No rooting reflex?

[expat]

I'm the proud mum of a 4½ day old little boy. He's my 2nd baby and I breastfed my 1st son for 15 months so I have a pretty good idea of what to do! With a little squirming and directing, we manage to get latched on pretty well but I'm concerned by the fact that he seems to have no rooting reflex at all. His suck is great and the pediatrician who discharged us even commented on it but didn't seem worried when I told her he doesn't turn his head to a cheek brush.

He's a very 'sucky' baby and wants nipple or finger all the time (not having much luck with his hands so far) and I tried a dummy for a bit today but he was not at all interested. I'm not worried about nipple confusion as DS1 had a strong need to suck as well and his dummy from day 4 did him no harm whatsoever.

Anyone else had this with their bub? Can it be a sign of other problems?

He's otherwise doing brilliantly and eating and filling nappies like a champ!

[Barb Glare]

Hi,

Congratulations on the birth of your baby. It doesn't sound like your little one is too far off track. Rooting is essentially sucking behaviour. It sounds like he knows how to suck just fine. There are many things that may make him seem different to the vigorous rooting you noticed with your last baby. Often some drugs that you had in labour pass through the placenta, a difficult birth or a little jaundice will mean that they are quite sleepy in the first few days. Keep offering frequent feeds and you will find it all changes very quickly

[Jen27]

Hi expat

sounds like you are doing great with your little boy. My dd didn't turn too much when brushed on the side of the face either. Had no problems with her. (she put on great weight, 6.6kg at 10 weeks old). Shes now nearly 4 months and as bright as a button

Hope everything goes well for you

[expat]

Thanks for the support ladies!

I've since posting, also noticed that he doesn't do the stepping reflex but seems to have no hypotonia issues and upon further research found that there are newly noticed links between absence of primitive reflexes and a later diagnosis of Autism...Ah well, if thatis my boys fate, I can say I diagnosed him at 4 days . Going to take him to the pediatrician for a well baby check on thursday so I'll ask her a bit more about it then.

Cheers,