Which reflex is triggered when the cheek is touched, causing the infant to turn toward the touch?

Which reflex is triggered when the cheek is touched, causing the infant to turn toward the touch?

• A. Babinski Reflex
• B. Sucking Reflex
• C. Moro Reflex
• D. Rooting Reflex

Answer: (D)

Rooting reflex is the infant’s automatic response to touch on the cheek: the baby turns toward the touched side and opens the mouth as if seeking a nipple. This is the best answer because it directly matches turning toward a touch on the cheek to locate a feeding source, a classic rooting behavior that helps newborns feed. The reflex is present at birth and typically fades by about 4 months as the nervous system matures. Other reflexes describe different actions: the Babinski reflex involves toe fanning when the sole is stroked; the sucking reflex is triggered by anything in the mouth that prompts sucking; and the Moro reflex is a startle response with the arms and legs extending outward. The rooting reflex is the one tied specifically to turning toward cheek stimulation to find feeding.

Rooting reflex is the infant’s automatic response to touch on the cheek: the baby turns toward the touched side and opens the mouth as if seeking a nipple. This is the best answer because it directly matches turning toward a touch on the cheek to locate a feeding source, a classic rooting behavior that helps newborns feed. The reflex is present at birth and typically fades by about 4 months as the nervous system matures. Other reflexes describe different actions: the Babinski reflex involves toe fanning when the sole is stroked; the sucking reflex is triggered by anything in the mouth that prompts sucking; and the Moro reflex is a startle response with the arms and legs extending outward. The rooting reflex is the one tied specifically to turning toward cheek stimulation to find feeding.