Final answer:
The newborn reflex in which they turn their head toward where they feel a finger stroke their cheek and start sucking the finger is called the rooting reflex reflex.
Explanation:
The newborn reflex described is called the rooting reflex. This instinctive behavior is an essential part of a newborn's response to anything that touches their cheek. When the cheek is stroked, the baby naturally turns its head in that direction and starts to suck.
This reflex, along with the sucking reflex, is crucial for a baby's survival as it helps them to find and extract milk from the mother's breast or a bottle. Other important reflexes include the grasping reflex, where a newborn will automatically grasp anything that touches their palm, and the Moro reflex, which is the baby's automatic response to the sensation of falling and involves spreading and retracting the arms, often followed by crying.
The rooting reflex is an important survival mechanism that helps infants find their mother's breast for feeding. This reflex is present at birth and is most pronounced during the first few weeks of life. As the infant matures, the rooting reflex gradually diminishes, and voluntary head and mouth movements become more controlled.