• Question: Why do infants have the instinct to walk ?

    Asked by anon-184214 to Tom, sarahhodge, Owen, Nathan, Lorna, Abbie on 5 Nov 2018.
    • Photo: Abbie Jordan

      Abbie Jordan answered on 5 Nov 2018:

      I will be honest and say that I don’t know as I typically look more at the opposite end of paediatrics (adolescents) in my work. But I do find it fascinating that very young babies can ‘reflex walk’ and that this disappears around 12 weeks. Do you have any ideas about why?

    • Photo: Owen Jones

      Owen Jones answered on 7 Nov 2018:

      Good question Milli,

      Like Abbie, i’m not too sure. It’s great to find something we don’t know the answer to, as it shows there’s still research to be done and things for us to learn.

      The reflex walking is a funny thing and just one of many involuntary movements newborns display. It’s possibly just their way of adjusting to life outside of the womb. Most newborn reflexes disappear between 3 and 6 months.

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