Reflexes in New-Borns Born in Private Hospital of Dharwad Town

Abstract Reflexes in newborns are critical for understanding early neurological health and development. These automatic, involuntary movements play an important role in survival, feeding, and motor skill development during infancy. This observational study is conducted to identify the most prevalent reflexes in newborn infants, including rooting, sucking, Moro, palmar grasp, stepping, asymmetrical tonic neck reflex (ATNR), and symmetrical tonic neck reflex (STNR) which will aid in tracking milestones and developments of infants in the future. 27 newborns were involved and it was performed at a local maternity hospital to ensure consistency. Reflex testing was performed by a trained pediatrician and neonatologist using standardized procedures. Each reflex was tested twice for reliability and parents were monitoring. The study found that there was a change in reflex strength across birth weight groups. Below-weight infants had weaker reflexes which may cause potential development delays. Normal and above-weight infants had stronger and more consistent reflexes, with over 88% showing well-developed reflexes. In addition, gender differences were also noted and girls showed more consistent rooting and sucking reflexes while boys had stronger Moro and Palmar grasp reflexes. This research shows the importance of reflex testing in evaluating neurological health and detecting early signs of development concerns in newborns.