Important Helpers
Congenital reflexes are an involuntary reaction of a child to an external stimulus. Modern neonatology considers them as a kind of temporary "equipment" for the initial period of life of crumbs: in fact, despite the fact that many body systems are still in the process of maturation, the child must be able to manage vital functions, for example, breathing, the process of eating. In addition, the presence of primitive reflexes in full indicates the normal development and functional maturity of the central nervous system. Therefore, the first test for reflexes the baby passes shortly after birth.
There are such types of reflexes:
- providing the work of the basic systems of the body (breathing, circulation, digestion and others): sucking, respiratory and so on;
- protective (blinking in bright light, closing eyes when touching them);
- indicative (search reflex, turn of the head to the light source);
- atavistic (archaic, inherited from ancestors), which gradually fade away: grasping reflex, automatic walking, spontaneous crawling and others.
Today, more than fifteen congenital reflexes of newborns are known. Why did nature invent so many of them, scientists find it difficult to answer, but it is obvious - they are all necessary at a certain stage of the child's development. Some reflexes persist throughout life (eg, respiratory), but most normally disappear as the brain matures (during the first four to five months of life). Their place is occupied by more complex reactions and conditioned reflex behavioral complexes, whose work is "supervised" by the cerebral cortex (rather than subcortical structures and the middle brain, as in the case of unconditioned reflexes). Developing the child physically, we lay the foundation of high intelligence - in children these things are closely interrelated! American scientists conducted an experiment with training newborns walking - based on a congenital "stepping" reflex: before feeding, mom put the crumb on the table so that he would rearrange the legs. According to the results of the study, all the "athletes" began to walk alone for seven to eight months, and were much more intelligent than other kids.
Check!
Of course, only a specialist neonatologist can fully appreciate the complex of "primary" assistants to a baby, but it will be useful for parents to learn more about reflexes. The fact is that the genetically engineered development program of the child in the first year of life is quite conservative, and it is a regular check of reflexes and an assessment of the dynamics of their development that allows to determine whether there are any violations from the side of the central nervous system. Besides, checking the "skills" of crumbs is so interesting! So, we carry out the "reflex test": The search reflex (the Kussmaul reflex) - the child turns the head in response to a touch on the cheek, and when stroking the skin in the corner of the mouth - lowers the lower lip and deflects the tongue toward the stimulus (looking for the mother's breast). This reflex is a necessary part of the food seeking instinct, and it is especially pronounced before feeding. Dies out at about 6-7 weeks, disappearing completely by the end of the first year. Suckling reflex - manifested in active sucking movements, it is only necessary to put a finger or a pacifier in the mouth. "In force" during the first year. Proboscis reflex - with a slight tapping on the lips of the child, the circular muscle of the mouth is contracted, causing the extension of the lips with the proboscis. Up to two or three months. The palm-oral reflex (Babkin's reflex) - when you press your thumb on the child's palm (in the area of the thumb's elevation), the mouth opens and the head turns. Disappears to three or four months. Grasping reflex (Robinzon's reflex) - when touched by the palm of the hand, the child automatically captures and holds "it." And very tight: for example, he can, holding his hands behind the fingers of an adult, hang, keeping the weight of his body! Gradually weakened by three or four months. Protective reflex - in the position on the abdomen, the child raises his head and turns it on his side so he does not suffocate (with hypertonus, the head is thrown back, which is sometimes mistakenly estimated as the ability to hold it). Up to two months.
Babinsky reflex (plantar) - when the finger is traced along the outer edge of the foot, the toes of the foot fan out in different directions (and pressing the finger on the foot pad causes the fingers to flex). Up to four to five months. Moro Reflex - occurs with a loud sound, a sudden touch: at first the kid leans back, pulls the handles apart and extends his fingers, then - as if embracing himself. It is recommended to carry it out only with a diagnostic purpose, so as not to frighten the crumb one more time. Weakens by four or five months. Reflex support - if you raise the child, taking it under the mouse (the head should be supported by index fingers), it bends the legs in the joints. In the presence of support - rests on her full foot and "stands" on the half-bent legs, straightening the trunk. Expressed up to a month and a half. Reflex automatic walking - the continuation of the reflex support. In the vertical position (the child is held under the mice), the crumb rests on the legs in the table, and if you tilt it slightly forward - "goes" (there are stepwise movements). Physiological up to a month and a half. Reflex crawling (Bauer) - in the position on the tummy baby lifts his head and crawls, if you put your palm to his feet (pushing from the support). Up to four months. Talent Reflex - when you swipe your finger across the body from the shoulder to the buttocks, the baby arches in the direction of the stimulus. Up to three or four months. Reflex Peres - if you pass your finger along the spine from the coccyx to the neck, the baby will bend, raise his head and scream. Up to three or four months. Swimming reflex - the child makes movements similar to swimming, if you put it on your stomach. Up to three or four months. Reflex breathing delay - when the water hits the face, the baby automatically holds the breath for 5-6 seconds. Reflex helps the baby safely overcome the birth canal (and later this unique ability of the newborn uses the techniques of teaching babies swimming). It fades after the third month.
There is an incentive!
Is it worth developing congenital reflexes? The opinions of specialists on this issue have been divided: some think it's sticky (they will all the same die out), others are sure it's worth it!
Because:
- stimulation of unconditioned reflexes promotes their "development" into stable motor skills (supports, pulling, crawling, swimming);
- the child grows physically strong, agile, flexible. In addition, such activities always involve active contact of the baby with parents, expand his motor activity and the ability to communicate with the environment.
On a note
Normally, the reflexes of a healthy baby are symmetrical (the "answer" is the same both on the right and on the left). The oppression of reflexes can be associated with a violation of muscle tone or with malfunctioning of the nervous system. Reflexes have a diagnostic value only in conjunction with other symptoms (changing any reflex in the absence of other neurological disorders is not a reason to panic).
Gymnastics for the development of reflexes
These exercises stimulate grasping and "step" reflexes. The founders of one of the methods of early development Boris and Elena Nikitina believed that such a minimum program would be enough: developing reflexes, the child is trained "on the first lap", and does not learn everything "anew", which is given more difficult. Push the index fingers into the infant's clenched fists and try to lift it up above the crib or put it on the legs. Install a crossbar in the crib and show how it can be taken. Tightening, the baby will strengthen the muscles of the arms and back, before it starts to sit down and get up. Put the crumb on the legs and ask him to "walk a bit". Do you want more? Under the guidance of an experienced instructor, try breastfeeding (it develops "water" reflexes) or exercises from dynamic gymnastics (having consulted with a pediatrician beforehand). This technique goes back to the deep past: in Russia children were often taken under the armpits, thrown up, twisted around themselves. An important plus of dynamics is the satisfaction of the child's motor needs in a period when independent movement is not yet available to him.