With the baby’s head positioned in the midline and hands held against the anterior chest, stroke with your finger the perioral skin at the corners of the baby’s mouth and the midline of the upper and lower lip. In response, the mouth will open and turn to the stimulated side. This response will also occur with stimulation of the infant’s cheek at some distance from the corners of the mouth.

Absence of this reflex indicates severe generalized or central nervous system disease