Question

Kelly's father is trying to feed her a bottle of infant formula. Unfortunately, Kelly's head is facing away from her father. Rather than physically moving Kelly's head, her father simply touches the bottle's nipple on Kelly's right cheek. Kelly, almost immediately, turns her head to the right. Kelly's father is taking advantage of:

a) The Moro Reflex
b) The Rooting Reflex
c) The Grasping Reflex
d) The Sucking Reflex

Answer 1

Kelly's father is utilizing the rooting reflex by touching her cheek, prompting Kelly to turn her head toward the touch. This reflex is designed to help newborns locate the nipple and feed successfully. It is an automatic behavior that, along with the sucking reflex, enhances a baby's survival chances.

Step-by-step explanation:

Kelly's father is taking advantage of the rooting reflex, which is one of the innate reflexes present in newborns that aids in their survival. When a baby's cheek is touched or stroked, the rooting reflex causes the infant to naturally turn its head toward the source of the touch. This reflex is critical for allowing a baby to find and latch onto a nipple for feeding. This behavior is instinctive, and the baby does not have to learn it.

The rooting reflex works closely with the sucking reflex, another unlearned, instinctive behavior where a newborn will naturally suck on any object placed in their mouth. This reflex helps ensure that the baby feeds successfully, thus increasing its chances of survival. These reflexes are among the many that demonstrate a newborn's inborn ability to respond to the environment in ways that promote early bonding with caregivers and satisfy basic needs for nutrition and comfort.