Question

The mother of a 5-month-old boy calls the nurse in the pediatric clinic to ask why her son no longer turns his head toward her breast when she touches his cheek. how should the nurse respond?

Answer 1

The nurse respond should be is "Is he able to sit unsupported?”. The mother in this situation is telling about the rooting reflex; when touched on the cheek, the infant reflexively turns the head to that side. The rooting reflex is likely to disappear by 4 months of age. An infant can sit without support at 8 months; this is not expected of a 5-month-old infant. Stroking the sole of the foot provokes the Babinski reflex, which disappears between 8 and 12 months of age. The disappearance of the rooting reflex at 5 months of age does not require further intervention