In class we talked about several of the infant reflexes that are most common. Most of these reflexes serve as a function in the development of the infant. The definition of a reflex is an innate, automatic response to stimulation (lecture, 9/24/03). The text for the class lists 10 newborn reflexes, 9 of which I will explain in detail. I tested most of the reflexes on my cousin’s baby but I did not use all of them.

The eye blink reflex occurs when a bright light or a loud clap is directly near or at a baby’s face. The infant will quickly close its eyelids in response. This reflex is a permanent occurr

The stepping reflex prepares the infant for walking on its own. The infant will make stepping motions if it is held under the arms with the bare feet touching the surface of a solid surface (lecture, 9/24/03). When I tested for this reflex I made an error and forgot to allow the infant to use bare feet to step. As a result he would not perform any stepping motions at all. I have not yet had the time to retest this reflex properly but I believe he would step if he was bare footed. The sense of touch must play a part in stimulating this response. The age of disappearance for this reflex varies based on weight. Infants that are heavier in the thigh and leg area may lose the reflex around 2 months but lighter infants may sustain the reflex longer. One interesting fact is that infants who lost the stepping reflex will perform the reflex again if dipped in water because the buoyancy of the water makes it easier for the baby to step (Berk, p. 101).

The final response is the Babinski reflex which has an unknown function but may occur because the nerves in the foot may become stimulated (lecture, 9/24/03). The Babinski reflex occurs when the sole of the foot is stroked from the toes toward the heel. The following response is the toes fanning out and curling as the foot twist in (Berk, p. 101). This response is one of the few which the purpose or function is unknown. Maybe it is a type of grabbing action by the feet. Other primates use their feet all the time and maybe at one time we used our feet more often; therefore, our feet needed to be developed in a certain way. I did not test the Babinski on the baby but I have seen it done before. The reflex usually last until 8-12 months of age (Berk, p. 101).

The swimming reflex I did not try on the baby. This reflex is stimulated when you put an infant face down towards water and the infant will paddle and kick in a swimming motion. This will help the infant to survive if it is dropped into water (Berk, p. 101). The swimming reflex lasts around 4 to 6 months. In one other class I took a couple years ago we talked about this swimming reflex and how it was related to our environment in the uterus. We were all once submerged in fluid until birth and that experience in the womb plays a part in an infant’s response to being placed in water. I also heard that we are all capable of breathing underwater shortly after birth. Maybe a new infant would try to breathe water if it was submerged un

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