Clinical Reference Systems: Pediatric Advisor 10.0
Spanish version
Normal Newborn Reflexes and Behavior
Some findings in newborns that concern parents are not signs
of illness. Most of the following harmless reflexes are due
to an immature nervous system and will disappear in 3 or
4 months:
- chin trembling
- lower lip quivering
- hiccups
- irregular breathing (This is normal if your baby is
content, the rate is less than 60 breaths per minute, any
pauses are less than 10 seconds long, and your baby
doesn't turn blue. Occasionally infants take rapid,
progressively deeper, stepwise breaths to completely
expand their lungs.)
- passing gas (not a temporary behavior)
- sleep noise from breathing and moving
- sneezing
- spitting up or belching (For further information, see
Spitting Up. )
- brief stiffening of the body after a noise or sudden
movement (also called the startle reflex, the Moro reflex,
or the embrace reflex)
- straining with bowel movements
- throat clearing (or gurgling sounds of secretions in the
throat)
- trembling or jitteriness of arms and legs are common
during crying (Jittery babies are common. Convulsions are
rare. During convulsions babies also jerk, blink their
eyes, rhythmically suck with their mouths, and don't cry.)
If your baby is trembling and not crying, give her
something to suck on. If the trembling doesn't stop when
your baby is sucking, call your physician's office
immediately.
- yawning.
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Written by B.D. Schmitt, M.D., author of "Your Child's Health," Bantam Books.
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Copyright 1999 Clinical Reference Systems
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