Do you really know? What are primitive reflexes?
Nov 24, 2025
Did you know September 26 is the most popular birthday in the UK? Explore the fascinating world of primitive reflexes in newborns, like the adorable grasp reflex when a baby holds your finger. These involuntary movements reveal the baby's developing brain and serve crucial survival roles from an evolutionary perspective. Most primitive reflexes fade within the first year, but some, like blinking and yawning, stick around for life. Discover how these reflexes can even indicate neurological health!
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Primitive Reflexes Signal Brain Health
- Babies are born with primitive reflexes that produce involuntary movements and develop during the fetal period.
- These reflexes indicate healthy brain function and reveal innate survival programming in newborns.
Cute Survival Behaviors
- The Moro reflex makes newborns extend then pull in their arms when their head falls back, present for about three months.
- Other reflexes include sucking, swimming motions, and grasping anything placed in the palm.
Reflexes Reflect Evolutionary Programming
- Primitive reflexes serve survival purposes and reflect evolutionary instincts rather than mere cuteness.
- They program babies to respond automatically to key stimuli from birth.