Which reflex is triggered when the cheek is touched, causing the infant to turn toward the touch?

• A. Babinski Reflex
• B. Sucking Reflex
• C. Moro Reflex
• D. Rooting Reflex

Answer: (D)

Rooting reflex is the infant’s automatic response to touch on the cheek: the baby turns toward the touched side and opens the mouth as if seeking a nipple. This is the best answer because it directly matches turning toward a touch on the cheek to locate a feeding source, a classic rooting behavior that helps newborns feed. The reflex is present at birth and typically fades by about 4 months as the nervous system matures. Other reflexes describe different actions: the Babinski reflex involves toe fanning when the sole is stroked; the sucking reflex is triggered by anything in the mouth that prompts sucking; and the Moro reflex is a startle response with the arms and legs extending outward. The rooting reflex is the one tied specifically to turning toward cheek stimulation to find feeding.