Newborn reflexes by age
Babies are born with a set of involuntary reflexes that mostly fade in the first year. Pick an age to see which are still active, fading, or already gone.
Reflex status by age
Choose your baby's age. Each card shows whether a reflex is still active, fading, or has already faded.
Moro (startle)
ActiveA sudden movement, loud noise, or feeling of falling makes baby fling their arms out, then curl them back in.
When you'll see it: When you set baby down too quickly, hear a loud noise nearby, or change positions abruptly.
Birth → 3–6 mo
Rooting
ActiveStroke baby's cheek and they turn their head toward your hand with mouth open, looking to feed.
When you'll see it: Right before a feed when baby brushes against your chest or your hand.
Birth → 3–4 mo
Sucking
FadingAnything that touches the roof of the mouth triggers rhythmic sucking. Becomes voluntary by 2 to 4 months.
When you'll see it: On a finger, pacifier, breast, or bottle nipple. Automatic in newborns.
Birth → 2–4 mo
Palmar grasp
ActivePlace a finger in baby's palm and they close their fist around it tightly.
When you'll see it: Anytime you offer a finger or small object to the inside of baby's hand.
Birth → 4–6 mo
Plantar grasp
ActivePress the ball of baby's foot and the toes curl down as if to grip.
When you'll see it: When you touch the bottom of baby's foot just below the toes.
Birth → 9–12 mo
Babinski
ActiveStroke the sole from heel to toes and the big toe extends up while the others fan out.
When you'll see it: When you firmly stroke the bottom of baby's foot. Goes away as the nervous system matures.
Birth → 12–24 mo
Tonic neck (fencer)
ActiveWhen baby's head turns to one side, the arm on that side extends and the opposite arm bends, like a fencing pose.
When you'll see it: When baby turns their head while lying on their back.
1 mo → 3–4 mo
Stepping
FadedHeld upright with feet touching a flat surface, baby makes automatic stepping motions.
When you'll see it: Mostly visible in the first weeks. Returns later as voluntary walking.
Birth → 1–2 mo
Galant (truncal incurvation)
ActiveStroke one side of baby's back along the spine and the hips swing toward the side you stroked.
When you'll see it: During tummy time when something brushes the side of baby's back.
Birth → 4–6 mo
Parachute
Not yetHeld face-down and lowered toward a surface, baby extends arms forward as if to catch the fall.
When you'll see it: Emerges around 6 to 9 months as a protective reflex. Stays for life.
6 mo, lifelong
Why newborn reflexes matter
Reflexes are how the brainstem keeps a newborn alive before voluntary control kicks in. Rooting and sucking handle feeding. Moro and parachute reflexes protect against falls. Grasp reflexes are a leftover from when babies clung to their mothers.
As the cortex matures, these primitive reflexes are replaced by voluntary movement. The fading is a sign of normal neurological development. It means the higher brain is taking over.
Pediatricians check reflexes at well visits because both their presence and their disappearance on schedule are markers of healthy development. A reflex that lingers too long, or one that is missing at birth, can be an early sign worth investigating.
When to talk to your pediatrician
Most variation is normal. Bring it up at your next visit (or sooner if you're worried) when you notice:
- A reflex is missing on one side or absent entirely at birth.
- A reflex is still strongly present well past the typical fade window.
- Reflexes are accompanied by other concerns like poor feeding, weak muscle tone, or missed milestones.
Sources
- Newborn Reflexes. American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org. healthychildren.org
- Newborn Reflexes. Stanford Medicine Children's Health. stanfordchildrens.org
- Infant reflexes. NIH MedlinePlus. medlineplus.gov
- Bright Futures Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants, Children, and Adolescents. American Academy of Pediatrics, 4th ed., 2017
Track milestones and reflexes alongside sleep and feeding
Use nappi to log milestones, sleep, feeds, and growth in one place, so you can spot patterns and share them with your pediatrician.