Reflexes including the plantar grasp, palmar grasp, and rooting reflex should go away by which age?

• A. 6 months
• B. 1 year old
• C. 2 years
• D. 3 years

Answer: (B)

Primitive reflexes are automatic reactions that babies display early on and then fade as the brain matures. The rooting reflex, which makes a baby turn toward a touch on the cheek and open the mouth for feeding, typically integrates by about 3 to 4 months. The palmar grasp reflex, where the baby tightly grasps a finger placed in the palm, usually disappears around 4 to 6 months. The plantar grasp reflex, where the toes curl when the sole is touched, generally integrates later, by about 9 to 12 months. Because all three should be integrated by the end of the first year, they are expected to be gone by roughly one year of age.

If any of these reflexes persist beyond their expected window, it can signal delayed neurological maturation and may warrant evaluation.