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Feeding Your Baby's Developmental Cravings

Recognizing Baby's Cues

By iParenting

When the baby's cheek or corner of the mouth is stroked, he will instinctively turn his mouth toward the source and try to suckle. This reflex helps him find the nipple.

When startled (by a loud noise or sudden movement – sometimes by his own movement) the baby throws back his arms and head, then pulls his limbs close to his body.

When the baby's head is turned to one side while lying on his back, the baby's arm on that side reaches out while the arm on the opposite side bends at the elbow. It resembles a fencer's position.

When you stroke the palm of a baby's hand, he closes his hand into a tight fist, tightly grasping the object that touched the palm.

When something touches the roof a baby's mouth, he will suck. This reflex begins late in pregnancy, so premature babies often have a weak suck.

When held in a standing position on a flat surface, a newborn will make stepping movements, bending the leg at the knee with the feet parallel with the hard surface.