Babies Growth & Development Testing Your Newborn's Reflexes By Stephanie Brown Stephanie Brown Stephanie Brown is a parenting writer with experience in the Head Start program and in NAEYC accredited child care centers. Learn about our editorial process Medically reviewed by Sarah Rahal, MD Medically reviewed by Sarah Rahal, MD on November 07, 2019 LinkedIn Sarah Rahal, MD is a double board-certified adult and pediatric neurologist and headache medicine specialist. Learn about our Medical Review Board on November 07, 2019 Print Newborn reflexes in the first moments and even months of life form the building blocks of future development. Movement that starts out as a reflex soon turns into purposeful, cognitive and physical activity. Your health care provider will test your newborn for these reflexes soon after birth and again at your first check-ups. You can test these reflexes yourself as well. 1 Sucking Reflex Baby's sucking reflex. JGI/Jamie Grill / Getty Images If you touch the roof of your baby’s mouth with your finger, a pacifier or a nipple, he will instinctively begin sucking. Around 2 to 3 months of age, your baby’s sucking will be a result of conscious effort and no longer a reflex. 2 Rooting Reflex Emma Kim / Getty Images If you stroke your newborn’s cheek, he will open his mouth and turn his head toward the side that was stroked a seek out your nipple or other sources of food. After about 4 months, this reflex disappears, but can last longer (especially when your baby is sleeping). How to Know When Your Baby Is Hungry 3 Grasp Reflex Pete Ark / Getty Images If you place your finger or other slim objects in your baby’s palm, his fingers will grasp the object tightly—this is more specifically known as the palmar reflex. This reflex is also present in the feet causing the toes to curl, known as the plantar reflex.. It can be tested by lightly touching your baby’s feet or toes. The palmar reflex only lasts until your child is about 6 months old. The plantar reflex can last until 9-12 months. 4 Stepping Reflex Marc Romanelli / Getty Images If you carefully support your baby underneath his arms, lean him slightly forward and lower his feet onto a hard, flat surface, he will make a walking motion. This reflex lasts about 2 months. 5 Startle Reflex Fancy/Veer/Corbis / Getty Images If your baby gets a sense of falling or hears a loud noise like a dog barking or door shutting, he will extend his arms and legs, open his fingers and arch his back. Then he will clench his fists and pull his arms to his chest. Your baby may also cry. This reflex (also called the Moro reflex) lasts until 3-6 months of age. 6 Fencing Reflex Sally Anscombe / Getty Images The reflex is elicited while a child is lying on his back by turning the head to one side, say right. The reflex occurs whereby the right side limbs will extend straight, and the left side limbs will flex. And vice versa when the head is turned to the left side. This reflex can be present up to about 6 months of age or about the time your baby begins rolling over (back-to-stomach) competently and regularly. How Tummy Time Helps Babies Learn to Roll Over Developmental Milestones in Childhood Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Track your baby’s most exciting moments with our milestone checklist. Get it free when you sign up for our newsletter. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 1 Source Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. American Academy of Pediatrics. Newborn Reflexes. Updated August 1, 2009.