Twenty eight days is the period during which the child continues to adapt to new conditions after birth. An important role is played at this time by the reflexes of the newborn.
Immediately after birth, the child is deprived of any skills, so nature takes care of him.
What abilities does the baby have?
At birth, the child is endowed with a whole list of unconditioned reflexes that help adapt to the environment. These include:
1. Reflexes that equip the functioning of the most important body systems (blood circulation, respiration, digestion and others), namely reflex sucking and reflexes of food concentration.
2. Protective reflexes. For example, in excessive light, the baby begins to cover its eyes. The same thing happens when touching the eyes.
3. Reference reflexes of newborns. These include a head turn in the direction of the light source, the search reflex.
4. Atavistic reflex reactions - these are the ones that will continue to subside. They include a grasping reflex, a reflex of spontaneous crawling, and others.
The presence of such reflexes indicates the functional viability of the central nervous system of the baby. During the first 12 months they pass over time.
There is a clear connection between brain development and the disappearance of most of the reflexes. The reason is that most of it is under the control of cortical structures. First of all, it is the midbrain, which begins to function in the child somewhat faster. Simple reflexes change places over time with complex reflex reactions.
Basic abilities of infants
There are more than 17 congenital reflexes of the newborn. The most important reflexes include:
1. Sucking. Such a reaction manifests itself in the first hours of life and is observed throughout the first year. The kid captures the nipple, nipple with his lips and begins to suck them rhythmically.
2. Kussmaul's search reflex. When you touch the corner of the oral cavity of the crumbs, sagging of the sponge is noticed. There is also a head turn towards the parent. When pressed to the middle of the upper sponge, it raises and extends the head. When pressed to the middle of the lower sponge, it reflexively lowers, while the head bends. Such reflex actions are seen in a baby up to 4 months. Due consideration must be given to symmetry.
3. Proboscis reflex. If you crush crumbs sharply on the nasolabial fold, then automatically the child stretches his lips and begins to look for the nipple. Such a reflex reaction disappears by 4 months of life.
4. Palmar-oral reflex of Babkin. When you press down on the palm of your hand, the child’s mouth opens automatically. Such a reaction should be in every child. It is more pronounced before being applied to the baby's chest. The underdevelopment of such a reaction is noticed with problems with the central nervous system. The reflex is clearly manifested in the first 2 months of the baby's life. After the reaction begins to weaken. In the case of a nervous system disorder, after two months in a child, the reflex begins to intensify.
5. Breath hold reflex. This reaction helps the child easily pass through the birth canal while not sipping amniotic fluid. The duration of breath holding can be no more than 6 seconds. By six months, the delay time can be up to 25 seconds. By the year of life, time can be increased to 40 seconds.
6. Swimming reflex. A baby dipped in water begins to show motor activity of arms and legs. For a period of time, the baby may be in the water without the help of a parent. The baby can learn complex swimming movements no earlier than 2.5 years. Children who develop this reflex from birth grow healthier and much less bleach.
7. Grasping reflex. This is the strengthening of all muscle tone. It can be very manifest. Sometimes a child clutching a finger can be raised. Grab crumbs capable of supporting body weight. If you give your baby your index finger, you can feel how tightly he begins to grab it. This reaction is strongly manifested in the first 2 months of the baby's life. If such a reaction is not developed, then it disappears by six months. Maintaining this reaction speeds up the psychophysiological development of the child.
8. Plantar reflex. This is a reflex movement that is provoked by irritation of the dermis of the foot. At the same time, the thumb extends sharply, and all the others are compressed.
Baby reactions
In newborns, reflexes arise as follows:
1. Reflex Moro. In another way, the reaction is called the reflex of fear. If you very quickly remove the hand that supports the baby, then the baby will instantly try to cling to something. In this case, the face will be scared and everything will end with a scream. An involuntary grasping movement is a defense reaction. Such a reflex is most pronounced in the first month of his life. Gradually disappears by 5 months of life.
2. Reflexes of maintaining the correct position. These reactions help the baby hold the torso, arms, legs, head. If you put the baby on his tummy, he will try to raise his head. For air access, the child will turn his head to the side.
3. Reflex gag. At the moment when the child learns to swallow and suck, he pushes foreign objects out of the oral cavity. When exposed to the back of the pharynx, the tongue will produce pushing actions. This reaction remains with the person for life. But language will be involved only in the first six months of life.
How to independently check the reflexes of newborns?
If parents have a desire to check the reflexes of the newborn, then you need to be prepared for the fact that the results will vary than when examining the baby with a doctor. In no case should you be upset. This does not mean that the baby has forgotten anything. He may just be tired or hungry. Therefore, you must try to repeat all the manipulations a little later.
The check is as follows:
1. Search reflex. You need to stroke the corner of your mouth without touching your lips. The kid will open his mouth a little and turn his head to the parent. Such a reaction will pass by three months.
2. Proboscis reaction. You need to knock a little on the lips of the child, and they will begin to stretch a little. The reaction will pass after three months of life.
3. Palmar-oral. It’s worth a little pressure on the baby’s palms. The kid will open his mouth and bend his head a little. This reaction persists for three months.
4. Defensive reaction. When the child lies on his tummy, he tries to turn his head to the side and raise it.
5. Sucking reflex. Stroke the baby's cheek and touch the lips. The baby will open his mouth and move his tongue, as if he was going to suckle his chest.
6. Reflex Galant. Put the crumb on its side and slide your fingers along the spine. The kid will begin to bend in an arc. Observed up to 3-4 months of life.
7. Grasping reflex. Put your finger in the baby’s palm. He will grab it and hold it tight.
8. Reflex crawl. Put the baby on the tummy and slightly press down the foot. The child will push off and crawl forward a little. This reaction is seen up to 4 months.
9. Plantar reflex. Press with your thumb in the middle of the foot. The child will begin to squeeze his fingers. By 3 months, the reflex will completely disappear.
10. Babinsky Reflex. With a finger, stroke the outside of the foot in the direction from the heel to the toes. Fingers straighten sharply.
11. Girth reaction. At a distance of 30 cm from the head, you need to clap your hands. Hearing a sharp noise, the baby straightens his legs, presses the handles, as if trying to hug himself. The reaction can be seen up to six months.
12. Reflex support. While holding the baby, place it on a horizontal surface. The child initially bends the legs, as if pushing away, after which he straightens them and will rest on his entire foot.
13. Step reflex. When checking the reaction of the support, the baby needs to be tilted forward a bit. He lifts the leg slightly, as if trying to step. Reflex completely disappears after 4 months.
Nature gifted the baby with not only reflex reactions. From the first days of life, the kid is capable of learning. Every minute the child learns something new. The task of parents is to help their children. If any reactions in the baby are weak or completely absent, then this is an occasion to consult a doctor.
