Understanding Primitive Reflexes

Present at Birth

Early motor development

Babies are born with automatic movement patterns that originate in the brainstem. These reflexes are essential for survival — helping with feeding, assisting through the birth canal, and kickstarting early motor development.

Building the Foundation

Neurological scaffolding

During the first months of life, these reflexes wire the brain for focus, coordination, emotional regulation, and learning. Every milestone your child reaches — from crawling to reading — depends on this neurological scaffolding being in place.

Integration

Voluntary movement

Between 4–12 months, reflexes naturally "graduate" as the brain develops higher-level control. The scaffolding comes down, and voluntary, coordinated movement takes over. This process is called integration.

When Retained

Developmental challenges

If integration doesn't happen on schedule, reflexes stay active in the background — competing with the brain for control. This shows up as fidgeting, handwriting trouble, sensory sensitivities, anxiety, and challenges often mistaken for behavioral issues or ADHD.

Identifying the Root Cause

If you've been noticing struggles in your child with focus, coordination, emotions, or school performance, we understand how frustrating and confusing that can be. Below you'll find a guide with more information about primitive reflexes. Click through the key signals checklist so you can start connecting the dots between what you're seeing and what might be going on underneath.

Moro Reflex

The "Startle" Reflex

Emerges: Birth Should integrate: 4-6 months

The Moro reflex is your baby's early fight-or-flight response. When retained beyond 6 months, the child's nervous system remains in a chronic state of hypervigilance, leading to sensory, physical, and behavioral challenges.

Key Signals

Seems anxious or overwhelmed easily

Sensitive to sounds, lights, or touch

Emotional outbursts or impulsive behavior

Motion sickness

TLR

Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex

Emerges: Birth Should integrate: 3.5 years

The TLR affects balance, posture, and vestibular function. When retained, head position controls muscle tone throughout the body, making it difficult to maintain posture and causing motion sickness and balance issues.

Key Signals

Walks on tiptoes

Fear of heights or feet leaving the ground

Bumps into things frequently

Difficulty judging distance/space

ATNR

Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex

Emerges: 18 weeks in utero Should integrate: 6-9 months

The Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex creates an involuntary link between head rotation and limb extension. When retained, turning the head triggers the arm on that side to extend - making handwriting, reading, and sports extremely challenging.

Key Signals

Messy handwriting despite effort

Left/right confusion

Difficulty with hand dominance

Eye tracking difficulty

STNR

Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex

Emerges: 4-9 months Should integrate: 9-12 months

The STNR creates a "seesaw" between upper and lower body: looking down causes arms to bend and legs to straighten; looking up does the opposite. This makes sitting in chairs and swimming extremely difficult.

Key Signals

Skipped crawling or crawled unusually

W-sits on the floor

Poor posture when sitting

Headaches or neck tension

Spinal Galant Reflex

The "Fidgeting" Reflex

Emerges: 20 weeks in utero Should integrate: 3-9 months

This reflex causes the hip to swing when the lower back is touched. When retained, the child reacts to any light touch along the spine - including clothing, chair backs, and bed sheets - making it impossible to sit still and often causing bedwetting.

Key Signals

Bedwetting past age 5

"Ants in the pants" or can't sit still

Overreactive to touch on the back

Leg or back pain

Palmar & Babkin Reflexes

The Hand Reflexes

Emerges: Birth Should integrate: 4-6 months

These reflexes link hand movements to mouth movements. When retained, writing causes involuntary mouth movements, and the child may struggle with pencil grip and speech articulation.

Key Signals

Immature pencil grip

Hand fatigue

Tongue sticks out when using hands

Difficulty with fine motor skills

Plantar & Babinski Reflexes

The Foot Reflexes

Emerges: Birth Should integrate: 12-24 months

These reflexes affect toe position and balance. When retained, the child may toe walk, have balance difficulties, or experience foot positioning issues.

Key Signals

Walks on tiptoes

Curled/clenched toes

Flat feet

Avoids barefoot on grass/sand

Rooting Reflex

The Feeding Reflex

Emerges: Birth Should integrate: 4-6 months

The rooting reflex helps infants find food by turning toward touch on the cheek. When retained, it can affect eating habits, speech articulation, and cause oral fixations.

Key Signals

Picky eater

Chewing on objects (oral fixations)

Drooling beyond toddlerhood

Speech difficulties