You're sitting in front of the computer, reading through the Whyville Times, when all of a sudden, someone sticks their hand right in front of your face. What do you do?
You'd probably close your eyes, turn your head, and lean back. All of this without thinking about it. These, my fellow whyvillians, are your reflexes.
As a newborn, most of the things you did were probably just reflexes. After some time, the reflexes faded and you learned to do things voluntarily. Test for some of these reflexes the next time you see a baby - but make sure to ask for a parent's permission first!
Hold an infant in a standing position, with his or her toes just barely above the ground. From this position, press one of his or her feet to the floor, and *gasp* - the other foot rises instantly. This is called the walking reflex, because it looks as if the infant really is walking. About a year after this reflex disappears, the baby begins to walk on his or her own.
Try to place a baby on a flat bed, lying on his or her back. Gently pull the baby's arms until he or she is in a sitting position. When you let go, you will see what is called the China Doll Reflex. The baby will begin to fall backward, then forward, then backward again. This is an attempt to sit up straight up, but a baby's head is too large to balance! While it is not very successful, it is pretty cute to watch.
If a baby hears a very loud noise, sees a bright light, or is handled too roughly he or she will become startled and arch his or her back over. At the same time, the baby will move his or her head back and fling out his or her arms and legs, then draw them back in. Any crying will stop for a moment, then begin again. This is called the Moro reflex. Light pressure on any part of the infant's body will stop the crying.
One of the strongest reflexes a baby has is in grasping. When you hold out an arm, he or she will grab onto it. Just how tight he or she will grab on, well, that depends on the baby. There have been cases where the baby dangles from a person's arm like a monkey on a tree branch. You probably shouldn't go to that extreme unless there are about one hundred feet's worth of pillows waiting to catch that baby.
See? Not only are infants adorable, they're also fairly capable of taking care of themselves. Don't you just want to give them a big hug?
This is Wicked777, off to hold a staring contest.
Author's Note: If you try to test any of the reflexes described, make sure you have all needed supervision and a safe environment to work with.
Sources: "The First Twelve Months of Life", by Frank Caplan
