Which infant reflex involves a baby turning its head towards a stroke on the cheek and opening its mouth?

The rooting reflex is the correct answer as it specifically describes the behavior where an infant turns its head toward a stimulus, such as a light touch or stroke on the cheek, and opens its mouth in search of a nipple for feeding. This reflex is vital for breastfeeding as it helps the baby to seek out nourishment.

The rooting reflex typically emerges in newborns and plays a crucial role in the early feeding process. It demonstrates an innate ability for survival, as infants are born with this reflex to facilitate their ability to latch onto the breast or a bottle while feeding.

In contrast, the Moro reflex, also known as the startle reflex, involves the baby’s response to a sudden loss of support or a loud noise, leading to a flinging of their arms followed by a retraction, which is unrelated to head-turning. The grasp reflex is where a baby will automatically grip an object placed in their hand; this does not involve any head or mouth movement. Lastly, the Babinski reflex involves the outward curling of the toes when the sole of the foot is stroked, again not related to head or mouth movements. Each of these reflexes serves different developmental functions, but the rooting reflex is distinctly focused on feeding and mouth movements.