Primitive Reflexes & the Newborn Sensory World

Primitive reflexes are the in-built movements that help a newborn feed, settle and begin to organise their body. You’ll notice the Moro (startle), rooting, grasp and stepping reflexes most often in the early weeks; as your baby’s brain matures, these reflexes integrate—show up less in daily life—and make space for more purposeful head, hand and whole-body control. The aim isn’t to “work on” reflexes, but to notice cues and shape calm conditions—slow, close-to-body transfers to the sleep surface, responsive feeding, brief tummy-down moments when baby is content, and simple environments. This sits alongside your baby’s sensory world—touch, movement, sound, sight and smell—which guides comfort, feeding and sleep in the fourth trimester.

First hold: the palmar grasp reflex in action.

Reflexes

The Moro (startle) reflex can look dramatic: a sudden noise or shift makes the arms fling out, then in, sometimes with a cry. It commonly fades across ~2–6 months. To reduce startle-triggered wake-ups, handle and lay your baby down slowly and close to your body, then rest your hands lightly on their chest for a moment before you let go—this brief pause can help some babies settle. A short-term, hip-friendly swaddle is optional (not required) and tends to suit only startle-sensitive babies; stop at the first signs of rolling.

The rooting reflex (stroke the cheek; baby turns and opens) is a built-in “how-to” for latch. For breastfeeding: hold baby tummy-to-tummy, nose level with the nipple, wait for a wide gape, bring baby in so chin touches first and the nose stays clear. For bottles: brush the top lip with the teat and let baby draw it in; hold the bottle nearly horizontal so flow stays manageable, and allow natural pauses (paced, responsive feeding). These practical steps support the maturing suck–swallow–breathe pattern over the first months.

You’ll also see the palmar grasp (firm hand-hold when the palm is touched) easing by ~5–6 months, the plantar grasp (toes curl to touch) lasting into later infancy (~9–12 months), and the stepping reflex (early “walking” movements when feet touch a surface) most obvious in the first 1–2 months. You may also glimpse ATNR (the “fencer’s pose” when the head turns) and Galant (a brief trunk curve towards a light stroke along one side of the spine), often spotted during nappy changes—momentary and normal.

If a reflex is absent on one side, strikingly asymmetrical, or persists well past its usual window and affects feeding, comfort or movement, speak to your Health Visitor or GP.

The Newborn Sensory World

Touch. Predictable, warm touch helps newborns regulate. Skin-to-skin, warm hands, and calm, narrated nappy changes are simple and effective.

Movement & balance. Rhythms reminiscent of the womb can soothe. Use plenty of position variety for tiny, cheerful spells of tummy-down time: tummy-to-chest on you, across your lap, and tummy-down along your forearm with the head supported—these all “count” as tummy time in the early weeks and are often easier to enjoy. As baby settles, add brief spells on a firm, flat surface.

Body position (proprioception). Short, frequent tummy-down moments help head and neck control to emerge comfortably. Think “little and often”, returning to comfort whenever baby asks for a break.

Sight. Newborns see best at about 20–30 cm—roughly the distance to your face during feeds. They’re drawn to high-contrast edges and faces; it’s a myth that babies see only in black and white. Evidence shows even neonates can detect some colour, with sensitivity improving rapidly over the first months. Faces remain the favourite “pattern”.

Sound (your voice, everyday sounds, and white-noise options). Your baby is here—and listening. Newborns can recognise and prefer their parent’s voice from birth, likely thanks to late-pregnancy familiarity. A calm, conversational voice and simple, reassuring language are soothing; sudden loud bursts, by contrast, can trigger startle (the Moro reflex). Keep the overall soundscape steady and comfortable for sleep.

If you choose to add a sound machine, think of it as a constant backdrop that masks household changes. Pick steady sounds over variable ones: broadband “noise” (e.g., white, pink or brown noise) or simple nature sounds (rain, waves, a fan-like hum) tend to be easiest for babies to sleep through. In brief: white noise has roughly equal energy at all frequencies; pink noise tilts towards the lower frequencies (often perceived as softer); brown is deeper still. Choose continuous tracks/loops without abrupt shifts. Keep volume low at the cot (a conservative benchmark is ≤ 50 dBA at your baby’s sleep location) and place the device across the room—about 2 m or more; use the lowest effective volume and avoid long, loud, continuous exposure. These points reflect measurements showing some infant sound machines can exceed safe levels at close range and current paediatric guidance to keep devices as quiet and as far away as possible.

Smell & taste. Your natural scent—and, if breastfeeding, the scent of milk—is deeply soothing. Keep strong perfumes and room fragrances to a minimum so your smell can do its quiet work.