Final answer:
The Moro reflex is present from birth and typically disappears around 4 months of age. This reflex, along with the grasping reflex and others, is crucial for initial newborn survival.
Step-by-step explanation:
Moro Reflex Duration
The Moro reflex is an automatic response to a sudden loss of support, and is typically present from birth. It involves an infant suddenly spreading out their arms, bringing the arms back in, and often crying, as if to grasp onto something for support. This reflex is indicative of a newborn's survival instincts and usually disappears as the infant's brain develops. The correct answer to the question 'How long is the Moro reflex present?' is Birth to 4 months.
In addition to the Moro reflex, infants also exhibit the grasping reflex, which allows them to hold onto objects placed in their palms and is present until about five or six months of age. These reflexes, along with others such as the rooting reflex, are crucial for the infant's immediate survival and physical contact with the caregiver.
As an important milestone in infant development, the fading of the Moro reflex around 4 months represents the normal progression of neurological maturation and the transition to more complex behaviors.