PS275 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Breastfeeding, Primitive Reflexes, Plantar Reflex
Document Summary
Newborn is much better prepared for life than many people initially assumed. All senses in good working order, able to adapt to many sensations. Repertoire of inborn reflexes and predictable patterns of daily activity. One of neonate"s greatest strengths is a full set of useful reflexes. Survival reflexes: have great adaptive value ex breathing, sucking, swallowing. Rooting reflex: infant who is touched on cheek will turn in that direction and search for something to suck. Newborns engage in organized suckling routines that enable them to successfully attach to their food source. Not as useful, remnants of evolutionary history that have outlived original purpose. Controlled by subcortical areas of brain, gradually disappear over first year of life. Babinski reflex: infants fan their toes when bottoms of feed are stroked. Important diagnostic indicators to developmentalists (if they"re not present or last too long = reason to suspect something is wrong with nervous system) Levels of sleep and wakefulness that young infants display.
