What type of motor behavior posture should we see in babies?

• A. Extension
• B. Flexion
• C. Prone with arms out
• D. Lateral decubitus

Answer: (B)

Newborn motor behavior at rest is dominated by physiologic flexion. Think of a curled, compact posture with the arms and legs tucked in and the head slightly forward. This flexed tone is a normal baseline in healthy babies and reflects their early neuromuscular state, helping them stay balanced and secure in the tiny body they’ve just transitioned into.

If a baby were to rest with arms and legs extended, or to lie in a side-lying posture, those would be atypical resting postures for a newborn and may suggest higher extensor tone or non-resting positions rather than the expected baseline. A prone position with arms out isn't the typical resting posture either; it resembles a more extended or active posture rather than the quiet flexed rest you’d expect in normal newborn behavior.