Which assessment technique would the nurse use to best elicit the Moro reflex in a full-term newborn?

Choice A rationale Touching the infant's cheek with a finger is the appropriate method to test the rooting reflex in a neonate. This reflex is integral for feeding, prompting the baby to turn their head toward the stimulus and open their mouth, which allows for latching onto the breast or bottle; it typically disappears by four months. Choice B rationale The Moro reflex is correctly elicited by a sudden change in position or a sudden, loud sound, like striking the crib surface, which simulates a feeling of falling. The normal response involves the baby symmetrically extending and abducting the arms, followed by adduction and flexion, and this reflex is generally absent after six months of age. Choice C rationale Eliciting the Babinski reflex involves stroking the lateral sole from the heel to the ball of the foot. The expected normal response in a full-term newborn is the dorsiflexion of the big toe and the fanning of the other toes, which is indicative of an immature central nervous system and should disappear by the time the infant is walking. Choice D rationale The action of allowing the infant's feet to touch a surface is used to test the stepping reflex. When held upright with the feet touching a solid surface, the infant displays alternating stepping movements, which is a rudimentary motor function usually present at birth but fading within the first month or two.