Someone in a previous post (sorry can't remember who--I was heavy on the
delete button that day) asked if there was a problem if a rooting reflex
persisted beyond the norm and what the normal amount of time for this reflex
to persist is.

I had much the same question probably for different reasons. I've noticed
when babies in our NICU are primarily bottle fed they appear to lose the
rooting reflex, probably because all bottle feeds are conducted through
pursed lips. Primarily breastfed babies, on the other hand, continue to open
wide when presented with the breast. It is inevitable in our setting for our
babies to get some bottles.  We are trying to teach the nurses doing the
feedings, however, to stroke the lips and wait for a wide root with every
single feeding.

Anyway, to shorten this up a bit, today I asked one of our OT's when the
rooting reflex becomes volitional. She explained that at 3 months corrected
age (that is 5 months for a baby born 2 months prematue) the reflex becomes
integrated.  This is necessary, of course, or we would all continue to root
whenever our cheeks were brushed.  At the point that the reflex becomes
integrated the infant is opening her mouth to take the breast as a learned
behavior.  If the root is not integrated at around 3 months then this can be
a marker for developmental problems.  What we seem to be seeing, though, is
this reflex being extinguished early when a baby doesn't need to open wide to
feed.  Anyway, I found this all fascinating and know I can use it when
teaching folks why we do certain things.

Kathy Boggs, RN, IBCLC
Mtn. View, CA

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