When your baby enters the world, he will come with a set of involuntary responses called "reflexes." They're intended to help your baby take care of himself and to protect him early on.

Some of his early reflexes may last for several months. Others may disappear in a few weeks. But rest assured, these curious little reactions your baby exhibits indicate his nervous system is working the way it's supposed to.

Here are a few reflexes you are certain to recognize:

Sucking

When something touches your baby's lips or the roof of his mouth, he will automatically start to suck. His sucking in turn causes swallowing, an important skill needed to feed. Babies often suck as a way to calm themselves.

Rooting

Touch your baby's cheek with your finger or a nipple, and he will automatically turn his head toward it. This reflex is called "rooting." It's intended to help your baby find food.

Startling

Does your baby seem skittish? Does he suddenly move his arms and legs or cry when there's a loud noise or a jerky motion? This reflex is called "startling." It happens to all babies and gradually disappears after a few months.

Stepping

When you support your baby with one foot flat on a firm surface, his other foot will step forward and he'll start to "walk." Of course, your baby isn't strong enough to support himself. So he's not going anywhere for a while. This "stepping" reflex disappears after about two months. But it will return in about a year as your baby prepares to walk.

Grasping

Place your finger in the palm of your baby's tiny hand, and he'll automatically grasp it. In fact, you may be surprised at how amazingly strong your little one's grasp is. Grasping is a beautiful reflex because your baby gets to hold onto his favorite person in the world. You.