What to Know About the Rooting Reflex in Babies
Health experts explain when the rooting reflex develops, what its purpose is, and more.
When your baby finally leaves the womb and reaches the outside world, it’s a lot to take in—for both of you. Thankfully, newborns are equipped with a few inherent skills to help them navigate their new surroundings. Many of these skills, or reflexes, are developed during pregnancy and are ready to be used right after birth.
One of these instincts is known as the rooting reflex, which helps your baby with an incredibly important task: finding their food. Here, we’ll cover more about the rooting reflex, when it develops, how it goes hand in hand with the sucking reflex, and when it’s best to contact a healthcare provider.
What Is the Rooting Reflex?
A baby's rooting reflex exists in order to help them find and latch onto a nipple or bottle during feeding in the early weeks of life. Like other reflexes, this behavior is involuntary, and is part of your baby's development.
"The rooting reflex refers to an instinct for infants to turn their heads and open their mouths in response to touch or stimulation on or near their cheek or mouth," explains Dawnita Wicks, R.N., I.B.C.L.C., lactation consultant at Emulait, adding that this instinct is a survival mechanism for newborns.
Your baby's rooting reflex will occur naturally, but you can also activate it yourself. "When you stroke a hungry baby's cheek or mouth, they may turn their head toward your hand and open their mouth, looking for the breast or a bottle," explains Rebecca Agi, M.S., I.B.C.L.C. Los Angeles-based lactation consultant, founder of Best Milk LA, and member of the Parents Expert Review Board. Agi adds that rooting is essential for both survival and growth, as it helps babies find the breast or bottle and initiate feeding.
