pressure to the child’s palms.

Normal child reaction:

1. Opening the mouth, possibly sticking out the tongue.

Proboscis reflex

Adult actions:

1. Place your finger on the baby's upper lip.

Normal response:

1. Pulls out the sponges, folding them into a “tube”.

The reflex is associated with contraction of facial muscles.

Bauer reflex

Adult actions:

1. Place the baby on his stomach.
2. Apply light pressure to your feet.

Normal response:

1. Performing a movement that simulates crawling.

Landau reflex

This reaction is two-phase. The first is the upper reflexes, the second is the lower ones.

To identify upper reflex is necessary:

1. Place the baby on his stomach so that his chest is outside the table.

Normal response:

1. Extension of the back, neck and arms back. Sometimes a baby can.

To identify lower reflex is necessary:

1. Place the child on a flat surface, depriving the legs and pelvis of support, or pick him up.

Responsiveness:

1. Arching the back.
2. Raising your legs towards you.

Perez reflex

Adult actions:

1. Run your finger along the spine (along the sharp edges) from the tailbone to the neck.

Normal response:

1. Crying or screaming.
2. Flexion of limbs.
3. Raising the head.
4. Torso extension.

The Perez reflex is perceived extremely negatively by the newborn.

Walking reflex (stepping)

Adult actions:

1. Take the baby in your arms and place it in an upright position.
2. Lean forward slightly.

Child's response:

1. Imitation of steps in an inclined direction.

Galant reflex

Adult actions:

1. Run your palm along the baby's back.

Responsiveness:

1. Back arching.
2. Straightening the leg on the side of the reaction.

Support reflex

Adult actions:

1. Place the baby upright so that the feet touch the support.

Responsiveness:

1. Straightening the torso.
2. Stable position (with support) on a support.

Robinson reflex

Adult actions:

1. Place your fingers in the baby's palm.
2. Receive a strong squeeze response.
3. Raise.
4. The baby should hang calmly on outstretched arms.

How to produce?

The main thing that is necessary when developing any reaction is regularity.

For example, a weak grasping reflex can be strengthened by placing various objects in the baby’s hand and hanging bright, eye-catching toys from the crib.

The crawling reflex is also not complex; you just need to stimulate it as described above.

On their own, parents are able to develop grasping, walking, crawling, sucking and other reflexes.

What to do if the reflex is weak or absent?

If reflexes are delayed or extremely weak, then the child may have damage to the central nervous system.

After birth, you should visit your pediatrician monthly, who can check for the presence of the necessary reactions and, if they are absent or weak, refer you to a neurologist for a more serious check.

IMPORTANT! In infancy, the main reflex is sucking, since thanks to it the baby’s body receives the food necessary for further growth and development. If the sucking reflex is weak or absent, feeding through a tube or intravenously may be prescribed.

Nothing can be done without consulting a specialist, since each case is unique.

Pay close attention to your newborn baby's behavior. Under no circumstances should you neglect regular visits to the pediatrician to monitor your health, because the situation can be pushed to the limit. Take care of your little one!

It will also be informative to find out the opinion of Dr. Komarovsky from the following video: