Final answer:
The answer to the blank is the 'rooting reflex' where infants turn their head towards a touch on the cheek, aiding in their ability to find food and survive. This reflex, along with the sucking and grasping reflexes, is vital for a baby in the earliest stages of life.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the rooting reflex, the baby turns the head and mouth toward a stimulus that strokes the cheek, chin, or corner of the mouth. This newborn reflex is an instinctive behavior that helps infants locate and latch onto a nipple to feed. This, along with the sucking reflex, which is the automatic sucking motions babies perform when something is placed in their mouth, is crucial for a newborn's survival.
The rooting and sucking reflexes are just a part of the array of reflexes that newborns are equipped with. Others include the Moro reflex, an automatic response to the sensation of falling, and the grasping reflex, where a baby will grasp anything that touches their palm. These reflexes play a significant role in ensuring that the baby feeds successfully and maintains close physical contact with the caregiver, which is essential for the baby's development and safety during the early stages of life.