Pediatric reflexes

Rooting response definition

Movement of the tongue, mouth, and head towards the stimulus with opening of the mouth

Allows for searching for and locating the feeding source

Rooting Onset and integration

Onset- 28 weeks gestation

Integration- 3 months

suck- swallow definition

lip closure followed by strong rhythmical suck and finally swallow

Allows for feeding

suck- Swallow onset and integration

Onset- 28 weeks gestation

Integration- 2-5 months

Moro definition

first phase- arm extension/abduction and hand opening

second phase- arm flexion/adduction

Helps with breaking up the physiological flexion seen in newborns

Moro onset and integration

Onset- 28 weeks for finger extension

41 weeks- complete opening

Integration- 5-6 months

Traction definition

Complete flexion of both upper extremities including a grasp

Works to enhance momentary grasp

Traction onset and integration

onset- 28 weeks gestation

Integration- 2-5 months

plantar grasp definition

toe flexion

plantar grasp onset and integration

onset- 28 weeks gestation

integration- 9 mos

palmar grasp definition

phase 1- "catching' or a quick flexion and adduction of the arms

phase II- "holding" or reflexive grasp

palmar grasp onset and integration

onset- 37 weeks gestation (birth)

integration- 4-5 months

Positive support definition

partial weight bearing with hips and knees slightly flexed (may observe plantarflexion, especially in premature infants)

rigid extension (co-contraction) of LE

this allows for weight bearing in upright

positive support onset and integration

onset- 35 weeks gestation

Integration- 1-2 months (immature)

6 months (mature)

spontaneous stepping definition

automatic stepping

spontaneous stepping onset and integration

onset- 37 weeks gestation

integration- 2 months

Asymmetrical tonic neck reflex (ATNR) definition

Extension of the extremities on the face side with flexion of the extremities on the skull side

ATNR onset and integration

Onset- 37 weeks (peaking at 1-2 months)

Integration: 8-12 months

Tonic labyrinthine supine (TLR-S) definition

increased extensor tone, assisting with facilitating total body extension

TLR-S onset and integration

onset- >37 weeks

Integration- 6 mos

Tonic labyrinthine prone (TLR-P) definition

Increased flexor tone, facilitating total body flexion

TLR-P onset and integration

onset- >37 weeks

Integration- 6 mos

Labyrinthine head righting reaction definition

upright positioning of the head, orients head in space and maintains face vertical (head control)

labyrinthine head righting reaction onset and integration

Onset- brith-2 months until about 6 months

Integration- persists

neck righting definition

log rolling of entire body to maintain alignment with the head

important for initiating rolling

neck righting onset and integration

onset-4-6 mos

Integration- 5 years

body righting definition

segmental roll of the upper trunk to maintain alignment

facilitates trunk and spinal rotation and improved trunk control

body righting onset and integration

onset- 4-6 mos

Integration- 5 years

Landau definition

Complete extension of the head, trunk, and extremities

breaks up the flexor dominance and facilitates prone extension

Landau onset and integration

Onset- 3-4 mos

Integration- 12-24 mos

Protective reaction forward definition

Sudden extension of both UE, hand opening, and neck extension to break the fall

Enhances upper extremity weight bearing, reach, and grasp, protection from fall

Protective Reaction forward Onset and integration

Onset- 6-7 mos

Integration- persists

Protective reaction sidewards definition

Sudden extension and abduction of the arm to the side

Support the body for unilateral use of the opposite arm, protection from a fall

Protective reaction sidewards onset and integration

Onset- 2-8 mos

Integration- persists

Protective reaction backwards definition

backward arm extension or arm extension to one side

unilateral facilitates spinal rotation, protection from a fall

Protective reaction backwards onset and integration

Onset- 9-10 mos

Integration- persists

Protective reaction LE- sidewards (staggering) definition

Lateral, forward, or backward stepping depending on the direction of the push

balance and protection from falling

Protective reaction LE- Sidewards (staggering) onset and integration

onset- 15-18 mos

Integration- persists