Final answer:
Stimulating the pads of a newborn's hands causes the grasping reflex, where the baby instinctively grabs anything that touches their palms.
Step-by-step explanation:
Stimulating the pads of the newborn's hands will elicit the grasping reflex. This reflex is an innate behavior in newborns where the baby automatically grasps anything that touches the palms.
The grasping reflex contributes to the newborn's ability to maintain close physical contact with their caregiver—an essential survival mechanism during the early stages of life.