Baby Physical Development: The Moro (Startle) Reflex

All babies are born with reflexes, involuntary movements that disappear after the first few months. Not all babies have the reflexes all the time, but most will present themselves at some point in normal baby physical development.

You will observe the Moro reflex when the baby is moved suddenly or in reaction to a loud, sudden sound. Baby reacts to the feeling of falling or the noise by throwing out his arms and opening his hands to grab onto something. A baby may startle himself when he cries and begin a startle loop—cry, startle, cry, startle. The Moro reflex will end at around 5 to 6 months of age.



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