What it means
Also called the startle reflex, named after Ernst Moro, the Austrian pediatrician who described it. The baby's arms and legs extend, the fingers spread, and then the arms come back toward the body as if hugging; the baby often cries. It is present at birth and fades during the first months of life (textbooks give ages from about 2 to 6 months).
For the nurse
Check it by supporting the baby and letting the head drop back slightly, or with a sudden loud sound. Note whether both arms move the same way: a one-sided response can mean a broken collarbone or a nerve injury from birth, and should be reported.
At a glance
| Spanish | reflejo de Moro |
|---|---|
| Also written | Moro, startle reflex |
Related terms
rooting reflex
A newborn reflex in which the baby turns toward a touch on the cheek or the corner of the mouth and opens the mouth.
palmar grasp reflex
A newborn reflex in which the baby's fingers close tightly around an object placed in the palm.