Which reflex causes an infant to turn its head toward a touch on the cheek and search with the mouth?

Which reflex causes an infant to turn its head toward a touch on the cheek and search with the mouth?

• A. Rooting reflex
• B. Grasping reflex
• C. Moro reflex
• D. Babinski reflex

Answer: (A)

The rooting reflex is triggered when the cheek or lip area is stroked; the infant instinctively turns toward the touch and searches with the mouth. This helps the baby locate a nipple or food source for feeding and is present from birth, fading by about 4 months as voluntary control develops. The other reflexes serve different purposes: grasping involves the hand closing around a touched object, not turning the head; the Moro reflex is a startle response with the arms flaring out and then coming in; the Babinski reflex involves the feet, with the toes fanning when the sole is stroked.

The rooting reflex is triggered when the cheek or lip area is stroked; the infant instinctively turns toward the touch and searches with the mouth. This helps the baby locate a nipple or food source for feeding and is present from birth, fading by about 4 months as voluntary control develops.

The other reflexes serve different purposes: grasping involves the hand closing around a touched object, not turning the head; the Moro reflex is a startle response with the arms flaring out and then coming in; the Babinski reflex involves the feet, with the toes fanning when the sole is stroked.