What is Moro's reflex?

Moro's reflex was first described by an Austrian pediatrician, Ernst Moro. It is a gesture of self-protection of the newborn when the latter feels in danger. It manifests itself in response to a loud noise or a feeling of falling caused by a sudden imbalance or an uncomfortable position. Concretely, the baby suddenly spreads his arms, legs and opens his hands then quickly gather them against him as if to protect himself, then he starts to cry. “We have probably inherited this reflex from our neighboring mammals. This is a defense reflex that is also observed in baby primates. When the mother is confronted with a possible danger, her baby immediately grabs her back”, Comments Dr. Rondeleux.

Archaic reflexes: the superpowers of newborns!

What are called archaic or primary reflexes are automatic and involuntary movements observed in the newborn and triggered by specific sensory stimuli. They are born during pregnancy, develop at birth and then last for a few months. These automatisms allow the child to adapt to his new environment. They are "the fundamental bases of neurological construction and are essential for the good motor, emotional and cognitive development of infants, children and adults”, Recalls the French Association Reflexes and Movements (AFReM). There are 7 in total, with Moro's reflex:

• the grasping reflex : If you put a finger in an infant’s hand, it closes it immediately and grips your finger.
• the suction : baby is born knowing how to suck and swallow, an essential reflex so that it can eat.
• the auto run : If you put a newborn baby upright while holding him under his arms and his feet are in contact with a surface, he advances his legs as if to take steps.
• the cardinal points reflex : If you tickle an infant’s cheek, it’s turning its head to the same side. This allows him to find his mother's breast. If the nipple touches his cheek, he turns his head to stick his mouth to the breast.
• the cross stretch reflex : if you tickle the newborn's foot, it automatically lengthens the other leg as if it wanted to hunt what is bothering it.
• the asymmetric tonic reflex of the neck : when the infant is lying on his back and he turns his head to one side, his arm and leg stretch to the side where the head is turned. The members on the other side remain flexed.
• the Moro's reflex Baby stretches his limbs and then brings them together on his body to protect himself when he is in an uncomfortable situation.

Baby is tested on Moro's reflex from maternity

Archaic reflexes are usually checked in maternity after birth, then during the first weeks of the baby's life. By testing the infant on his automatisms, the pediatrician ensures that the child is in good health. For Moro's reflex, the pediatrician places his fingers in the hands of the baby who is lying on his back, then he lifts him slightly before letting go. Once released, the baby spreads his limbs and then closes them before crying. “Moro’s reflex is no longer fully tested in maternity. We do not take the test to the end so as not to make the infant cry. From the start of the test, the pediatrician sees if the baby has properly integrated Moro's reflex. Let the parents reassure themselves, it is not painful or traumatic for the childSays the pediatrician. The test is then repeated between the 10th and 15th day after birth and then during the pediatric examination of the first month.

Moro's reflex should not last beyond 5 months

Like all other archaic reflexes, Moro's reflex disappears by itself after a few months. It is replaced by another reflex, which will last a lifetime: the start.

On the other hand, the absence at birth or the persistence of the Moro reflex in infants can be a sign of a health problem. “Moro's reflex may be incomplete in premature babies because they are born before term and their bodies are not fully developed. But then he appears. Apart from this scenario, the absence or persistence of this reflex after 5 months may be linked to hypotonia, characterized by a lack of tone, or to a neurological abnormality”Explains Dr. Rondeleux. Fortunately, this remains rare.

Baby has Moro's reflex during sleep, is this normal?

Moro's reflex can manifest itself during baby's sleep. “Parents are often worried when they see their child performing Moro's reflex while he sleeps. But it’s not a big deal. It takes a little while for the newborn to adapt to their new environment. In-utero, he felt like in a cocoon, warm in his mother's womb and bathed in amniotic fluid. During the weeks following his birth, he may have a feeling of emptiness around him, especially when he is sleeping. Which explains why it triggers this reflex”. For the pediatrician, you just have to reassure him by taking him in your arms very close to you. The specialist also recommends putting infants to sleep in a pram rather than a bed, so that they feel more surrounded. “Swaddling should be avoided, however, because the baby is not free to move, but babies need to move to develop well”, Concludes Dr. Rondeleux.

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