Bradycardic Reflex Protects Young Infants

If you blow gently into a baby's face, the infant will often take a deep breath and briefly hold it. This response, known as the bradycardic reflex, is part of a set of automatic reactions that help protect very young infants around water. Parents and instructors sometimes use the reflex during infant swimming lessons or when washing a baby's face because it temporarily reduces the chance of water being inhaled. The brief pause in breathing can also interrupt a crying spell for a moment.

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