When you examine the soles of your baby's feet, do their toes point up? This is the Babinski Reflex (Plantar Reflex)!

Have you ever tickled your little one's bottom while bathing or playing with him? Have you ever noticed that his big toe sticks out and his other fingers spread out beautifully? You might think this is just a coincidence. But it's actually a very important sign that doctors use to check the development of a baby's brain and nervous system. Today, we're going to talk about this amazing thing.

What is the Babinski Sign?

Simply put, the Babinski Sign is a response. To be precise, an involuntary reflex . That is, it is not something we consciously control. Think about it, if someone suddenly looks at us, we would close our eyes, right? It is not something we consciously do. This is the same.

When a doctor gently rubs the sole of a baby's foot, from the heel to the big toe, with a blunt object (like the handle of a reflex hammer), the baby's big toe bends upward, while the other toes spread out like a fan. That's what we call the Babinski sign. This test is called the Plantar Reflex Test .

This was first discovered in 1896 by a neurologist named Joseph Babinski. That's why it's named after him.

Why do small babies have this Babinski reflex?

Now you're probably wondering, "Why is this only for little babies?" The reason is very interesting.

There is a major nerve pathway that runs from our brain down the spinal cord, carrying messages that control body movements. In medical terms, this is called the corticospinal tract (CST) . Think of it like the highway from Colombo to Galle. This pathway is what quickly carries messages from the brain like "wave your hand" and "lift your leg" to the appropriate places.

When babies are born, this ``Corticospinal Tract'', our 'highway', is not yet fully developed. It's like a newly carpeted road, the work is not yet finished. So the way the messages from the brain travel is a little different. That's because of the immaturity of the nervous system , when the sole of the foot is stimulated, the toes go up in response to the message from the brain.

What is the difference between the Babinski Reflex and the Plantar Grasp Reflex?

As the baby grows, the ``Corticospinal Tract'' that we talked about develops well. It's like all the work on our 'highway' is finished. Then that Babinski reflex disappears, and another reflex comes in its place. We call it the Plantar Grasp Reflex .

What happens is that if you place your finger on the sole of your baby's foot below their toes, they will curl their fingers down and pretend to grab your finger. This is the response we have after the age of 2 and into adulthood. This shows that our nervous system is well-developed.

The difference between the two is like turning a light switch on and off:

• Babinski Reflex: The fingers move up (just like turning on a switch).
• Plantar Grasp Reflex: The toes bend downward (like turning off a switch).

Let's look at this chart to further explain this difference.

When does this Babinski reflex go away?

Usually, this Babinski response disappears completely by the time a baby is about 2 years old . But not all babies have it by the time they are two years old. Some babies lose it by the time they are about a year old, and the plantar grasp response we talked about (the toes bend downward) begins to appear. This can vary slightly from baby to baby.

Most importantly: What if an adult or a child over 2 years old has this sign?

This is the most important thing we all need to be aware of.

When examining the sole of a child over 2 years old or any adult, if you see the Babinski sign, which is when the big toe is raised and the other toes are spread apart, it is an abnormal condition .

This suggests that there may be some damage, problem, or disease in the person's central nervous system (CNS), that is, the brain or spinal cord . Specifically, there may be some damage to the nerve pathway called the Corticospinal Tract that we talked about earlier.

How does the doctor perform this test?

You've probably seen this test done by the doctor when you take your baby to the clinic to check their growth. It's a very simple, painless test that can be done in a few seconds.

1. First, the doctor removes the baby's shoes and socks and makes the baby lie down comfortably.

2. Then, using a blunt instrument, for example a tongue depressor or the blunt side of a reflex hammer, gently move the baby's heel up and down the sole of the foot towards the base of the big toe.

3. At that time, the doctor will carefully look at the baby's toes. He will check to see if the big toe is pointing up (dorsiflexed) and if the other toes are spreading.

The result of this test can be `positive` or `negative`.

• Positive Babinski Sign: This means that the big toe is raised and the other fingers are spread apart. This is normal for babies under 2 years old . But it is abnormal for those over 2 years old.
• Negative Plantar Reflex: This means that the toes are bent downward (plantar grasp), or there is no response. This is a normal response for children over 2 years of age and adults .

So, don't be surprised if you accidentally notice this reaction while bathing or playing with your baby. It's part of the wonderful process of your baby's brain and nervous system working together and developing. This simple test can tell doctors a lot about your baby's health.